Bolbitis
Bolbitis heudelotii
Also sold as African water fern
Synonyms African fern · Congo fern · Bolbitis heudelotti
Bolbitis (Bolbitis heudelotii) is an epiphyte for rock and wood, the midground, and the background, growing to about 40 cm (15.7 in) at a slow pace. It wants 72–79°F (22–26°C), medium light and CO₂ if you have it, and counts as a medium-difficulty plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Epiphyte |
|---|---|
| Light | MediumThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | RecommendedWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Temperature | 72–79°F (22–26°C) |
| Max height | 40 cm (15.7 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | attached to rock or wood |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
Before it goes in
- Bolbitis needs medium light. Under a low-light LED it thins out instead of filling in.
- CO₂ is not required, but without it expect slow growth and a thinner result.
- Glue or tie it to rock or wood. Buried in the substrate the rhizome rots, which is the usual way Bolbitis is killed.
- At about 40 cm (15.7 in) it belongs behind everything shorter — planted at the front it hides the rest of the scape and shades it.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes, but slowly. Bolbitis is listed as CO₂-recommended, not CO₂-required: without injection it survives and grows, it just takes far longer to fill in.
How much light does it need?
Medium light — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 40 cm (15.7 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing slowly, after roughly 6 weeks to root in.
Can I attach it to wood or rock?
Yes, and that is the only way to keep it. Glue or tie it down; buried in the substrate the rhizome rots.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Cryptocoryne wendtii and Dwarf Hairgrass Mini.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Bolbitis | Mini Bolbitis | Anubias hastifolia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Medium | Low | Low |
| CO₂ | Recommended | Not needed | Not needed |
| Max height | 40 cm | 10.2 cm | 40 cm |
| Difficulty | Medium | Easy | Easy |
More plants
Sources (1)
- Max height, Root feeding, CO₂tropica.comSep 2026