Rotala rotundifolia
Also sold as Round leaf rotala
Synonyms Blood red · Rotala indica · Roundleaf toothcup · Dwarf rotala · Pink rotala
Rotala rotundifolia is a stem plant for the background, growing to about 40 cm (15.7 in) at a fast pace. It wants 68–82°F (20–28°C), low light and no CO₂, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Stem plant |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | Not neededWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| Max height | 40 cm (15.7 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Placement | planted in the background |
| pH | 6–8 |
Color forms · Same species, different color. Care is the same for all of them.
Before it goes in
- Rotala rotundifolia lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- It grows without CO₂.
- Expect it to melt back a few weeks after planting and regrow from the roots — pulling it out at that point is the mistake.
- In too little light it stretches: long bare stems between leaves instead of a bushy plant.
- It only colours up under strong light with CO₂; in a low-tech tank it stays green.
- 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.
- Its leaves are medium: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail will eat it.
Rotala rotundifolia: care and setup
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes. Rotala rotundifolia does not need CO₂ at all.
How much light does it need?
Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line. Below it, this one stretches instead of spreading. Colour is a separate question: it only turns red under strong light with CO₂.
How big does it get?
About 40 cm (15.7 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing fast, after roughly 2 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: Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite', Cryptocoryne wendtii and Frogbit.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Rotala rotundifolia | Rotala H'ra | Rotala macrandra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Medium | Medium |
| CO₂ | Not needed | Required | Required |
| Max height | 40 cm | 40 cm | 40 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Medium | Advanced |