Dwarf Baby Tears, also known as Hemianthus Callitrichoides or Hemianthus Callitrichoides in aquarium literature, is one of the popular foreground plants such as planted aquariums.
It develops tiny, bright green leaves at an incredible rate, within the container floor using a lush valley carpeting.
The Dwarf Baby Tears naturally does occur in Cuba, but it's spread through implanted tanks worldwide. They are typically sold individually in little pots or, for just less patient aquarists that want an immediate carpeting, they come already grown and rooted in coco fiber mats.
They are also able to be seen rooted in driftwood bits for aquascaping purposes.
Tank Requirements
Being small, this plant is ideal even for Nano tanks, so provided they have been well-lit.
Lighting as strong as 2 g per gallon minimum should really be available to maintain the plant growing close to the bottom. Less light will make it to rise up to the water surface, where it naturally lives from the open.
Planting your Dwarf Baby Tears
Dwarf Baby Tears usually are found rooting on porous rocks or driftwood pieces. They may also be planted within the substrate as a foreground plant, but the result is much stronger and more natural when attached to other tank items.
You're able to tie tiny segments of Hemianthus to some stone or wooden piece of your own choice and then leave it to develop its origins around the thing. Many aquarists prefer using cotton ribbon instead of rubber bands or fishing line, even since it's hardly noticeable and it dissolves with the years, leaving only the roots attached.
Still another manner of keeping them from floating around is to pay for the Dwarf Baby Tears' roots with moss that will then add weight into the plant.
For planting in the substrate, you are able to plant an entire kettle in one place and wait for it to disperse, or you could split up small stems 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 stems utilizing a very long set of tweezers and make certain that the roots are well fit in the soil.
Care
Dwarf Baby Tears desire a high-value substrate rich in nutrients and minerals, especially iron. The plant is sensitive to iron deficiency and will display yellowish leaves if there's inadequate iron at the tank.
They'll do well with CO2 supplementation and also constant fertilization that will help hasten growth speed.
Always prune this plant, even as while growingnew stems are certain to get on top of old ones and suffocate them; Dwarf Baby Tears literally kills itself if left unattended.
Trim the stems with a very sharp pair of scissors or a razor blade to help keep them in place while trimming.
Reproduction
The Hemianthus has pretty slow growth and development rate, but will spread upon the substrate after settling on your tank. Roots will branch away and produce an intricate network, resulting in a carpet-like look, but only if you make sure to trim the plant to keep it low.
Still another popular method of propagating the Dwarf Baby Tears is to take smaller segments of larger plants and replanting them in the substrate.
In this manner they will cover up the tank floor faster, as propagation is made from many points.
The Dwarf Baby Tears could be planted alongside other short foreground plants in contrasting colors. The dense rug allows spawning fish to lay their eggs along with the younger fry to hide from harassing adults.
There is no worry when plant-nipping fish spilled on the Hemianthus Callitrichoides, as it will begin to recover and grow , especially if it has covered a substantial surface.
Make an effort not to include ravaging fish, for example as Oscars or even Jack Dempseys, to a tank planted with Hemianthus Callitrichoides, since they are going to endeavour to uproot poorer stalks when"rescaping" the tank.
Goldfish are perhaps not just a good idea as a result of their different environmental conditions and since they are going to attempt to eat just as a lot of their plant as possible.
Be creative and use your own imagination and take to some aquascaping tricks with this small plant that is versatile. You may use it in many tanks, even from the smallest to the greatest, in an assortment of ways.
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