Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) is one of the most genuinely useful plants in the freshwater hobby — a fast-growing aquatic fern with finely divided, bright green fronds that can be planted rootedly in substrate or left to float freely at the surface, performing well in both orientations and differently in each. Planted, it produces upright, structured fronds and feeds through an established root system; floating, the fronds spread horizontally and the roots hang freely into the water column, creating a dense, three-dimensional tangle of cover that shrimp, shrimplets, and fry colonize immediately and thoroughly. It grows faster than almost any other plant in the catalog under good light, absorbs nutrients aggressively, and propagates itself continuously by producing tiny adventitious plantlets along the edges and surfaces of mature fronds that detach and establish independently. Fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and snails.
Not Required
CO₂
68–82°F
Temperature
Low–High
Lighting
What to Expect
Growth & Behavior Over Time
Finely divided, lace-like fronds with a bright fresh green — Water Sprite fronds are pinnately divided — the leaf blade is cut into progressively finer segments that give each frond a light, airy, almost feathery appearance distinct from the solid leaf forms of Anubias, Java Fern, and Buce. The bright, fresh green color of new growth is particularly vivid, making Water Sprite one of the livelier-looking plants in a low-tech setup even without the color accents of stem plants or the iridescence of Buce.
Works planted or floating — different behavior in each mode — planted in substrate, Water Sprite grows upright with structured fronds rising toward the light, developing a strong root system that draws nutrients from the substrate. Left to float, the plant reorients horizontally, fronds spreading across the surface and roots hanging freely below — producing a dense submerged canopy structure that functions similarly to floating plants like Salvinia or Water Lettuce but with significantly more three-dimensional interior structure for shrimp to navigate.
Exceptional shrimplet and fry shelter in floating mode — floating Water Sprite produces a tangle of hanging roots and submerged frond undersides that provides more three-dimensional interior volume for very small animals than any other plant in the catalog. Shrimplets navigate into the root mass immediately and graze the biofilm-covered surfaces throughout — the structure is fine enough for the smallest juveniles to move through freely while providing genuine refuge from larger inhabitants. A portion of floating Water Sprite in a breeding tank or grow-out setup is one of the most effective shrimplet survival aids available.
Propagates continuously via adventitious plantlets — mature Water Sprite fronds produce tiny plantlets along their margins and surfaces as a natural part of the growth cycle. These plantlets develop miniature root systems while still attached to the parent frond and eventually detach to grow independently — floating to a new position, catching on hardscape, or settling into substrate. In a healthy tank a single established Water Sprite will seed the tank with offspring continuously without any intervention, gradually increasing the colony size until manually thinned.
Fast growth rate demands regular thinning — under medium to high light Water Sprite grows quickly, producing new fronds and plantlets at a rate that can cover significant surface area or substrate space within weeks. Regular thinning — removing excess plantlets, cutting back overgrown specimens, and clearing floating mats before they become excessively dense — is the primary ongoing maintenance task. Removed plantlets can be replanted elsewhere, added to breeding boxes, or shared with other hobbyists.
Aggressive nutrient uptake supports water quality — the rapid growth rate of Water Sprite is powered by aggressive uptake of nitrates, ammonia, and phosphates from both the water column and substrate. In shrimp tanks and breeding setups where nutrient management is an ongoing concern, a healthy colony of Water Sprite — particularly in floating mode where roots draw directly from the water column — makes a measurable contribution to water quality between water changes.
How to Set It Up
Getting Started
1
Choose your mode: planted or floating — decide upfront whether to plant Water Sprite in substrate or float it, as this determines where and how to introduce it. For a midground or background planted specimen, push the base of the stem gently 2–3cm into substrate with roots trailing downward. For floating mode, simply place the plant on the surface and leave it — it will orient itself horizontally within a day or two and begin producing hanging roots. Both modes can be run simultaneously in the same tank by planting some specimens and floating others.
2
Provide medium to bright light for best growth rate — Water Sprite performs under a wide lighting range from low to high, but grows most vigorously and produces the most vivid, finely divided fronds under medium to bright light. Under low light growth slows significantly and fronds may be less finely divided and more broadly lobed than in better-lit conditions. The plant survives and functions in low light but is less impressive and less useful as a shrimplet shelter structure than it is under adequate illumination.
3
Thin plantlets regularly to manage spread — once Water Sprite is established and producing adventitious plantlets, check the tank weekly and remove plantlets that are settling in positions you do not want the plant to colonize. Water Sprite will grow wherever it can reach substrate or catch on hardscape if left unmanaged — a small weekly cull of excess plantlets takes minutes and prevents the plant from overwhelming a layout that was not designed around it.
4
Supplement with liquid fertilizer for sustained quality — Water Sprite responds well to balanced liquid fertilization, particularly in floating mode where it cannot draw from a substrate nutrient reserve. Regular dosing two to three times weekly supports the bright green color of new fronds, steady growth rate, and continued plantlet production. In a well-stocked shrimp tank with regular feeding the nutrient load from fish waste and uneaten food may be sufficient without supplementation — observe the color of new growth as an indicator.
💡 Bonus Tip
A clump of floating Water Sprite dropped directly into a breeding box or mesh breeder is one of the single most impactful things you can do for early shrimplet survival — the root tangle provides immediate, ready-made cover and biofilm-covered surfaces from the moment shrimplets are released, without any preparation, attachment, or setup. Keep a small floating colony in the main tank specifically for this purpose: when a female is moved to a breeding box, take a portion of the Water Sprite with her so the newborns are released directly into shelter rather than into open water.
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Browse more aquatic plants
Pair Water Sprite with Salvinia, mosses, or stem plants for a complete planted shrimp setup. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.
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