Cryptocoryne parva
Also sold as C. parva · smallest crypt · Parva
Synonyms Crypt parva
Cryptocoryne parva is a carpeting plant for the foreground, growing to about 6 cm (2.4 in) at a slow pace. It wants 68–82°F (20–28°C), low light and CO₂ if you have it, and counts as a medium-difficulty plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Carpeting plant |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe 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 | 68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| Max height | 6 cm (2.4 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | planted in the foreground |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
Before it goes in
- Cryptocoryne parva lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- CO₂ is not required, but without it expect slow growth and a thinner result.
- It feeds through its roots, so in plain sand or gravel it needs root tabs; in an aquasoil it does not.
- Expect it to melt back a few weeks after planting and regrow from the roots — pulling it out at that point is the mistake.
- It stays around 6 cm (2.4 in), low enough to keep the front glass clear.
- Its leaves are medium: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail will eat it.
- It needs about 8 weeks to root. Fish that dig — Goldfish and Common Pleco — will lift it before then.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes, but slowly. Cryptocoryne parva 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?
Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 6 cm (2.4 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing slowly, after roughly 8 weeks to root in.
Why is it melting?
That is normal for this one. It usually drops its existing leaves a few weeks after planting and regrows from the roots — leave it in place and it comes back.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are medium, so some will: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail.
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, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Cryptocoryne wendtii.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Cryptocoryne parva | Hydrocotyle tripartita 'Japan' | Littorella uniflora | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Medium | Low |
| CO₂ | Recommended | Recommended | Not needed |
| Max height | 6 cm | 6 cm | 6 cm |
| Difficulty | Medium | Medium | Easy |
More plants
Sources (2) · checked Sep 2026
- Lightaquariadise.com
- Lightfishkeepingworld.com