Horse-tail rotala (Rotala hippuris) care guide

Group
Plants
Family
Lythraceae (loosestrife family)
Origin
Japan
Water
freshwater
Temperature
20–27°C
pH
5.5–7
Hardness
Soft
Care level
expert
Lighting
High light; CO2 injection needed

Care

Horse-tail rotala is a Japanese Rotala with whorls of very fine, needle-like leaves, giving a soft horsetail look; tips can turn pink to red in strong light. We could not reach a detailed source page for it, so the details here are limited. It is a demanding plant for high-tech tanks: give strong light, CO2 injection, soft slightly acidic water and steady nutrients. Plant it in groups in the midground or background. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Take top cuttings and replant them; trimmed stems branch out.

Compatibility and tank mates

Fine tips are grazed by plant-eating fish. Best in planted tanks with small fish and shrimp.

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

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