New Java Fern and Bn Fry

[C8lyn]

Hey all.
I picked up some Java fern today on the way home from work. I'm unsure about where I should put them but this is where I've got them right now. I'm assuming that the big, long leaves might die off because of the light? I read that in tanks with fish, they grow more shorter leaves compared to fewer long leaves in fishless tanks.
If you have any suggestions about moving them, please say so.

Also, pics of my latest bn bubs. So far so good, they've just finished up their egg sacs. I think I have about 70.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
You need to unwrap the Java fern, what you should find is that the leaves are all attached to a short bit of rhizome (a bit of stem at right angles to the base of the leaf). This rhizome is where the new leaves will grow from. Usually if you buy bunched Java fern you will find that some of the leaves are just that, just leaves with no rhizome. The rhizomes you need to fix to the bog-wood like the Anubias is in your picture.

The bad news is that usually all the leaves die of, and it takes a long time for the new leaves to grow from the small rhizome fragments. The good news is that both the leaves that are attached to the rhizomes and the loose leaves will grow new plantlets from the leaf vein as they die.

You can leave the plantlets attached to the dying leaves until they have grown both leaves and roots, and then attach them to bog wood, rock, sponge, the glass etc.

The easiest method of attachment is with a dab of cyano-acrylate super glue (fish safe once it has cured). But you can use cable ties, nylon thread or staples to fasten them on.

With apologies for the crap photo, but you can see the Java Fern on the bog wood in my shrimp tank. These were all fixed on as little scraps of rhizome or plantlets.

cheers Darrel

 

[C8lyn]

Thanks for the info

So would it be ok to leave them bunched up as long as I attach the rhizome to the wood?
This way I won't have all the loose leaves floating around making a mess...

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

So would it be ok to leave them bunched up as long as I attach the rhizome to the wood?

Yes, but they won't have any room to grow. You don't need to space them out very far if you want a "clump". If there are loose leaves that you don't want floating around, you can always staple them onto the back of the wood until the plantlets have grown.

Aesthetics don't really worry me. I don't do "aquascapes", I have jungles, however the tanks start out all my tanks end up like this, (although I do thin the plants out a bit where I want higher flow speeds).

cheers Darrel

 

[C8lyn]

Ok thanks again. I'm going to sleep right now but I'll have a look at them in the morning

 

[Brengun]

Looks gr8 C8!

 

[bigbird]

ditto very nice indeed...cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Big-B]

That does look nice. :thumbup:

 

[littlebristlenose]

I hope you didn't pay to much for the java.
The BN's fry need a few small pieces of wood in the fry saver.
I am lazy with the java now i just let it float until it grabs something.
I do have some spare if anyone wants some.

 

[C8lyn]

I just put my little nana anubias in the fry saver yesterday. It's quite a handy size.
I don't know how much java fern usually goes for but I paid $5 per bunch.

 

[Mooo]

Looks great..You're doing a great job, those bubs look heathy..Thumbs up..

 

[C8lyn]

Thanks a lot

And I like your new welcome sign, Mooo