Aquatic PlantsIntermediate🌑 Low light

African water fern

Bolbitis heudelotii · also called Bolbitis, Congo fern, African fern

🐾 Pet-safe

Generally non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Bolbitis heudelotii is a striking rhizome fern with translucent, finely divided dark-green fronds that attaches to wood and rock. It grows slowly and favours soft, slightly acidic, well-oxygenated water with good flow. Under the modern PPG I classification it is placed in Dryopteridaceae (it was formerly assigned to Lomariopsidaceae).

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Quick facts

Category	Aquatic Plants
Family	Dryopteridaceae
Native origin	Tropical West and Central Africa (Congo River basin and surrounding regions)
Care difficulty	Intermediate
Light	Low light
Pet toxicity	Pet-safe

Light

Does best in **low to medium light** (roughly 15-50 PAR). It is not a high-light plant; excessive intensity encourages algae on its delicate fronds. Moderate, even lighting produces the fullest growth.

Water

Prefers **soft, slightly acidic water**: temperature **20-26 C (68-78 F)**, pH **5.5-7.0**, low to moderate hardness. Sensitive to poor water quality; clean, well-circulated water is important. Benefits from **water-column dosing**, especially iron and a complete micronutrient mix.

Soil & potting

An **epiphyte/rhizome plant — do NOT bury the rhizome**, which will rot if covered. Tie or glue it to driftwood or rock; it firmly grips hardscape with its roots over time. Substrate choice is unimportant as it feeds from the water column.

Environment — humidity, temperature, placement

**CO2 beneficial** — injection markedly improves its otherwise slow growth and frond density. Notably **flow-loving**: it thrives in moderate to strong current that mimics its native riverine habitat. Best as a **midground or background** accent on hardscape. Grows both submersed and emersed.

Propagation

Propagated by **rhizome division** — cut the rhizome into sections, each with fronds and roots, and re-attach. It can also produce **adventitious plantlets** on mature leaves that may be detached once rooted.

Toxicity detail

Non-toxic and safe for fish, shrimp, and snails. Its tough fronds are generally not eaten. Not a regulated or invasive species in aquarium use; do not release into the wild.

Growth stages

How this plant changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.

Photo coming soon

Spore / recruit

Aquatic plants and macroalgae establish from spores, seeds, or drifting fragments that settle and attach to substrate or rock. Many freshwater aquarium plants and marine macroalgae also spread readily from a detached piece that takes root or holdfast.

Photo coming soon

Young growth

Young growth puts out its first blades, fronds, or leaves and anchors with roots or a holdfast. Submersed plants may look different from their emersed form, and growth speeds up as the plant adapts to the water's light and nutrients.

Mature

A mature aquatic plant or macroalga reaches its full size and characteristic shape, forming the dense growth, runners, or fronds typical of the species. Established plants spread to fill space and can be divided or trimmed to propagate.

Sources

Tropica - Bolbitis heudelotii (care guide)
Wikipedia - Bolbitis heudelotii (encyclopedia)