Dwarf Baby Tears, also called Hemianthus Callitrichoides or even Hemianthus Callitrichoides in aquarium literature, is one of the popular foreground plants for planted aquariums.
It grows miniature, bright green leaves at an remarkable speed, covering the container floor using a lush emerald rug.
The Dwarf Baby Tears naturally does occur in Cuba, but it has spread throughout planted tanks worldwide. They are usually sold individually in small pots or, for even less patient aquarists that want an immediate carpeting, they come 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 acidic water with a pH range between 5.0-7.5 and also a temperature between 70-84 degrees Fahrenheit. Being so small, this plant is also ideal even for Nano tanks, provided they are well-lit.
Lighting as strong as 2 g per gallon minimum should be available to maintain the plant growing close to the bottom. Less light may cause it to grow up to the water surface, where it naturally lives from the wild.
Dwarf Baby Tears usually are found rooting on porous stones or driftwood pieces. They can also be implanted in the substrate for a foreground plant, however the effect is significantly stronger and more natural when attached to additional tank objects.
It's possible to tie small sections of Hemianthus into a stone or wooden bit of your choice and leave it to develop its own origins around the thing. Many aquarists prefer using cotton thread rather than rubberbands or fishing line, because it's barely noticeable and it dissolves over the years, leaving the origins attached.
Another way of preventing them out of floating around would be to pay for the Dwarf Baby Tears' roots together with moss that will add some weight into the plant.
For planting in the substrate, then you are able to plant a whole pot in 1 place and wait patiently for this to spread, or you are able to split up little stalks and plant them about one inch apart for faster coverage.
This really is a time consuming procedure, though, so allow some aquascaping hours. Plant the stalks employing a very long pair of tweezers and make sure the roots are well embedded into the ground.
Care
Dwarf Baby Tears want a high-value substrate full of minerals and nutrients, particularly iron. The plant is sensitive to iron deficiency and will display yellowish leaves if there is inadequate iron in the tank.
They'll do best with CO2 supplementation and also constant fertilization that will help hasten growth speed.
Always prune this plant, even as while growingnew stalks can reach top of older ones and suffocate them; Dwarf Baby Tears literally kills itself if left unattended.
Reproduction
The Hemianthus has pretty slow growth and development pace, but will still spread across the substrate after settling on your tank. Roots will branch off and produce an intricate network, resulting in a carpet-like appearance, but only in the event you make sure to trim the plant to keep it low.
Another popular method of propagating the Dwarf Baby Tears is to cut off smaller sections of plants and replanting those from the substrate.
In this manner they will cover up the tank floor faster, as propagation is made from many points.
Tank Mates
The Dwarf Baby Tears may be implanted along with other short foreground plants from contrasting colors. The dense carpeting enables spawning fish to lay their eggs as well as the young fry to hide from harassing adults.
There is no worry when plant-nipping fish spilled over the Hemianthus Callitrichoides, even as it'll quickly recover and grow again, especially if it has covered a substantial surface.
Make an effort not to add ravaging fish, such as for example Oscars or even Jack Dempseys, to a tank planted with Hemianthus Callitrichoides, as they are going to attempt to uproot poorer stalks when"rescaping" the tank.
Goldfish are not a fantastic idea as a result of these different environmental conditions and since they are going to try to eat as a lot of the plant as possible.
Be creative and use your own imagination and try some aquascaping tricks for this particular tiny plant that is versatile. You are able to use it in many tanks, even from the tiniest to the greatest, in a variety of means.
baby tears dwarf plant