Common salvinia (Salvinia minima) care guide
- Group
- Plants
- Other names
- Common salvinia, Water spangles
- Family
- Salviniaceae (floating fern family)
- Origin
- South America, Central America and the West Indies; introduced in the south-eastern USA and South Africa
- Water
- freshwater
- Maximum size
- 2 cm
- Temperature
- 18–30°C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Care level
- beginner
- Lighting
- Low to medium light (more light, faster growth); CO2 not needed
- Flow
- Gentle; floating plants dislike strong surface flow
Care
Salvinia minima is a small floating fern from tropical America. Each node carries two oval floating leaves, roughly 0.5–2 cm long, covered in fine white hairs that shed water, and one finely divided leaf that hangs down like roots. Leaves are bright green and may brown with age or strong light. In the wild it lives on still or slow water and even tolerates slightly brackish water. Tropica rates it easy, with low light and low CO2 needs, and recommends it for open-topped tanks. Float it on the surface; it grows quickly when there is enough light and nutrients, shades the tank and takes up nutrients that algae would otherwise use. Pale leaves are a sign of a micronutrient shortage, so a little liquid fertiliser helps. Remove surplus regularly so it does not cover the whole surface. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. It has naturalised widely in the south-eastern United States, and Texas lists it as a noxious plant. 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/Salviniaminima); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Spreads by fragmentation: any budding piece of the floating stem that breaks off becomes a new plant, so a few leaves soon become a mat. Plants in the trade are thought to be sterile, so propagation is purely by moving clumps. Fragments can sit dormant and regrow when conditions improve.
Compatibility and tank mates
Goldfish, koi and many large cichlids nibble floating ferns; small community fish, shrimp and snails leave it alone. Labyrinth fish (gouramis, bettas) often use floating plants to anchor bubble nests, and the hanging roots shelter fry. Keep it away from strong surface flow and from tanks with tight-fitting lids that trap condensation on the leaves.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.