Bolbitis heudelotii – TC Cup
Produced by: Sreepadma Aquatic Plants
🌱 Scientific Overview
Bolbitis heudelotii, commonly known as African Water Fern, is an elegant aquatic fern valued for its delicate, deep green, transparent-looking fronds and natural flowing appearance. It is highly regarded in aquascaping for adding a wild, natural forest-like atmosphere and soft texture to planted aquariums.
The plant belongs to the Dryopteridaceae family and is classified as a rhizome plant, making it ideal for attachment to hardscape elements rather than planting in substrate.
🧪 Tissue Culture Technology – TC Cup
This plant is produced using Tissue Culture (TC Cup) technology by Sreepadma Aquatic Plants, ensuring:
- A completely sterile and pest-free plant
- Free from snails, algae, and chemical residues
- Safe for shrimp, fish, and sensitive aquatic species
- High-quality, healthy plantlets per cup
- Excellent adaptation after planting
🌍 Natural Habitat
Bolbitis heudelotii is native to:
- West and Central Africa
- Shaded riverbanks and streams
- Fast-flowing, oxygen-rich freshwater environments
These conditions explain its preference for clean, well-oxygenated water and stable aquarium parameters.
🎨 Appearance and Form
- Leaf Color:
- Deep green
- Leaf Shape:
- Finely divided, fern-like fronds
- Growth Pattern:
- Rhizome plant (horizontal growth)
- Expected Height:15–40 cm depending on conditions
📍 Ideal Placement in the Aquarium
- Placement:
- Midground to background
- Best attached to:
- Driftwood
- Rocks
- Hardscape structures
- Rhizome must remain exposed and not buried
💡 Lighting Requirements
- Lighting: Low to medium
- Prefers shaded or partially shaded areas
- Strong lighting may promote algae growth on leaves
🌬️ Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
- Not required but highly beneficial
- CO₂ improves growth rate and leaf quality
- Suitable for both low-tech and high-tech aquariums
🌿 Substrate and Attachment
- Should not be planted in substrate
- Attach using:
- Cotton thread
- Fishing line
- Aquarium-safe glue
- Can also be wedged naturally between rocks or wood
🧂 Fertilization and Nutrition
- Absorbs nutrients mainly from the water column
- Benefits from:
- Liquid fertilizers
- Trace elements
- Excess nutrients with high light may cause algae
🌡️ Water Parameters
- Ideal Temperature:
- 20–28°C
- pH Range:
- 5.5 – 7.5
- Water Hardness:
- Soft to moderately hard
- Prefers good water flow and oxygenation
✂️ Planting and Care Instructions
- Remove the plant from the TC cup
- Rinse thoroughly to remove gel residue
- Separate into small portions if needed
- Attach to hardscape with rhizome exposed
- Place in an area with gentle to moderate flow
🔁 Growth and Maintenance
- Slow-growing
- Remove older or damaged leaves as needed
- Extremely stable once established
⚠️ Important Notes
- Burying the rhizome will cause rot
- Sensitive to poor water quality
- Algae may develop under excessive light
✅ Suitable For
- Intermediate to advanced aquarists
- Nature-style and forest-style aquascapes
- Shrimp and community fish tanks
🏷️ Quick Product Information
- Scientific Name: Bolbitis heudelotii
- Product Type: Aquatic plant – Tissue Culture
- Producer: Sreepadma Aquatic Plants
- Placement: Midground / Background (attached)
- Difficulty Level: Medium
