Rice Paddy

[dean]

I'm toying with the idea of making a shallow rice paddy for a Betta but what plant would I use to mimic rice ?

 

[Nelson]

Vallisneria,Sagittaria subulata,Cyperus helferi.

 

[parotet]

Hi Dean

Why not using rice? It's cheap and easy to grow... Just need the seeds (non pealed grains), soak them in a bucket and increase the water level as it grows. Rice needs running water but WCs will work

Jordi

 

[BigTom]

Hi Dean

Why not using rice? It's cheap and easy to grow... Just need the seeds (non pealed grains), soak them in a bucket and increase the water level as it grows. Rice needs running water but WCs will work

Jordi

Like this! http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/japanese-balcony-rice-paddy-final-harvest.23151/

 

[parotet]

A British friend of mine grows his own rice in two abandoned bath tubes in his orchard. There's no difference if you do it outdoors in an old tank. Make sure you can ensure 120-140 days of direct sun and warm temperatures
Aquatic plants that can be found on rice paddies are Azolla carolineana, Lemma spp., Iris pseudacorus, Cyperus spp., Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lythrum salicaria, Spartina versicolor, Hydrocotyle vulgare, Polygonum spp, Phragmites australis, Typha spp, etc.

Jordi

 

[dean]

I'm thinking more of a tank that's just the rice paddy
So substrate and 3/4" water
I'll make the tank to suit it
So I want a plant that will grow like rice, look like rice but isn't going to go to seed and die

 

[xim]

These wetland grasses are found in their natural habitat; Hymenachne pseudointerrupta, Leersia hexandra.

 

[dean]

These wetland grasses are found in their natural habitat; Hymenachne pseudointerrupta, Leersia hexandra.

I'll go google them now

 

[dean]

Eleocharis Palustris
It's a native will it take the temperatures of a tropical tank ?

 

[xim]

Eleocharis Palustris
It's a native will it take the temperatures of a tropical tank ?

I've an impression that you're after some biotope looks. If that is the case, this choice
looks too temperate and too "tidy". Try a broader leaf types, like reed canary grass.
http://www.wetlandplants.co.uk/acatalog/info_M0720.html (this one is probably too tall though).

The places where you can find betta fish look like these.

Catching wild betta.


Or this (the trap is for snakeheads though).

 

[dean]

Not trying to recreate a biotope in the true sense but something that gives it that feel

Only problem with that plant is its height 2m tall

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
How about Hygroryza aristata?

cheers Darrel

 

[xim]

Although this plant is found in its habitat, it is quite rare in nature, not an usual sight.

I don't know if the buoys are only developed when the water is too deep or not. But it looks more right without the buoys. Like this

Betta fish are found in areas filled with dense grass stems from the substrate up to above the water surface, not the areas with dense floating plants but have swimming space below. So when it develops the buoy and spreads along the surface like this, it looks a bit off.

 

[dean]

Nice plant DW but not the look I'm after

 

[dw1305]

<"Murdannia keisak"?>

 

[tim]

Juncus repens, cypress helfri or polygonum species may also suit the look your after

 

[dean]

Wow getting spoilt for choice now

What about substrate ?
Go for something to resemble mud ?

 

[tim]

Cat litter Or akadama covers the red clay type look Of a biotope But IMO I would use a tropica or Amazonia type soil Probably I like the dark look they give a tank plus great for plants.