Trident Java Fern | Microsorum pteropus
Trident Java Fern
Scientific Name: Microsorum pteropus
Common Name: Trident Fern, Java Fern
Trident Java Fern is one of the most forgiving yet rewarding blackwater aquatic plants. With its distinct forked leaves that grow out of a rhizome, this beginner aquatic plant is ideal for attaching to driftwood or wedging between rocks. Its name comes from the characteristic trident-shaped fronds that sway gently in the current.
This aquatic fern grows horizontally along a rhizome, sending up narrow, forked leaves that thrive best when attached to wood or stone. We recommend a full-spectrum planted aquarium light set on a low to medium level. Avoid burying the rhizome in substrate to prevent rhizome rot; thread or aquarium-safe super glue is ideal for affixing to your blackwater aquarium hardscape. Over time, you may notice older leaves darken or break down entirely—don’t worry. This is a natural part of the plant’s adjustment process as these plants are often grown emersed before being submerged into the aquarium. This adjustment process often results in new plantlets sprouting from the leaf surface. These can be propagated into new plants.
Caring for Trident Java Fern in Blackwater Aquariums
Sold As: Individual Plant
Care Level: Easy
Lighting Requirement: Low
CO2: Not needed
Growth Rate: Medium
Native Habitat: Southeast Asia (commonly cultivated)
Tint Tolerance: High – thrives in blackwater or clear setups
Tank Placement: Midground or hardscape attachment
All Plants may contain snails or snail eggs. We keep them in all of our tanks for the benefits they provide. Our blackwater aquarium plants are provided by H2OPlants in adherence to their Shipping and DOA Policies. Your curated selection will arrive in their packaging separate from your botanical & merch orders.
Trident Java Fern | Microsorum pteropus
Home is getting more natural
While the aesthetic appeal of botanicals and tinted water can be quite attractive to us, the recreation of nature to emulate water conditions, feeding patterns, spawning displays, and territory building are the true benefits botanicals provide to our critters.
Botanical FAQs
Compostable Packaging Promise
Our packaging is designed to return safely to the Earth, just like the botanicals inside. Every bag is BPA- and Phthalate-free, GMO-free, and contains no animal products. Each meets ASTM D6400 composting standards, ensuring it can fully break down in a home compost bin.
What are the Fluffy White Growths on my Botanicals?
That’s biofilm and fungi—what we call the “goo phase.” It’s one of the clearest signs that your aquarium is alive and functioning. These growths wax and wane naturally as botanicals decompose. They’re harmless, even beneficial, and will disappear on their own once microbial populations stabilize.
Will botanicals lower the pH of my water?
That depends entirely on your source water. In very soft or RODI water, botanicals can gradually lower pH as tannins and humic substances accumulate. In medium to hard tap water, buffering capacity often resists these shifts, and you may not notice much change. At Betta Botanicals HQ, our very hard water (350+ ppm) shows almost no pH change unless we use botanicals like Alder Cones or Macaranga Leaves.
When should I replace leaves or pods in my tank?
We recommend allowing botanicals to fully break down into detritus, since this fuels microbial life and enriches the substrate. You can remove them once they stop tinting the water, but you’ll lose some of their ecological benefits. Each time you add new botanicals, follow proper preparation and observe your livestock until you learn your aquarium’s rhythm.
Are your products just for bettas?
Nope. Our botanicals are safe for almost all aquariums, terrariums, vivariums, and paludariums. The only exceptions are goldfish and axolotls, which may ingest small pods like alder cones or casuarina cones. For those species, we recommend large leaves such as Indian Almond, Loquat, or Jackfruit.
What are Tannins?
Tannins are natural compounds released by leaves, seed pods, and bark as they decompose in water. They soften water, gently lower pH, and create the characteristic tea-stained tint found in blackwater habitats. But their role goes far beyond color—tannins fuel beneficial bacteria, fungi, and biofilms, which form the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. They also offer mild antifungal benefits and help reduce stress in fish by replicating the natural conditions they’ve evolved in. At their core, tannins are plant-derived antioxidants that connect your aquarium to the same processes at work in wild flooded forests and streams.