15 Best Live Plants for Betta Fish in Their Tank

Last Updated on August 8, 2022

If you are more into aesthetics when choosing a pet fish, then you are in for a treat with betta fishes.

Those attractive colors as they swim across the water is such a sight to behold, that can ward off stress and improve your mood.

And if you have just recently bought a betta fish, then you probably know by now that they can’t thrive in small fish bowls. They need an environment that perfectly recreates their natural habitat, which in this case, is a fish tank filled with live plants.

Related: Are Live Plants Good for Betta Fish?

Betta fishes love live plants because it gives them a perfect place to hide during sleeping hours, helps keep unwanted chemicals at bay, and makes them feel that they are living in their natural environment. 

If you are in a dilemma on which live plant to buy for your betta fish tank, then you’ve just found the best place to be in. Below is a curated list of the top 15 live plants that are a perfect addition to your betta fish tank.

What live plants are best for betta?

Java Fern

Do you want an easy-to-grow plant that can thrive well even in low lighting? If so, then Java Ferns are what you need. This live plant is perfect for betta fish owners that want a hassle-free plant for their fish tanks.

What’s best is that when you pluck a java fern leaf and let it float underwater, it will sprout into a new plant on its own. Java ferns are slow growers, so you don’t have to worry about trimming them weekly.

---

Java Moss

Java Moss is also a low-maintenance plant, just like java ferns. They can even grow without rooting them on the substrate. It’s one of the best plants for betta fish that you can buy.

This means it can survive being attached to driftwood, or even if they are just floating mid-air underwater. But remember that regular maintenance is a must since java moss can spread easily in just a few days or weeks.

---

Dwarf Hairgrass

Soft and easy-to-maintain live plants are all you need to keep your fish tank woes at bay. And there’s no other live plant to choose for that than Dwarf Hairgrass.

Dwarf Hairgrass is best placed along with rocks, ornaments, or driftwood. They perfectly blend well in the environment and also adds an extra layer of aesthetic to your betta fish tank.

---

Duckweed

Achieving that “swampy” look to your betta fish tank has never been easier with Duckweed. This live plant floats on the surface and perfectly recreates a betta fish’s natural environment. 

Though keep in mind that maintenance can be a bit of a chore if you choose this one. Duckweed can grow rapidly; even a single leaf can multiply to bigger numbers in just a few days.

---

Water Wisteria

Water Wisteria is the perfect live plant to carpet your betta fish tank. It can also thrive well in low lighting conditions and adds an extra layer of beauty to other live plants you have in your betta fish tank.

Wisteria can grow up to a foot in size, so placing them in large betta fish tanks is best. You need to do regular maintenance too.

---

Vallisneria

Vallisneria can grow rapidly with adequate lighting and grows slower in low light. Once it grows, it can create a hiding place for your betta fish to play around.

When planting Vallisneria, make sure not to plant their roots too deep on the substrate as it may have a bad impact on the overall health of the plant. 

---

Water Sprite

A Water Sprite live plant is the perfect “betta fish playground” for your fish tank. Even though it grows rapidly, it is also easy to trim with no extra effort. 

Water sprites can grow when planted on a substrate or just let them float freely underwater. Fish owners just starting their betta fish journey can benefit well from water sprites.

---

Anubias Nana

Anubias Nana is the perfect live plant for betta fish tanks of any size. They are small enough to fit even the smallest fish tank variant you can buy from the market today.

You don’t need to worry about maintenance because they are slow growers. Anubias nana thrives best when rooted in a substrate or attached to driftwood.

---

Marimo Moss Balls

If you want to add a bit of aesthetics to your betta fish tank, Marimo Moss Balls got you covered.

This live plant is rare and usually grows on lake beds in Japan. Marimo moss ball is an algae-type plant that betta fish loves to play around with because of its spherical shape.

---

Anacharis

Anacharis is a plant popular among fish lovers for decades. This live plant helps fight off water toxins to keep a healthy environment for your betta fish. 

Keep in mind that Anacharis can grow fast, making fish tank maintenance a chore. It also needs moderate lighting for them to survive since their leaves can drop in too much low lighting.

---

Pennywort

Looking for a versatile live plant for your betta fish tank? Pennywort is the best choice for that. Pennywort can thrive well above the water surface, giving that swampy look to your fish tank.

---

Hygrophila

Give your betta fish a natural resting spot with the Hygrophila live plant during siesta hours. Thanks to its large leaves that can grow up to 28 inches, it is the perfect plant for your betta fish to get their much-needed relaxation time.

---

Hornwort

Versatile and easy to care for? Then check out Hornwort. This live plant is popular among betta fish owners because it can grow fast even in low light. Not to mention, it also creates shade for your betta fish to hide into. 

---

Banana Plant

A live plant that is low-maintenance and isn’t too invasive when it grows? The Banana Plant is the ideal choice for that. 

This live plant can grow “lily pads,” just like Duckweed. It also creates different color varieties depending on the intensity of the aquarium lighting.

---

Christmas Moss

Give your betta fish tank that holiday look with the Christmas Moss live plant. This live plant grows slowly compared to java moss and forms little trees that look like a forest of Christmas trees. It can also survive in different lighting and temperature levels too.

---

Conclusion

Giving the best live plants for betta fish plants are a must. Without live plants, it can negatively affect the growth and development of your betta fish which can lead to their death. Compared to fake plants, your betta fish tank can be healthier thanks to live plants’ additional benefits. Not to mention that it also gives that natural look to your fish tanks that fake plants cannot recreate.