All,
Just wanted to drop you kind folk a quick note. A really neat plant that's native to Florida and Louisiana, the Floating Antlerfern (Ceratopteris pteridoides), is featured in both the August 2008 Tropical Fish Hobbyist and August 2008 Freshwater and Marine Aquarium magazines. There's a little blurb on the plant in each magazine. From what I'm told, this plant is rare in the aquarium trade. I have gotten my hands on some and am growing it in my planted tanks. I do also sell it, please contact me if you're interested in some.
Floating Antlerfern articles
Started by
Guest_BTDarters_*
, Jul 18 2008 03:54 AM
10 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_mander_*
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Posted 18 July 2008 - 07:17 AM
Hi Brian,
I googled but didn't find any pictures. Do you have any? Also, I see that it is listed as an annual. So it reseeds itself freely? Or is it one of those plants that it depends on where you live? A lot of plants that are annuals in Oregon are perrenials in their native habitat. Since it's from Florida, I assume it likes it warm. Does it also like it sunny, or is it a shade lover. I don't have the magazines to look at and all I found on the web is that it's a forb/herb.
Thanks!
I googled but didn't find any pictures. Do you have any? Also, I see that it is listed as an annual. So it reseeds itself freely? Or is it one of those plants that it depends on where you live? A lot of plants that are annuals in Oregon are perrenials in their native habitat. Since it's from Florida, I assume it likes it warm. Does it also like it sunny, or is it a shade lover. I don't have the magazines to look at and all I found on the web is that it's a forb/herb.
Thanks!
#3
Guest_dafrimpster_*
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Posted 18 July 2008 - 02:59 PM
I have some of this. It is a really cool plant and a great nutrient sink. It reproduces by making babies off of the leaves. It has been very prolific for me.
#4
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 19 July 2008 - 03:54 AM
Mander,
Check these links for pictures and info:
Link 1: Rare Plants of Louisiana.
Link 2: USDA plants.
Link 3: PlantGeek.net.
To answer your other questions, it is a fern. It propogates from young that sprout at the leaf tips. I'm not sure if it's classified as an annual or perennial. It will grow both submersed and rooted, or floating, but for me it grows best just letting it float at the top of the tank. Like daFrimpster said, it's a great "nutrient sink". I grow mine primarily under standard aquarium lighting and they do just great! Every couple of weeks I have some to sell, or to trade to the Local Fish Store (LFS) for store credit.
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
Check these links for pictures and info:
Link 1: Rare Plants of Louisiana.
Link 2: USDA plants.
Link 3: PlantGeek.net.
To answer your other questions, it is a fern. It propogates from young that sprout at the leaf tips. I'm not sure if it's classified as an annual or perennial. It will grow both submersed and rooted, or floating, but for me it grows best just letting it float at the top of the tank. Like daFrimpster said, it's a great "nutrient sink". I grow mine primarily under standard aquarium lighting and they do just great! Every couple of weeks I have some to sell, or to trade to the Local Fish Store (LFS) for store credit.
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
#5
Guest_itsme_*
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Posted 19 July 2008 - 09:56 AM
That's interesting. You know, that looks a lot like water sprite. And come to think of it, I think I have found that in the south before. I thought it was an escaped exotic. Water sprite will develop those curled above surface leaves too. Does anyone know about the relationship of water sprite to this antler fern? Water sprite has been in the aquarium trade for many years.
#6
Guest_mander_*
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Posted 19 July 2008 - 01:19 PM
I thought the same thing. I did a quick goggle, and if I understand it correctly, water spirite is a common name for Ceratopteris pteridoides. It's also a common name for a number of other floating plants, so it could be confusing to say it's one in the same.That's interesting. You know, that looks a lot like water sprite. And come to think of it, I think I have found that in the south before. I thought it was an escaped exotic. Water sprite will develop those curled above surface leaves too. Does anyone know about the relationship of water sprite to this antler fern? Water sprite has been in the aquarium trade for many years.
Anyway, thank you Brian, that was interesting and it is very much a beautiful plant. I thought it typical that one site said it multiplied easily and another said it was difficult to grow, one said it could take shade and the other that it demanded sun! It all depends on where you live.
Oregon is very cloud covered, so our sunny days tend to come as a shock! I think a shade lover in Florida would be a sun lover here!
#7
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 21 July 2008 - 05:56 AM
Guys,
Floating Antlerfern is not Water Sprite, but is related to Water Sprite. Water Sprite generally has a rooted habit, while this plant has a floating habit. They're two different species completely. Water Sprite is Ceratopteris thalictroides, whereas Floating Antlerfern is Ceratopteris pteridoides. I grow my Antlerfern under standard aquarium lighting, with the addition of Tetra FloraPride at water changes. It's a really neat floating plant and my Blackstripe Topminnows like to hide under the leaves and among the hanging roots!
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
Floating Antlerfern is not Water Sprite, but is related to Water Sprite. Water Sprite generally has a rooted habit, while this plant has a floating habit. They're two different species completely. Water Sprite is Ceratopteris thalictroides, whereas Floating Antlerfern is Ceratopteris pteridoides. I grow my Antlerfern under standard aquarium lighting, with the addition of Tetra FloraPride at water changes. It's a really neat floating plant and my Blackstripe Topminnows like to hide under the leaves and among the hanging roots!
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
#8
Guest_itsme_*
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Posted 21 July 2008 - 11:38 AM
Cool, then I'd like try some antler fern. Better a native than an exotic! 
Just for my general knowledge, does anyone know how to tell pteridoides (Antlerfern) from thalictroides (Water Sprite)?
Just for my general knowledge, does anyone know how to tell pteridoides (Antlerfern) from thalictroides (Water Sprite)?
#9
Guest_dafrimpster_*
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Posted 21 July 2008 - 01:39 PM
I have kept both. I believe once you see the antler fern you will easily descern one from the other.
#10
Guest_fishlvr_*
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Posted 03 August 2008 - 12:36 PM
How much space does it need from the water surface to the top of the tank?
#11
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 04 August 2008 - 05:07 AM
It starts out small, but gets to 12+ inches in diameter as it grows across the surface of the tank. It does take a number of months for this to happen, though. I wouldn't call this plant a particularly quick-grower. I have one large plant in my 55-gallon tank. It took about 6 months for it to grow from a few inches in diameter to its large size. The nice thing is that these plants generate "child" plants at their leaf tips. When the plant gets too large for your tank, you can just harvest a few of the child plants to keep in your tank and take the large tank to the Local Fish Store (LFS) to trade for credit.
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
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