By Clint Norwood
 
Scientific Name: Microsorium pteropus
 
Range: Southeast Asia
 
Ease Of Keeping: Very Easy
 
Lighting: Dim To Bright - Not Critical
 
Aquarium Requirements: Water temperatures of 19-30 C (65-85 F) are tolerated well. This plant will live and even prosper where other plants wouldn't have a chance. It's an extremely hardy and adaptive aquarium plant. The optimum conditions would be soft slightly acidic water with a temperature of about 73 F, with medium to bright light.
 
Java ferns are not normally planted but are instead attached (tied, wired or wedged) to rocks and /or driftwood, where they will anchor themselves in about 2 weeks.
 
Java ferns are beautiful plants with dark green sword shaped leaves. They are an excellent first plant for the inexperienced, or a great additional plant for even the most knowledgable aquarist.
 
Additional Note: Perhaps the most hardy of all aquarium plants, the Java ferns are a tough and apparently bitter tasting plant, therefore even the plant eating fish will leave them alone.