• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Contact
Aquarium Tidings

Aquarium Tidings

Aquarium, Freshwater Fish, Aquariums, Aquatic Plants

  • Tropical Fish
  • Cold Water Fish
  • Invertebrates
  • Aquatic Plants
  • Ponds
  • Articles
  • Reviews

Brazilian Pennywort – Learn How to Grow Brazilian Pennywort in an Aquarium

July 31, 2014 by Robert Brand Leave a Comment

brazilian pennywortQuick Stats

Care Level: Easy
Water Conditions: Soft to Moderately Hard
Lighting Requirements: Low
Temperature: 68 to 82 F (20-28 C)
Maximum Size: 24 Inches (60cm)

The Brazilian pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala), also known as Brazilian water ivy, or simply as pennywort, is an easy to grow, beginner plants for aquariums. It is native to much of South America and Central America, and can be found all the way from Argentina in the south, to Mexico in the north.

It is primarily found in wetlands and marshes, though it can also be found in slow moving rivers and flooded areas during the wet season. It can survive in both aquariums and bog setups, and it will thrive in most moist conditions.

Brazilian pennywort will grow to a maximum height of 24 inches (60 cm) in a home aquarium, and it will grow to about 6 inches (15 cm) in width. If it reaches the surface of the water, it will produce small white flowers.

Care

Brazilian pennywort is a very easy to care for plant, that will thrive in most water types and in low light conditions. When provided with proper lighting and nutrients, it can grow several inches in a single week.

It can be grown planted in the substrate, or it can be left to float in the aquarium. When floating, it makes a perfect refuge for newborn fry, though its growth will generally be less than when it’s planted in the substrate.

This plant can also adapt to a wide variety of water conditions, and is one of the few plants that is suitable for even very hard water in an aquarium. With that being said, its growth will be somewhat slowed in a hard water aquarium, and should be provided with warm temperatures and proper nutrients to truly thrive.

Brazilian pennywort may require some iron supplementation in the aquarium, and you can determine if there is an iron deficiency through inspecting its leaves. If there is any yellowing of the leaves, then it is likely suffering from a lack of iron.

When choosing lighting, a high quality LED light, or speciality plant bulbs should be provided for optimal growth. Unlike many other plants, algae is not much of a concern due to its fast growth, so high lighting is rarely a problem.

Propagation

Propagating Brazilian Pennywort is extremely simple, and can be done through cutting or pinching off cuttings that includes healthy leaves. The new cutting can then be planted in the substrate, and if sufficient lighting and nutrients are provided, it should take root within a few days.

Compatibility

The Brazilian pennywort is compatible with most species of fish, though large digging fish such as cichlids should be avoided. Also, goldfish will quickly destroy this plant even if it is left floating.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Plants Tagged With: brazilian pennywort

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Follow Aquarium Tidings

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Pinterest

Recent Articles

5 of the Best Beginner Fish for Your Aquarium

October 2, 2021 By Robert Brand

The Complete Kenyi Cichlid Care Guide (Maylandia lombardo)

March 31, 2021 By Robert Brand

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Goldfish

January 4, 2021 By Dana MacPherson

The Complete Glass Catfish Care Guide (Kryptopterus vitreolus)

December 29, 2020 By Robert Brand

5 Oddball Fish to Add to an Aquarium

December 3, 2020 By Robert Brand

The Complete Rainbow Shark Care Guide (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum)

August 25, 2020 By Robert Brand

Getting Started

The Complete Guide to Cycling an Aquarium
Colorful Freshwater Fish for Beginners
How to Feed Aquarium Fish
Beginner Aquarium Plants That Anyone Can Grow
4 Things You Need to Know About Aquarium Care
How to Clean an Aquarium
How to Choose An Aquarium Substrate

Disclosure: Aquarium Tidings receives compensation from the companies whose links we post. Aquarium Tidings is independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Footer

Aquarium Tidings

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • The Best Fish for a 10-Gallon Aquarium
  • 5 of the Best Beginner Fish for Your Aquarium
  • The Complete Kenyi Cichlid Care Guide (Maylandia lombardo)
  • The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Goldfish
  • The Complete Glass Catfish Care Guide (Kryptopterus vitreolus)

Search

Tags

adf african dwarf frogs amano shrimp amazon sword ameca splenden aquarium beginner fish blind cave tetra bn pleco breeding bristlenose pleco butterfly splitfin care cherry barb convict cichlid crayfish dojo loach dwarf puffer feeding feeding breeding feeding fish fish ghost catfish glass catfish golden apple snail goldfish growing guppy harlequin rasbora hornwort malaysian trumpet snail molly fish mts mystery snail neon tetra oscar fish pea puffer red tail shark rosy red minnow tank mates tiger barb wcmm weather loach white cloud mountain minnow zebra danio

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

%d