Green aquatic plant on black substrate with a black background for blackwater aquariums at Betta Botanicals.

Trident Java Fern | Microsorum pteropus

$7.00
$7.00
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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 to low to medium light levels. 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: 1 pot

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.

Aquarium Botanical FAQs 

  1. Please reference our Shipping and Hassle-Free Return Policy at the bottom of the screen. All Products are packaged inside sustainably sourced and renewable sugar cane fibers allowing them to be fully biodegradable and compostable. Yes, you can bury these bags in your backyard to enrich your soils. 
  2. Please refer to our botanical preparation instructions. These Botanicals are grown and harvested in pesticide-free environments and it is recommended to use 2-3 botanical pieces per 5 gallons to start, wait 5-7 days, or for the next water exchange to then add more.
  3. Our aquarium and vivarium botanicals, leaves, and seed pods are not for human consumption, ever.
  4.  

Commonly Asked Questions:

 

1) Will Botanicals Lower The pH Of My Water?

It entirely depends on your water's chemistry. Soft water will allow the botanicals to lower your pH more than if you have medium or hard water. At Betta Botanicals HQ our tap water is Very Hard, ( 350+ppm) and we do not notice a change in water pH unless using Alder Cones or Macaranga Leaves.

 

2) What Are The Fluffy White Growth On My Botanicals?

White growths are the colonization of biofilms and fungi. We call this the 'goo phase' and it is totally natural. Botanicals are fuel for the ecosystem and the populations of bacteria and fungi will naturally rise and fall. 

 

3) I Don't Keep Bettas. Will These Botanicals Be Okay For My Critters?

100% yes. Our botanicals are for aquariums, terrariums, vivariums, and all natural enclosures wishing to recreate a more natural environment.

 

4) I Have Goldfish and Axolotls, What Botanicals Should I Avoid?

We DO NOT recommend using botanicals that these fish can ingest. Botanicals like casuarina cones, small alder cones, and live oak are not suited for these animals. Large aquarium leaves like Indian almond, loquat, and jackfruit leaf litter are preferred. 

 

5) When Should I Replace My Aquarium Leaves?

We recommend letting aquarium leaves and seed pods entirely break down into beneficial detritus. You can absolutely remove them after they don’t release tannins anymore, you just won't get all potential benefits of leaving them in the ecosystem. 

 

Ben sitting at a desk with a shipping box in his lap at Betta Botanicals.

Betta Botanicals® Shipping and DOA Policies 📦

All products from Betta Botanical show live shipping rates from our preferred carriers.

  • We offer FREE USA shipping on select USA orders over $35.
  • All Manzanita Wood and Rasamala Borneo Roots have an $8 USA Flat Shipping fee. If you purchase botanical quantities above $35+, you will still see this shipping fee reflected.
  • Our Leaf Litter Lifestyle Merch is shipped directly to you from an off-site curator, and we cannot offer free shipping on these items.
  • If an item has an assigned shipping value, this value is applied even when the order total qualifies for free shipping to account for our sustainable packing materials, oversized charges, and time to carefully package your products.
  • For international Orders, please note that customs may impose applicable taxes and duties, which are the responsibility of the customer. If you choose not to cover these fees and decide to return your order, we'll gladly refund the product cost. However, please be aware that the shipping label cost, return shipping, and carrier admin fees will not be refunded in this case.
  • Aquatic Plants ship for a flat fee of $15.99 via Express methods to the USA only. Plant orders leave our greenhouses on Tuesday (Thursday Delivery) and Thursday (Saturday Delivery). You must purchase a heat pack if your local temperatures are below 40°F, or purchase a cold pack if your local temperatures are above 90­°F, to ensure your order is covered by our DOA Guarantee. Shipping costs are non-refundable once an order is shipped. More info on our aquatic plants can be found below.

Betta Botanicals is expanding our exclusive line of botanicals globally. We proudly ship to the following countries and territories:

Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Greenland, Hungary, Isle of Man, Spain, Svalbard & Jan Mayen, Türkiye, Australia, Albania, U.S. Outlying Islands, and the United States of America.
 

When Do You Ship Botanicals & Plants? 🌱🍂

Blackwater Aquatic Plants Shipping Schedule
  • Orders placed Sunday to End of Day Tuesday ship the same week. If your order requires a Saturday delivery, and a Saturday delivery is not an option, we will hold your plants until the following week.
  • Orders placed from the End of Day Tuesday to Saturday ship the following week.
  • You can expect your plants 1–3 days after shipment, although courier delays may occur.
Betta Botanicals Orders: Ship within 1-4 business days.
Merch Orders: You can expect your merch 7-10 business days after shipment confirmation.

Blackwater Aquarium Plants DOA Policy and Procedures

Betta Botanicals Aquatic Plant Shipping Policy All aquatic plants ship directly from H2O Plants in Plant City, FL. Some fast-growing plants may be restricted in certain states, and it is your responsibility to check your local laws before purchasing.

DOA Guarantee
We understand concerns about ordering live plants online. Rest assured, our DOA (Dead on Arrival) policy guarantees plants will arrive alive and in good condition if you follow the rules below.

No Returns on Aquatic Plants
We do not accept returns on aquatic plants, as they typically cannot survive being shipped back. 

15% Restocking Fee on Cancelled Aquatic Plant Orders

Please feel free to contact us if you need to cancel an order. However, as a small business, the only way we can accommodate cancellations is by charging a 15% cancellation fee on the cost of the plants. If you need us to hold a package for tank issues, we will waive this fee for you. 

If Your Aquatic Plants Arrive in Poor Condition

  1. Take photos of the unopened package within 6 hours of the delivery scan of the carrier.
  2. Email these photos to us for evaluation at info@bettabotanicals.com.
  3. In some cases, we may ask you to wait a few days to see if the plant recovers—most plants are surprisingly resilient.
  4. Please do not discard any plants until we’ve responded to your claim.

Blackwater Aquarium Plants DOA Resolution
If a plant is confirmed DOA, we will replace it, offer a substitute, or refund it if the item is unavailable.

Pests & Algae on Naturally Grown Aquatic Plants

  1. Many of our non-tissue-culture plants are grown with natural tank methods (using snails, shrimp, fish, etc.).
  2. While we strive to remove pests before shipment, we cannot guarantee plants are 100% pest or algae-free.
  3. We cannot issue refunds if minor hitchhikers (snails, algae, duckweed) are found.
  4. For those who wish to avoid this possibility, we recommend tissue-culture plants or thoroughly cleaning plants upon arrival.

Blackwater Aquarium Plants DOA Void
Failure to provide photos of unopened, damaged plants within 6 hours of arrival will void our DOA guarantee. Failure to purchase a heat pack when your local temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit will void our DOA Guarantee. Failure to purchase a cold pack when your local temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit will void our DOA Guarantee.

Lost Package Policy for All Orders

  1. A package is considered lost if it has been in transit for 14 days or more with no delivery scan.
  2. After 14 days, we can reship your order or issue store credit after successful filing of a lost package claim with the carrier.
  3. Lost package claims must be submitted within 30 days of the ship date and in accordance with the carrier's refund time window.
  4. We may charge additional fees if reshipment or refunds are granted in such scenarios.

Stolen Package Policy for All Orders

  1. If tracking shows “delivered” but the package is missing, we’ll reship your Botanicals, Aquatic Plants, and Merch order one time at 50% off your original checkout price.
  2. If a reshipped package goes missing again, we will not offer additional refunds or reships.
  3. Stolen package claims must be made within 48 hrs of the carrier delivery scan.
  4. We may charge additional fees if reshipment or refunds are granted in such scenarios.

Wrong or Incorrect Address Policy for All Orders

  1. Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address.
  2. If the address is incorrect and the package is delivered elsewhere, it is the customer’s responsibility to recover it.
  3. If undeliverable and returned to us, we reserve the right to not reship, refund, or replace items at our discretion.
  4. We may charge additional fees if reshipment or refunds are granted in such scenarios. 

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