Dwarf Baby Tears, also called Hemianthus Callitrichoides or Hemianthus Callitrichoides in aquarium literature, is perhaps one of the most popular foreground plants for planted aquariums.
It grows tiny, bright green leaves in an wonderful speed, since the container floor using a lush emerald carpet.
The Dwarf Baby Tears naturally does occur in Cuba, but it's spread throughout planted tanks worldwide. They're normally sold separately in little pots or, for just less patient aquarists that need an instant carpet, they are already grown and rooted in coco fiber mats.
They can also be found rooted in driftwood bits for aquascaping purposes.
Even the Hemianthus Callitrichoides will flourish 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 ideal even for Nano tanks, so given they are well-lit.
Lighting as strong as 2 g per gallon minimum should be available to hold the plant growing close to the floor. Less light will induce it to grow up to the water surface, where it lives in the great outdoors.
Dwarf Baby Tears usually are found rooting on porous rocks or driftwood pieces. They can be implanted in the substrate as a foreground plant, but the result is much more resilient and natural when attached to additional tank objects.
It is possible to tie modest segments of Hemianthus into a rock or wooden bit of your own choice and leave it to build up its roots around the thing. Many aquarists prefer using cotton thread instead of rubberbands or fishing line, because it's scarcely noticeable and it melts with the years, leaving only the roots attached.
Another way of keeping them from drifting around is to cover the Dwarf Baby Tears' roots together with moss that'll add some weight to the plant.
These mosses will offer more nutrients, as well as a good hiding ground for newly hatched fry.
For planting in the substrate, you can plant a whole kettle in 1 place and wait patiently for this to disperse, or you could split up small stems and plant them around one inch apart for faster policy.
This really is a timeconsuming process, though, so allow some aquascaping hours. Plant the stems utilizing a very long set of tweezers and make certain that the roots are well fit in the ground.
Care
Dwarf Baby Tears desire a high-value substrate rich in nutrients and minerals, particularly iron. The plant is more sensitive to iron deficiency and also can display yellow leaves if there is insufficient iron from the tank.
They'll do best with CO2 supplementation and also constant fertilization that will help accelerate growth rate.
Always prune this plant, even as while growingnew stems will reach top of older ones and suffocate them; Dwarf Baby Tears literally kills itself if left unattended.
Reproduction
Even the Hemianthus has pretty slow rise and development rate, but will spread upon the substrate after settling in your tank. Roots will branch away and create a complex network, resulting in a carpet-like appearance, but only in case you remember to constantly trim the plant to continue to keep it really low.
Still another popular method of dispersing the Dwarf Baby Tears will be to cut smaller segments of larger plants and replanting these from the substrate.
In this manner , they will cover the tank up floor faster, as propagation is made from many points.
The Dwarf Baby Tears may be implanted alongside other short foreground plants from contrasting colors. The dense carpet allows spawning fish to lay their eggs as well as the younger fry to cover up from harassing adults.
There is no worry when plant-nipping fish spilled on the Hemianthus Callitrichoides, even as it will begin to recover and grow , particularly if it has recently covered a significant surface.
Make an effort never to incorporate ravaging fish, for example as Oscars or even Jack Dempseysinto a tank implanted with Hemianthus Callitrichoides, since they are going to make an effort to uproot poorer stalks when"rescaping" the tank.
Goldfish are not really a good idea as a result of their different environmental conditions and because they are going to attempt to eat as much of their plant as you possibly can.
Be creative and use your own imagination and also try some aquascaping tricks with this specific tiny plant that is versatile. You can use it in a number of tanks, even from the smallest to the biggest, in a variety of means.
hemianthus callitrichoides temperature