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Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis)

Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis)

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Amount: Bunch

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$8.00

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Description
Aquatic Plants

Guppy Grass

A fast-growing, fine-leafed stem plant that provides exceptional fry and shrimplet shelter — functionally similar to Anacharis Najas but with a softer, fuller, more open structure.

Exceptional Fry & Shrimplet Shelter Very Fast Growing Fine Whorled Leaves Plant or Float Aggressive Nutrient Uptake No CO₂ Required

Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis) shares its species name with Anacharis Najas in some taxonomic treatments but is sold and kept as a distinct hobbyist variety — a fine, fast-growing stem plant with a noticeably softer, more open leaf arrangement that produces a less dense but more three-dimensionally voluminous shelter structure when used as a floating or midwater plant. Where Anacharis Najas has a slightly more structured, firmer stem habit, Guppy Grass produces more flexible, loosely arranged stems that collapse into a soft, open tangle when floating — a structure that shrimplets and fry navigate through easily and that provides genuine concealment rather than just proximity to cover. It earns its common name from its long history as the first plant breeders reach for when breeding livebearers — the soft floating tangles catch falling fry immediately and provide the first cover they need in the critical hours after birth. Fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and snails.

Not RequiredCO₂
64–82°FTemperature
Low–HighLighting
What to Expect

Growth & Behaviour

Soft, flexible stems with fine whorled leaves in an open arrangement — Guppy Grass stems are more pliable and less structured than Anacharis Najas — the fine, whorled needle leaves are arranged slightly less densely, giving each stem a softer, more open appearance at close range and a lighter, more airy mass quality when viewed as a floating bundle. The soft structure is what makes it particularly effective as a fry shelter — the open tangle allows small animals to move through it freely while remaining visually concealed. Exceptional floating shelter for fry and shrimplets — as a floating plant or midwater tangle, Guppy Grass produces the best fry-scale shelter in the catalog — the combination of soft, pliable stems, open leaf arrangement, and the three-dimensional volume of a floating bundle creates a structure that newly born fry and shrimplets move into and remain within for hours and days after release. The plant does not trap or harm small animals — it provides refuge they actively seek out and remain in voluntarily. Very fast growth rate under good light — like all Najas, Guppy Grass grows rapidly under medium to high light — adding several centimetres of new growth per day under ideal conditions and producing a substantial floating mass within weeks of introduction. The growth rate is the source of its primary functional value: rapid nutrient uptake from the water column that measurably reduces nitrate levels in breeding and shrimp tanks between water changes. Plant or float — performs differently in each mode — planted in substrate Guppy Grass grows upright and can fill background and midground zones; floating freely or weighted at mid-depth it forms the soft open tangle that defines its shelter function. In breeding setups and shrimp tanks the floating mode is usually the primary goal — a loose bundle dropped into a tank immediately creates shelter without any preparation or waiting for roots to establish. Propagates by fragmentation — trimmings grow independently — any section of stem trimmed from the main plant grows independently when returned to the water. Regular trimming is simultaneously regular propagation — a self-sustaining process that maintains the plant at the desired density while producing additional material for separate setups, sharing, or expanding shelter coverage in the same tank.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1Choose planted or floating mode — for planted use, strip the lowest 3cm of leaves and push stems 2cm into substrate. For floating or midwater shelter use, place loose bundles directly on the surface or weight loosely at mid-depth with a small stone. In breeding and shrimp tanks the floating mode requires no preparation — drop in a bundle and it immediately provides functional shelter.
2Use floating bundles for maximum fry and shrimplet survival — in any breeding setup — mesh breeders, breeding boxes, or the main tank during active shrimp breeding — floating bundles of Guppy Grass placed in the setup before fry or shrimplets are released provides immediate, ready-made cover. Maintain a small floating colony in the main tank and move portions to breeding setups as needed.
3Trim weekly to manage growth in display tanks — under good light Guppy Grass grows quickly enough to require weekly trimming in tanks where layout composition matters. Cut stems to the desired length and return trimmed sections to the float or replant — do not discard unless the population is already at the desired density. In breeding or shrimp-focused tanks where coverage is the goal, less frequent trimming and larger floating masses produce better shelter outcomes.
4Minimal fertilisation needed in stocked tanks — in a tank with regular shrimp feeding the ambient nutrient load is typically sufficient to fuel vigorous growth without additional liquid fertiliser. In lightly stocked or frequently water-changed tanks, a balanced liquid fertiliser dosed two to three times weekly supports steady growth.
💡 Bonus Tip

Keep a dedicated floating mass of Guppy Grass in one corner of the main tank at all times — not for display but as a permanent fry and shrimplet nursery resource. When a female shrimp becomes berried, move a portion of the floating mass to the breeding setup with her so the shrimplets are released directly into an established shelter environment rather than open water. The biofilm that develops on a long-established floating mass is substantially richer than fresh cuttings introduced at the moment of release.

🌿
Browse more aquatic plants

Pair Guppy Grass with Water Sprite, mosses, or floating plants for a complete breeding or shrimp setup. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.

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Aquatic plants

Policies & Disclaimers

Choosing your portions, using the plant promotion, and knowing what to expect when your plants arrive.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free: add all three

Choose three eligible plant items and add all three to your cart, including the plant you want free. The discount applies automatically at checkout; no code is needed. Adding only two items does not add a third plant for you.

Mix and match eligible varieties or choose multiple quantities of the same eligible plant. The least expensive eligible item is free. For example, with eligible items priced at $5, $8 and $10, the $5 item is discounted and the plant subtotal is $18 before shipping and tax.

The offer repeats for complete qualifying groups: three eligible items give one free, six give two free, and nine give three free. The current offer has no per-order use limit. Items must be included in the promotion; Plant Weights and other non-plant accessories do not qualify.

An item means the sale unit in your cart. One bunch, cup, portion or multipack counts as one item when purchased at quantity one, not one item for every stem, leaf or bulb inside it. Check the listing and selected option for what each unit contains.

Check the discount and quantities in your order summary before paying. Other promotions can affect the final discount; multiple product discounts do not stack on the same item. This is an online checkout offer, not an automatic in-store POS discount.

Plant Promotion Details

Portions, sizes & what you receive

Read this plant’s description and selected option for its sale format, portion size and any stated stem or plant count. A bunch, loose portion, rooted plant, bulb, cup and mounted plant are different products; there is no single size or count that applies to every plant we sell.

A mature height or spread describes potential growth in an aquarium, not the size shipped. Use the advertised purchase portion to plan your order. A full carpet, dense moss-covered surface or established group in a photograph may require several portions and time to grow.

Do not assume that a pot, planting weight, rock, wood, substrate or other display accessory is included unless the listing explicitly says it is. If the received portion appears different from the selected listing, photograph it with its packaging and contact us promptly.

Photos, color & natural variation

Photos illustrate the named plant or variety and its appearance. Living plants vary in leaf size, shape, root development, branching and fullness; a photo of an established specimen is not a measurement of each portion shipped. The product description and selected option remain the reference for your purchase.

Aquarium lighting, camera settings and the growing environment affect perceived color. Red or pink varieties can look different under different lighting and growing conditions. Do not use a photograph alone to select a plant’s care requirements or expect immediate mature coloration.

Above-water growth & the transition underwater

Some aquarium plants can grow with their leaves above water as well as submerged. These growth forms can have different leaf shapes and appearances. New underwater growth may look different from older leaves as the plant adjusts. This explanation does not mean every plant is supplied in the same growth form; follow any specific information in the listing.

Leaf loss or softening after a change of environment is often called melt. Look at the plant as a whole and its growing points rather than judging only one older leaf. Do not assume that a damaged plant is simply transitioning or wait for new growth before reporting an arrival problem.

This is background care information, not a new exclusion from the Live Arrival Guarantee. Arrival damage is assessed under the existing policy.

Planting: match the method to the plant

For stem plants, separate the stems and plant with room between them. For rosette plants, position the roots in the substrate without burying the crown. Remove transport bindings and growing material carefully where appropriate.

For Anubias and Java fern, keep the rhizome exposed rather than burying it. Moss can be divided into smaller portions and attached to suitable hardscape. Floating plants belong at the surface. Bulbs and tubers need species-specific planting depth; do not assume every type should be fully buried.

Keep plants damp while working. Follow the individual listing for placement and care, especially when a plant has unusual requirements. These are planting tips, not additional conditions for a claim.

Growth, tank conditions & choosing companions

Plan for the plant’s mature size, available light and the space it will occupy. A background stem plant, slow-growing rhizome plant and floating plant serve different roles; a purchase portion does not instantly create a finished aquascape.

Use the listing’s guidance on light, nutrients and carbon dioxide rather than assuming every plant needs the same setup. Growth rate and final appearance depend on aquarium conditions and maintenance. More light alone is not a substitute for a balanced setup.

Consider animals that dig, uproot or eat plants before choosing placement. Floating growth can shade plants below it, and fast-growing plants may need thinning. Observe new growth and make gradual, species-appropriate adjustments.

Hitchhikers & introducing plants

Our existing policy does not guarantee pest-free arrival. Plants can carry tiny organisms or eggs, including snail eggs, despite inspection. Inspect new plants before introduction, and consider separate observation or quarantine to protect an established aquarium.

Do not assume a plant is sterile, pesticide-free or safe for a particular treatment unless the listing explicitly provides that information. Sensitive leaves, mosses and roots can respond differently to dips. Research the exact plant and any treatment before using it; do not apply an animal medication or a strong dip by default.

Arrival problems: document and contact us promptly

For damaged or dead plants, email support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time. Use the email address on the order and include all arrival concerns in your first message.

Send clear photographs of the affected plants and their packaging, with the shipping label or invoice visible for identification. Photograph packaging damage before unpacking or discarding materials, and consult the full guarantee’s documentation instructions. Keep the original photos.

The current guarantee covers aquatic plants but excludes promotional or free items. That existing exclusion also matters when ordering a free promotional plant. Claims and available resolutions are assessed under the full policy; this tab does not expand or reduce coverage.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping your plants

Plants ship Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday shipping available for 2-day or overnight services. Orders remain subject to stock, fulfillment timing and weather holds under our shipping policy. A shipping-service estimate is not a guaranteed dispatch date.

Plan to receive the package promptly and inspect it on arrival. Review the full shipping information for weather precautions, transit expectations and delivery issues. If your cart also contains live animals, review the shipping requirements for those animals as well.

Shipping Information

Returns & order questions

Check the plant name, portion, quantity and selected option before completing checkout. Contact us before sending anything back; returns require prior written authorization under our existing policy. The full return policy explains the applicable conditions.

Return Policy

This tab explains the existing offer and policies alongside plant-care guidance. Care tips do not create new claim requirements or exclusions. Refer to the linked policies for complete terms.

    Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis)
    $8.00
    $8.00
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