It develops miniature, bright green leaves at an amazing rate, within the tank floor having a lush valley carpeting.
The Dwarf Baby Tears naturally occurs in Cuba, however, it has spread throughout implanted tanks worldwide. They are typically sold separately in tiny pots or, for even less patient aquarists that want an immediate carpeting, they come already optimized and grown in coco fiber mats.
They are also able to be found rooted in driftwood bits for aquascaping purposes.
Tank Requirements
The Hemianthus Callitrichoides will thrive in mostly contaminated water with a pH range between 5.0-7.5 and a temperature between 70-84 degrees Fahrenheit. Being small, this plant is also ideal even for Nano tanks, provided they have been well-lit.
Light as strong as two watts per gallon minimum needs to be available to maintain the plant growing close to the bottom. Less light may cause it to grow up to the water surface, where it naturally lives from the wild.
Dwarf Baby Tears are usually found rooting on freshwater rocks or driftwood pieces. They may also be planted within the substrate as a foreground plant, however the effect is significantly stronger and more natural when attached to additional tank objects.
It is possible to tie modest segments of Hemianthus to some rock or wooden bit of one's choice and then leave it to develop its own roots round the item. Most aquarists prefer using cotton ribbon instead of rubber bands or fishing line, even because it's barely noticeable and it dissolves with the years, leaving the origins attached.
Another manner of keeping them out of drifting around would be to pay the Dwarf Baby Tears' roots together with moss that will then add weight into the plant.
These mosses will offer extra nutrients, along with a fantastic hiding ground for newly hatched fry.
For planting at the substrate, you are able to plant an entire pot in one place and wait patiently for it to spread, or you may separate small stems and plant them around one inch apart for faster policy.
This is a timeconsuming procedure, though, so allow a few aquascaping hours. Plant the stalks using a long set of tweezers and make certain that the roots are well inserted in the ground.
Care
Dwarf Baby Tears want a high-value substrate full of nutrients and minerals, especially iron. The plant is sensitive to iron deficiency and also can display yellowish leaves if there is inadequate iron from the tank.
They'll do well with CO2 supplementation and constant fertilization to help accelerate growth speed.
Always prune this plant, even as while growingnew stalks can get on top of old ones and suffocate them; Dwarf Baby Tears literally kills itself when left unattended.
Reduce the stalks with a rather sharp pair of scissors or a razor blade to help keep them in place while trimming.
Reproduction
The Hemianthus has pretty slow growth and development pace, but may spread upon the substrate after settling into your tank. Roots will branch away and create an intricate network, resulting in a carpet-like appearance, but only in the event that you remember to trim the plant to keep it low.
Still another popular way of dispersing the Dwarf Baby Tears will be always to take smaller segments of plants and replanting these at the substrate.
In this manner they will cover up the tank floor faster, as propagation is made from several points.
Tank Mates
The Dwarf Baby Tears could be implanted alongside other short foreground plants from contrasting colors. The dense rug allows spawning fish to lay their eggs along with the younger fry to cover up from harassing adults.
There's absolutely not any worry when plant-nipping fish spilled over the Hemianthus Callitrichoides, even as it'll begin to recover and grow again, specially if it has recently covered a substantial surface.
Make an effort not to add ravaging fish, such as Oscars or even Jack Dempseysinto a tank implanted with Hemianthus Callitrichoides, since they will endeavour to uproot weaker stems when"rescaping" the tank.
Gold fish are perhaps not a good idea as a result of the different ecological conditions and simply because they will stubbornly try to eat as a lot of this plant as you possibly can.
Be creative and use your own imagination and try some aquascaping tricks for this particular tiny versatile plant. You can use it in a number of tanks, even from the tiniest to the biggest, in a variety of means.
dwarf baby tears on driftwood