What Plants Can Be Bad for Betta Use?

For the betta hobbyist, a few plants are both easy to maintain and safe for bettas. Java moss is a hardy plant that attaches to rocks and driftwood underwater. It also helps to detoxify aquarium water. Eelgrass is a beautiful low-maintenance choice that lets bettas swim through its long strands of grass. Water sprite will also provide shelter and decoration for a captive betta's environment.

Live plants require some monitoring and care. Many thrive at normal household temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and do not require much lighting, but other aquatic plants sold in pet supply stores may need more heat and additional lighting. If your plants grow large and begin to overwhelm the aquarium, simply trim them back so your fish have room to freely swim.

Betta fish are known to be jumpers, and experts recommend they be housed in lidded aquariums. As such, avoid plants that will grow above the water's surface and push up the tank's lid. Meanwhile, any plant, even a plant safe for bettas, become unsafe for fish when they die. Dead plants rot in the water -- leading to spikes in ammonia -- and become deadly. To avoid any imbalance in pH levels, clean out dead leaves regularly and remove plants that are no longer thriving in the aquarium.

Many plants sold with or for betta fish should be left out of an aquarium. Bettas are commonly sold in glass vases with peace lilies or bamboo, neither of which is aquatic. These plants will start to slowly die and decompose in the water, and the betta's environment will become poisoned by the spike in pH levels. Do your research to ensure that your fish are not underwater with an unsafe plant.