Carolina mosquito fern

Azolla caroliniana

Family : Azollaceae

PlantFreshwaterfloating

Floating fern similar to Azolla filiculoides, often confused. Slightly smaller and more delicate.

Carolina mosquito fern — photo 1 sur 4 — Kurt Stüber [1] · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.01 / 4

Popularity

Easy plant

standard lighting, few requirements

Availability

Common in shops

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Description

Azolla caroliniana is a floating aquatic fern of the Azollaceae family. Its fronds are 0.5–1.5 cm long, with more rounded lobes than Azolla filiculoides. It forms dense mats on the water surface. Like other Azolla, it hosts nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. Its growth is rapid under favorable conditions. It is often used as a shade plant in aquariums. Its color can turn red under intense light.

Habitat

Region :

Calm waters, marshes, ponds, slow-moving river edges

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature15–30 °C

pH5–8

GH0–10 °dGH

KH0–5 °dKH

NO₃

≤ 20 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 2 mg/L

CO₂

≤ 0 mg/L

Light

Medium

Care

Difficulty

1/5

Diet

Photosynthetic

Min. tank

10 L

Min. group

Adult size

1.5 cm

Lifespan

1 years

Temperament

Peaceful

Propagation

fragmentation

Care notes

Very easy to grow, Azolla caroliniana requires little maintenance. Moderate to strong light is recommended. Temperature between 15 and 30 °C, pH 5.0–8.0. No CO2 needed. Occasional fertilization can speed up growth. Avoid strong currents. Remove excess regularly to prevent smothering other plants. Compatible with shrimp and small fish.

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