Red Root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) | Live Freshwater Floating Plant, Beginner

The Red Root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) is a beginner-friendly floating aquarium plant prized for its small lily-pad leaves and signature crimson roots. Under medium to high light, the leaves blush a deep red-pink that contrasts beautifully against green tanks and shows off bettas, gouramis, or shrimp swimming below. Each cup is a hand-portioned starter colony ready to drop into a tank.

See more freshwater aquarium plants or shop all freshwater livestock and supplies.

Care Guide

• Care Level: Beginner — one of the easiest floating plants once acclimated.
• Lighting: Medium to high. Strong light brings out the red coloration; low light keeps the leaves green and growth slow.
• Placement: Floats on the surface — no planting needed. Drop in and let it spread.
• Surface flow: Keep flow gentle. Strong filter return or surface agitation will splash water onto the leaves and rot them. Use a feeding ring, surface skimmer baffle, or barrier to corral floaters in one area.
• Nutrients: Heavy water-column feeder. Pulls nitrates, phosphates, and trace minerals straight from the water — making it a great natural nutrient sponge.
• CO2: Not required. Atmospheric CO2 is freely available from the air.
• Propagation: Spreads by daughter plants — clip and remove excess weekly to prevent surface coverage and shade out submerged plants.

Specifications

Compatibility

Red Root Floater pairs especially well with bettas, gouramis, killifish, dwarf cichlids, and shrimp tanks — the dangling roots provide cover for fry, biofilm grazing for shrimp, and shade that softens overhead light. Avoid tanks with strong surface agitation or top-feeding fish that constantly disturb the leaves (large goldfish, oscars, severums).

Recommended Pairings

• Christmas Moss — classic carpeting moss for the lower scape.
• Bucephalandra Kapuas Brownie Ghost — low-light midground rhizome plant.
• Eriocaulon sp. Vietnam — rare star-shaped foreground accent.
• Browse all freshwater plants for more midground and background options.

FAQ

How red will the leaves get?
Under strong full-spectrum light, leaves take on a deep pink-red blush along the edges and veins. Under low light, leaves stay mostly green — healthy, but without the signature color.

How fast does it grow?
Fast under good conditions. Expect a small portion to double surface coverage in 1–2 weeks. Plan to thin it weekly so it doesn’t shade out submerged plants below.

Is it safe with shrimp and bettas?
Yes — ideal for both. Shrimp graze biofilm off the dangling roots, and bettas use the canopy as a resting spot near the surface.

Will it survive without CO2 or fertilizers?
Yes. Floating plants get CO2 from the air and pull nutrients from the water column, so they thrive even in low-tech tanks. A balanced liquid fertilizer can boost growth and color in nutrient-poor tanks.

What comes in the cup?
A hand-portioned starter colony — typically several connected daughter plants ready to spread. Quantity varies slightly with each batch.