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Cabomba

Carolina Fanwort, Green CabombaCabomba carolinianaPhoto © Animal-World

   Cabomba is a very common and beautiful aquarium plant that is great for beginner aquariums!

   Cabomba will root if the shoots are buried in the gravel. The stems will grow up to 50 cm (20 in) and so in an aquarium they will need to be trimmed periodically. They are also easily propagated by simply planting cuttings from the present plants. Cabomba will do great in almost any aquarium environment, including harder water and minimal light. However, the brighter the light the better it will grow.

For more Information on keeping a planted aquarium see:
About Planted Aquariums, Adding Aquatic Plants For a Healthy Aquarium

Distribution:    Cabomba can be found in Central and South America.

Water conditions:    Temperature: 72-82° F (22-28° C)
   pH: 6.5 - 7.5
   dCH: 2-12°

Lighting:
   Light level: Moderate to bright

Propagation:    Cuttings and side shoots.

Availability:    Cabomba is readily available.

Author: Jasmine Brough

• Green Cabomba : $2.49
• Green Cabomba : $1.99

Green Cabomba Plant Offered By: PetsMart Price: $2.49

Green Cabomba Cabomba Caroliniana Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $1.99

Lastest Comments on Cabomba View all 9 comments on Cabomba Add Your Comment

Slyfish - 2012-05-11 I have a couple of these cabombas in a ten gallon tank. I used to have some in a five gallon tank that died; I'm pretty sure it was from too little light. So in this 10-gal I put in a special grow light and they live well. I guess they have enough light, or is it something else? Anyway, my problem with these plants in the 10-gal tank is that they won't take root. They're healthy otherwise, but they have no roots so my 3 catfish uproot them when they poke around in the gravel for food. I've tried fertilizer and trimming the stem bottoms but nothing works. The stems just have this brown, kinda hard end to them, like flowers in a vase do after a while. I have nuetral to slightly acidic ph, and healthy levels of nitrate and alkalinity and stuff, from well water. It's not really a big problem, but I'm getting tired of replanting them every day. Anybody have help? Reply

hasib - 2010-05-16 Here's another confusion....I've bought 9 cabomba plants and 8 another plants that the shopkeeper called some kind of fern...but here I can see that the fern turned out to be the real cabomba...then what about the plant that the shopkeeper called cabomba? Though I can see them here in the second picture of cabomba....they are actually behind the cabomba plant....can anyone help recognize them? Nancy - 2011-07-11 Hasib, If you are referring to the light green plant behind the Cabomba on the right rear in the 2nd picture that is called Wisteria or Hygrophila difformis. It's a very prolific plant and quite attractive. Reply

AQUA GARDENER - 2006-05-14 Cabomba is a very nice plant i'm lucky enough to get tons of it here in louisiana at a local pond. i have it mixed in with a low growing water grass that i also get from the pond plus a few other assorted aquatic plants from other ponds in the area. my fish love it. i have a 175 gallon tank full of it my fish breed in it quite nicely. it gets very tall and very lush. its a good starter plant just get a proper grow light bulb and it will do fine. pleco's (alagea eaters) like chewing on it. you can break a long stem into several parts and each one will eventually grow as a seperate plant. can you really eat it?? thats news to me! lol Abelard A - 2011-06-27 My cabomba stop growing. All the leaves are falling apart. It started when I cut the stems to replant it. I feel guilty for doing this. Can you please advice me on what to do, to make my cabomba grow again? Thanks. Reply

Devanshi - 2010-04-01 They are nice to look at, and my red Danios also enjoy swimming through them. Reply

bill - 2006-10-07 This plant is good for any enviroment and grows fast under a good light. I use pro-glo from Hagen for lighting and can watch it grow. This plant can grow an inch a day. Only have had this plant for about two weeks but all my mollies love this plant and will peck at it and its flowers. Reply

Alleen - 2006-04-06 Cabomba is a really good plant, but the roots are damaged very easily, so be carefull when planting them. I recently got some of the red cabomba,and it has a little pinkish\white bloom on it. It is very pretty in the aquarium! Reply

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