Graf zu Pappenheim, Frog Bite 8, CC BY-SA 4.0
key data
Attitude:
floating plant
Breed:
Separation from daughter plant
Size:
1cm to 5cm
Temperature:
10 – 28 °C
pH:
5 – 8
GH:
up to 30 °dH
CH:
up to 14 °dH
Look
The South American frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) is characterized by its round, large, smooth green leaves and long, fine, branched roots. The underside of the leaves is spongy and thickened. The plant floats on the surface of the aquarium and offers fish and shrimp with its roots an excellent retreat. Its large leaves are also useful for blocking overly bright light from above.
The diameter of the tropical plant can be up to 15 cm, the roots are up to 30 cm long. The leaves can grow 1-5 cm above the water level. Daughter plants drift away from the mother plant on longer stems. The flower of the frog bite is small, star-shaped and light green to white.
distribution
The floating plant is native to South and Central America. There it can be found naturally in lakes, ponds and slow-flowing waters. It has also spread by release in warmer parts of North America, particularly California. Unlike its close relative, the common frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), it is not found in the wild in Europe and Asia.
attitude
The South American frog bite makes very low demands on water temperature and hardness when it comes to keeping it. It can be kept in open and covered aquariums. Conditions for rapid growth are a sufficient nutrient content in the water and adequate lighting. If this is the case, the frog bite consumes a lot of nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates, and can thus prevent algae plagues. However, the rapid spread often results in the aquarium surface being criss-crossed by an almost opaque mat. Due to the size of the leaves, however, it is not particularly difficult to keep the plant at the desired size by cutting off excess leaves.
If you want to breed the plant, the daughter plants can simply be cut off. It is not uncommon for this to happen naturally by breaking off on their own.
It should be noted that the surface of the leaves floating on the water can quickly rot from splashing water.
Frogbite is also quite susceptible to snail infestation. Therefore, care should be taken to keep the plants more in the middle of the aquarium, without touching the glass walls.
particularities
The Limnobium laevigatum is particularly popular in breeding tanks, as fish and shrimp like to use the roots as spawning substrate. The young brood likes to use this as a retreat from predators.
If the leaves of the frog bite turn yellow, this is often an indication of iron deficiency.