- Sku: FW5-BHOR
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Your order is reserved — we hold off on bagging until you arrive, so it stays healthy in its display tank.
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is one of the most forgiving aquarium plants on the planet — a fast-growing, rootless oxygenator that thrives in nearly any freshwater tank. Lush whorls of bristly, dark-green needles soak up nitrate like a sponge, shade out algae, and give fry and shrimp a near-perfect place to hide. Sold as a weighted bunch.
Pair it with our other freshwater plants or browse the full freshwater collection.
Care Guide
- Placement: Hornwort is rootless. Leave the bunch floating at the surface (the most natural and easiest setup), or weigh down the lead/anchor and let the stems grow vertically.
- Lighting: Low to high — extremely adaptable. Grows faster under brighter light but does fine in dim tanks too.
- Temperature: 59–86°F. One of the few plants happy in unheated goldfish setups and tropical community tanks.
- pH / hardness: 6.0–7.5; soft to moderately hard. Tolerates a wider range than this in practice.
- CO₂: Not required. Hornwort grows vigorously with no injected CO₂.
- Fertilizer: Liquid water-column ferts only — there are no roots to feed.
- Maintenance: Trim it back regularly. It can grow 4–6 inches a week under good light. Expect some needle shedding when the plant is first acclimating.
Specifications
| Common Name | Hornwort, Coontail |
| Scientific Name | Ceratophyllum demersum |
| Form | Stem plant, sold as a weighted bunch |
| Care Level | Beginner |
| Lighting | Low to high |
| Temperature | 59–86°F |
| Growth Rate | Very fast |
| CO₂ | Not required |
| Placement | Floating or background (rootless) |
Why Hobbyists Love It
- Nitrate vacuum: Pulls nitrogen from the water column faster than almost any other aquarium plant — ideal for new tanks that are still stabilizing.
- Allelopathic: Releases compounds that naturally suppress green algae.
- Fry & shrimp shelter: The dense, bristly canopy is the gold standard for protecting livebearer fry, betta fry, and baby shrimp.
- Cold & warm: One of the only plants that thrives in coldwater goldfish tanks as well as tropical community setups.
- No substrate needed: Perfect for tanks with bare bottoms, sand, or coarse gravel.
Compatibility
- Great with: Community tetras, rasboras, livebearers, bettas, killifish, dwarf cichlids, and especially freshwater shrimp & snails that graze biofilm off the leaves.
- Caution with: Goldfish and large cichlids will nibble or shred it — that's fine if you treat it as a fast-growing food/oxygenator, but don't expect a tidy aquascape.
- Avoid: Strong direct outflow from filters/powerheads when floating — it'll get pushed all over the tank.
FAQ
Why is my Hornwort shedding needles?
Normal for the first week or two after moving to a new tank. The plant drops older growth and pushes out new shoots adapted to your water. Vacuum debris during water changes.
Floating or planted — which is better?
Floating is the most natural and grows fastest because it has direct surface light. Planted (anchored) hornwort works too, but tends to lose its lower needles over time.
Will fish eat it?
Most community fish ignore it. Goldfish, koi, and some large cichlids will graze on it heavily.
How is it shipped?
We hand-bag your bunch at pickup so it stays hydrated in its display tank until you arrive. Each bunch is roughly 4–6 stems anchored together.
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Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
