Over the years, I’ve experimented with many types of plants in my axolotl tanks, and I’ve learned what really works. Adding the right greenery is a great way to make the environment more peaceful and natural. It helps your axolotls show instinctive behavior and also keeps the aquarium healthier.
The presence of live plants can help maintain clean water, which is important for their skin, as they absorb oxygen through it. Plus, plants support better water conditions and keep the water column chemical-free. I always suggest avoiding anything that needs fertilizer or liquid boosters, especially in coldwater tanks where axolotls truly thrive.
If you’re a beginner, don’t worry—there are easy, safe, and suitable options out there. The best ones don’t need much substrate, care, or attention to temperature, as long as you keep it around 60-65 degrees F, the sweet spot for axolotls.
Some cool water plants are a good choice, but be sure to rinse them and even do a bleach dip before placing them in the tank. That way, you won’t introduce unwanted pests, like snails or other hitchhikers, that may tag along.
Every plant should be grown in clean environments and carefully purchased to protect your tank inhabitants. From my experience, choosing the right plant isn’t just about looks—it’s about benefit, use, and helping your axolotl survive and stay healthy. I’ll be sharing a list of the best ones that I’ve found, so stay tuned for that good news.
Best Plants for Axolotl Aquariums
Some of the best plants for axolotl aquariums are easy to care for and do well in cool water. They make the tank look more natural and help keep the water clean. These plants also give your axolotl places to hide and feel safe.
When choosing plants for your axolotl tank, always start with a general list that includes safe species from different genus groups. I personally keep a printed plant list taped to my cabinet just so I don’t forget which ones are safe.
But before buying, make sure you check your local laws because not all options are legal—some can be invasive and cause damage to the local ecosystem. Always research first so you can enjoy a healthy setup without breaking any rules.
Stem Plants
One thing I love about stem plants is how easily they can be propagated just by taking cuttings from larger plants. Even a small bundle can multiply fast and cover the background of your axolotl tank. Some do well floating at the top, but if you want the best results, try planting the base of the stems into the substrate.
List of stem plants Species:
- Bacopa australis
- Hygrophila difformis
- Hygrophila polysperma
- Hygrophila polysperma
- Elodea canadensis
- Elodea nuttallii
- Najas guadalupensis
- Hornwort
- Hemianthus micranthemoides
- Ludwigia repens
- Rotala rotundifolia
- Cabomba caroliniana
From these species, we will learn more about a few in detail.
Elodea
I always suggest Elodea as one of the top picks for any axolotl aquarium, especially because it’s known as water weed for a reason. It easily adapts to different environments, even surviving in cold glacial lakes like the ones in Mexico where axolotls used to live.
The best part? It’s a stem plant that doesn’t need substrate, CO2, or fertilizers to grow. It thrives in low light and cold water, and thanks to its rapid growth, it helps in removing pollutants from the water, keeping the tank naturally clean.
Hornwort
If you’re looking for a plant that can handle anything, Hornwort is a great choice. It’s one of the strongest plants I’ve used and is difficult to kill, even in the coldest temperature. This aquarium plant has amazing cold durability, and under the right conditions, it grows fast.
It’s also similar to Elodea when it comes to care needs, which makes it easy to manage. One drawback, though, is that it sheds its needles while it adjusts to new water, and this can go on for about a month before things settle.
Brazilian Pennywort
One of my favorite plants for any axolotl tank is Brazilian Pennywort. It’s a fast-growing, vine-like, stem plant that’s super versatile. You can plant it in a substrate, but I prefer letting it float near the surface.
This way, it gives your axolotls some nice shade, especially since bright lights tend to irritate their eyes. I usually take a bunch and spread it around the top. Over time, its natural growth takes over the surface, creating a calm, shaded bottom in the aquarium.
Some axolotl caretakers also go for duckweed as a surface-covering plant. It’s a cool option, but I always warn newbies in the hobby — duckweed is extremely invasive. Once it’s in your aquarium, it’s really hard to get rid of, and you need to be fully prepared to keep it in perpetuity.
So if you want something simple and manageable, Brazilian Pennywort is a safer pick.
Watersprite
Watersprite is a super versatile plant that works well in any axolotl tank setup. You can either plant it in the substrate or let it float at the surface. It’s a fast-growing option that helps by eating up nitrates from the water column.
Its leaves tend to branch out quickly, and if left floating, the pieces will slowly consume the surface area while the roots drape down, creating a soft curtain-like effect. When planted, the leaves also provide nice shade or a cozy place where your axolotl can hide and relax.
Rhizome Plants and Mosses
One of my favorite choices for my axolotl tank has always been rhizome plants and mosses because they do well in lower lighting and still grow beautifully. These plants slowly become established and cover the foreground of the tank, creating a natural look.
I usually shove them into crevices or glue them onto driftwood using cyanoacrylate glue, also called gel super glue, which is the safest option for aquarium use. Just be sure to use it with caution, avoiding the roots, and only attach the rhizome part to the chosen surface.
Some even free float in the water, and if you’re lucky, they might flower under the right conditions.
List of Rhizome Plants & Mosses Species:
- Weeping Moss
- Anubias barteri
- Anubias barteri var
- Microsorum pteropus
- Anubias nana Bonsai
- Java Moss
- Christmas Moss
- Anubias nana Round Leaf
- Marimo Moss Balls
- Anubias nana Petite
- Microsorum pteropus
- Anubias nana Golden
- Microsorum pteropus
- Microsorum pteropus
- Anubias lanceolata
From these species, we will learn more about a few in detail.
Anubias & Anubias Nana
There’s a wide range of anubias species, and I’ve used several in my axolotl tanks because each one looks slightly different and adds variety to aquascapes, which can turn out looking truly amazing.
The leaves of this plant feel kind of rubbery, and they thrive even in the lowest light with the littlest care, often growing well with just animal waste providing enough nutrients. However, due to their slow growth, they’re not great at purifying the water.
One thing I always keep in mind is to avoid them being planted in substrate, because if the rhizome gets buried, the plant might rot and eventually die.
Java Fern
If you’re looking for an attractive plant that thrives with minimal care, java fern is an excellent choice. Just like anubias, it shouldn’t be buried in the substrate—instead, it should be weighed or tied down to a hardscape using twine or glue. I usually go with aquarium-safe glue to avoid any issues.
Its rhizome must stay above ground; burying it can cause it to rot and eventually die, which may have a negative impact on your water quality.
What makes this green, tall plant so special is how it grows tiny baby plants at the ends of its leaves, multiplying gradually and forming a bushier shape over time. It fits perfectly in the background or midground, offering a shaded hiding place that gives your axolotls the privacy they enjoy.
It also does really well in cooler waters and under dim lighting, which makes it a perfect match for axolotl tanks. You can even find cool varieties like the needle leaf type for a different look.
Java Moss
One of my favorite plants to keep in an axolotl tank is Java Moss because it can survive in a wide variety of aquarium conditions without much effort. It’s a slow-grower, but over time, it creates a nice, soft carpeting that looks natural and feels gentle under my axolotl’s sensitive feet.
What I love is how little maintenance is required, and my axolotl seems to really appreciate the texture. You can easily have it tied down or glued to any hardscape, and it will eventually spread out and provide a calming effect to the whole setup.
Rooted Plants
I’ve found that rooted plants make a great addition to an axolotl tank, but they require their roots to be buried in loose substrate to stay healthy. If your axolotls are smaller than 15 cm or 6 inches, avoid using loose substrate, as it can significantly increase the risk of impaction.
Once they’ve grown large enough, you can safely use fine sand that’s 1 mm or less in diameter—this is the safest choice. I usually consider using these plants in my aquarium with adult axolotls and place them in the background of the tank for a natural look.
List of Rooted Plants Species:
- Vallisneria
- Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus)
- Cryptocoryne (various types like Cryptocoryne wendtii)
- Dwarf Sagittaria
- Chain Sword (Echinodorus tenellus)
- Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)
- Italian Vallisneria
- Red Rubin Sword
- Jungle Val
- Helanthium tenellum
