Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Hydrocharis laevigata (current name), Amazon frogbit, South American spongeplant, West Indian spongeplant, Smooth frogbit, Limnobium stoloniferum
Family
Hydrocharitaceae (frogbit family)
Origin
Tropical and subtropical Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
15 cm
Temperature
18–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Care level
beginner
Lighting
Low to medium light (leaves sit close to the lamp); CO2 not needed
Flow
Gentle; dislikes strong surface flow

Care

Amazon frogbit is a floating plant with rosettes of round, glossy leaves that have spongy, air-filled tissue underneath, and long, fine roots trailing below. Botanists now place it in the genus Hydrocharis as Hydrocharis laevigata, but the trade still uses Limnobium laevigatum. Tropica rates it easy, with low light and CO2 needs and a medium growth rate; leaves are 1–5 cm tall and the rosettes 5–15 cm across. With good light and plenty of nutrients, mature plants push leaves up above the surface; thin these out so plants underneath still get light. Growth slows when nutrients run low, so it is a handy indicator of fertiliser levels. Its roots shelter gouramis and fry. Keep the lid off or vented and avoid condensation dripping onto the leaves, which can rot them. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. It has escaped from ponds into waterways in California and is invasive in Chile, and it is introduced in parts of Europe, Japan and Australia. Never release this plant or dispose of it in drains or waterways; it is invasive in some countries. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limnobiumlaevigatum); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Spreads by runners (stolons) that bud off new rosettes; simply separate them. It also flowers and sets seed, and floating young plants drift away on currents.

Compatibility and tank mates

Floating plant: good cover for bettas, gouramis, killifish and fry, and the roots shelter shrimp. Goldfish, koi, silver dollars and many herbivorous fish eat it. Keep surface flow gentle and leave open water so labyrinth fish can reach the surface.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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