Plant choice for Rio Paraguay/Pantanal Biotope

[chickennublet]

Hi everyone.

In need of help choosing plants for a new tank. I am currently housing a small group of Gastrodermus hastatus and am undecided on what plants to grow in their tank.

I've already decided on their tankmates, Hyphessobrycon elachys, so if I would like to build a tank loosely based on their habitat. However after watching a few videos of their habitat (I couldn't find a lot, but the ones I did see were published by Mr Tai Strietman and the footage was incredible) I'm still a little clueless as to what plants would be appropriate.

I am at the moment considering
Salvinia molesta or Salvinia auriculata
Echinodorus spp
Helanthium tenellum
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Myriophyllum mattogrossense
Heteranthera zosterifolia

I know these are all South American plants but honestly don't know if they occur where G. hastatus live. Would be very grateful if anyone who knows better could let me know if my plant choice is appropriate. Thank you!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

but the ones I did see were published by Mr Tai Strietman and the footage was incredible) I'm still a little clueless as to what plants would be appropriate.

We have a thread: <"Pantanal Aquatic plants">.

I am currently housing a small group of Gastrodermus hastatus and am undecided on what plants to grow in their tank.

They just like lots of cover and some <"very small"> food items. Have a look at the PC link in <"pygmy corys losing their tail fins!">.

cheers Darrel

 

[taistrietman]

Hi everyone.

In need of help choosing plants for a new tank. I am currently housing a small group of Gastrodermus hastatus and am undecided on what plants to grow in their tank.

I've already decided on their tankmates, Hyphessobrycon elachys, so if I would like to build a tank loosely based on their habitat. However after watching a few videos of their habitat (I couldn't find a lot, but the ones I did see were published by Mr Tai Strietman and the footage was incredible) I'm still a little clueless as to what plants would be appropriate.

I am at the moment considering
Salvinia molesta or Salvinia auriculata
Echinodorus spp
Helanthium tenellum
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Myriophyllum mattogrossense
Heteranthera zosterifolia

I know these are all South American plants but honestly don't know if they occur where G. hastatus live. Would be very grateful if anyone who knows better could let me know if my plant choice is appropriate. Thank you!

Hey, glad you liked the footage! The plant I find then in is mostly Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort) in deeper water and among Eichhornia azurea in the very shallow margins. Luckily hornwort is easy to get hold of! Good luck with your project! Here's a photo of the species in the habitat:

All of that is Hornwort. The shallow marginal habitat looks like this:
A specimen from the marginal habitat:

I hope that's helpful!

 

[chickennublet]

Hey, glad you liked the footage! The plant I find then in is mostly Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort) in deeper water and among Eichhornia azurea in the very shallow margins. Luckily hornwort is easy to get hold of! Good luck with your project! Here's a photo of the species in the habitat:

All of that is Hornwort. The shallow marginal habitat looks like this:
A specimen from the marginal habitat:

I hope that's helpful!

Thank you so much for the pictures @taistrietman, it helps a lot!

I can't tell that those are hornwort at all, maybe because of all the detritus clinging onto the foliage. The ones in the picture appear to be anchored to the ground though and I was under the impression that they generally float as they don't grow roots. I wonder if they have grown so dense that they start to sink naturally.

I did see another one of your pictures in another thread which as serpae tetras and Aphyocharax rathbuni in it and the plant in that picture is unmistakably hornwort. If I do use it I will have to find some way to anchor it down without the bottoms rotting off. However I am a little worried about bits of the plants breaking off and making a mess.

It appears that if I try to incorporate other plants such as Cabomba spp and Echinodorus spp it might no longer be a "true" biotope?

I also saw lots of beautiful Ludwigia inclinata in some of your photos! I was wondering if the fish might be found where they grow as well and am thinking of planting some of these but unfortunately it appears that the verticillate forms are more widely available for sale than the "normal" ones and are also more difficult to grow.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I can't tell that those are hornwort at all, maybe because of all the detritus clinging onto the foliage. The ones in the picture appear to be anchored to the ground though and I was under the impression that they generally float as they don't grow roots. ........ If I do use it I will have to find some way to anchor it down without the bottoms rotting off. However I am a little worried about bits of the plants breaking off and making a mess.

Definitely <"a rootless plant">. <"Ceratophyllum demersum 'Foxtail'"> is meant to be less fragile. I haven't had a problem with them (not cv. Foxtail), but they <"don't travel very well"> in the post.

I wonder if they have grown so dense that they start to sink naturally.

They are neutrally buoyant, so you can basically put them in a place and they will stay there. New growth will aim towards the light. Personally I just let them get on with it on their own, other than an occasional thin.

Here's a photo of the species in the habitat:
The shallow marginal habitat looks like this:

A specimen from the marginal habitat:

Another one for people who tell you that "Corydoras s. l." don't occur in habitats with plants <"Corydoras breeder with planted tanks"> and only occur over <"sandy / gravelly bottoms">. True for some species, but not for others.

cheers Darrel

 

[Conort2]

Another one for people who tell you that "Corydoras s. l." don't occur in habitats with plants

Every corydoras I’ve spawned has laid their eggs on plant leaves.