There’s no doubt about it, folks:
Having real plants in your aquarium is more important than just the good looks (which are definitely a plus).
They offer shelter and security for your goldfish…
… Purify the water…
… As well as helping give them a more interesting environment to swim around in.
But which goldfish plants are the best?
I’ve tried a LOT of different kinds of plants with goldfish, and countless have not survived.
So I’ve made a list of the ones that have done the best for me (and other goldfish keepers) with performance scores.
After all:
Live plants make expensive salads for your water piggies
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
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Our Top Pick
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Java Fern |
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Anubias |
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Hornwort |
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Cabomba |
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Brazilian Pennywort |
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Our Picks of the Top Aquarium Goldfish Plants
OUR TOP PICK
1. Java Fern
Benefits:
Great option to use as a background or “filler” in the aquascape
Lives without being planted in a substrate – does well in low light without added fertilizers
A good first choice for beginners; hard to kill
Description:
Java fern makes a lovely background or mid-ground plant, and resists the attacks of goldfish due to its tough, fibrous leaves. Its dense, leafy structure affords shelter and is fun for your fish to swim through. You pretty much have to be trying to kill this plant for it to die. If it can’t make only a plastic plant could. 😉 Java fern is not demanding in light or fertilizer requirements, and does not require a substrate to be planted in – it can be easily affixed to wood or rocks. With time and the right conditions, Java Fern can grow to a large size – up to 14 inches – and makes an impressive addition to any aquascape. In my tests, no variety or size of goldfish bothers it. It makes a nice background plant in shallower tanks, or mid-ground in larger ones.
Java fern does not want to be buried in any substrate, preferring to have its roots and rhizome left on top. Smaller plants can be affixed with plant glue, but I have found lead weights are the easiest and most effective method for anything but baby Java ferns. Simply wrap them around the rhizome and drop them where you wish.
2. Anubias
Benefits:
Least likely to get eaten by goldfish
Low maintenance: low-light, no added fertilizers or substrate required
Hardy and difficult to kill – perfect for beginners
Description:
Anubias is hands-down the best plant to keep with goldfish. With thick, rubbery leaves that can resist even the most voracious of goldfish, it comes in many varieties and requires very little special attention to keep it happy. Rarely do larger slim-bodied varieties attempt to eat them, though they may nibble on the new leaves. When well-cared for, they can grow to a nice large size and can even produce little flowers! Anubias petite can be placed side by side to create a “carpet effect” at the bottom of the tank. Anubias does not require any substrate and prefers to have its roots left uncovered (especially great for those who have a bare-bottom tank).
How to Plant
Anubias can easily be attached by using plant glue to affix the thick stem at the bottom to a rock or driftwood. I have also found lead weights are excellent for weighing down these plants and can be cut for smaller plants or doubled up for larger ones. These allow you to place the plant anywhere.
Anubias can easily be attached by using plant glue to affix the thick stem at the bottom to a rock or driftwood. I have also found lead weights are excellent for weighing down these plants and can be cut for smaller plants or doubled up for larger ones. These allow you to place the plant anywhere.
- Related Post: Water Wisteria: Complete Care Guide (Planting & Growing)
3. Hornwort
Benefits:
Fast-growing & nutrient absorbing
Algae-inhibiting
Great for spawning fish, eggs & fry
Description:
If you are like me and don’t have a green thumb but want a beautiful, enhancing plant for your aquarium, Hornwort is the one for you. It’s also known as Coon’s Tail because of its busy shape. This is a very flexible plant with low demands. It does not need a fancy substrate, fertilizers, CO2 or high light. In fact it can grow in just about any condition. With more light it looks bushier and grows faster – up to several inches a week! Goldfish don’t bother it at all in my experience due to the tough needles instead of tender leaves. This plant is tolerant of a huge range of temperatures and is probably one of the only plants that can survive winter outdoors in a pond. Because it is a nitrate hog, it helps out-compete algae problems. Great as a background plant as it can grow practically as tall as you have space for.
Read More: Hornwort Aquarium Plant Guide
You can weight it down with lead weights or leave it floating; it has no root system. Some find sticking it in the substrate works well.
4. Cabomba
Benefits:
One of the most beautiful aquarium plants available
Fast growing, purifies water well
Fluffy appearance offers fish & fry shelter
Description:
Cabomba is a little-known but fantastic plant for goldfish, resistant to even larger pond goldfish. Also known as Fanwort, it is a phenomenal water purifier. It is a stem plant that likes to grow roots. A soft plant with a lush look, it makes a stunning background planted in rows or used as a filler in the aquascape. The dense, feathery leaves are perfect for spawning tanks and offering fry or fish shelter. It is very similar to Myrio Green, another fantastic plant for goldfish.
Read More: Cabomba Aquarium Plant Guide
If you have a bare-bottom tank or want to provide the most nutrients, this plant will do great in a glass cup filled with 3/4 soil and topped with 1/4 gravel or sand. It will grow very healthy in this setup. Some also plant it directly in the sand or gravel substrate. It likes to grow roots into a substrate of some kind and does best with fertilization in the form of soil or root tabs. It can be left floating but looks best planted.
5. Brazilian Pennywort
Benefits:
Floating or rooted; submersible or aerial
Very easy, non-demanding plant
Helps shade other plants to protect from algae
Description:
Pennywort is an excellent choice for goldfish tanks. The leaves are a bit rubbery, making it unappealing to them. It will grow underwater and, if allowed to, will grow over the surface of the water. This allows it to help shade other plants and prevent algae. It also is more effective at nutrient export. Pennywort can produce beautiful little white flowers. It is an easy to care for plant and can be left floating or planted in the substrate.
Leave it floating if you like or plant it in the substrate. It will benefit from fertilization or soil. You can use glass cups to hold soil capped with gravel or tie cloth bags of dirt around the base of this plant.
6. Moneywort
Benefits:
A good choice for fancy goldfish tanks
Adds nice detail to the aquascape
Bright green color
Description:
Also known as Bacopa Monnieri, Moneywort is a stem plant that is popular in aquascaping for the beautiful, small round leaves it produces that add detail to the aquarium. Most fancy goldfish will not bother this plant, though the leaves may be nibbled on by larger slim-bodied fish. Some report it does very well in their ponds. It can grow emersed and produce beautiful flowers. It does not require CO2 or high light but will benefit from both, making it a good choice for low-tech setups. Easy to prune, it is a great choice for beginners.
This plant does best in soil or with fertilizer in inert substrate. It will develop a root system and will do well in glass cups of soil capped with gravel or sand.
7. Ludwigia
Benefits:
One of the highest oxygen producing plants
Beautiful red to pink tones add vibrant color contrast
Hardy & low-maintenance plant
Description:
Ludwigia is hugely popular among aquarists for its beautiful variegated coloration. A relatively fast-growing plant, it provides ample shelter for fish and fry while improving the ecosystem of your aquarium through its strong oxygen production. Propagation is simple by trimming and replanting the trimmings. It will add an elegant touch to any fish tank, and it’s leaves are durable enough to resist the attacks of most goldfish – fancy and slim-bodied alike. The red pigmentation is promoted by higher lighting, low nitrates and high phosphates.
Read More: Ludwigia Repens: Complete Care Guide (Planting & Growing)
A heavy root-feeder, this plant prefers to have accessible nutrients in the form of either soil or fertilizer supplementation. Pots of soil capped in gravel or sand are a great way to provide the benefits of soil to this plant without making a mess in your tank.
8. Vallisneria
Benefits:
Creates a lush, natural background
Non-demanding, nitrate-eating plant
Fast growing & easy to propagate
Description:
Vallisneria is one of the most cherished aquarium plants in the hobby for its ease of care and beauty. It is a fast growing plant that will quickly create a jungle out of the background of your tank in the right conditions, and is difficult to kill. The leaves of this plant are like grass and can grow very tall in a short period of time. Fish love to swim through it and it is especially resistant to goldfish of all shapes and sizes. It is a very tall addition to goldfish tanks and can grow to a significant height, even bending over below the surface of the water (the leaves can be trimmed to avoid this if desired). Vallisneria spreads by sending out runners. Planting several Vals in a row along the background helps to give your aquarium a dense background with a natural underwater look and can help to hide equipment in the tank. It’s great for goldfish tanks because it doesn’t like very soft water.
Vallisneria is not picky and will do well in most substrates with proper fertilization, though it is advantageous to provide it with soil capped with gravel.
9. Water Sprite
Benefits:
Hardy and difficult to kill
Purifies water like crazy
Does well in most aquariums
Description:
This plant can make your aquarium look like a beautiful forest, as it can grow quite large and propagate extensively with time and the right conditions. It is not terribly fussy about water parameters but prefers strong light to really take off. Goldfish may nibble at these, but it is such a fast growing plant it usually isn’t a problem. The delicate, lace-like design on the leaves provides nice detail to the aquascape.
It can be left floating until it throws out roots, after which time it is a good idea to plant it in the substrate. It can live in plain, regular sand or gravel but will do better with fertilization of root tabs or soil underneath.
10. Rotala
Benefits:
Delicate plant offers detail and color
Produces flowers if allowed to grow above water
Creates dense bushes or “forests” in the tank
Description:
Rotala is a plant that tends to do quite well with goldfish, even the slim-bodied ones, due to its tougher leaves. There are many varieties of Rotala, many of which have a pinkish or reddish hue with narrower leaves. It does not require CO2 injection, but does better with more light and will show stronger reds with lower nitrate levels. Easy to propagate, this plant can be used to create a dense forest in your tank or bush. If allowed to grow to the top of the tank, it can grow out of water and produce flowers.
This plant has fine roots that do well in sand, aquasoil or small gravel. It will also do quite well in a container of soil capped with gravel or sand. Using tweezers can make it easier to replant the stems into the substrate.
11. Amazon Sword
Benefits:
Large plant great for filling background areas
Easy plant that is difficult to kill
Helps purify water while aerating substrate with root system
Description:
The Amazon Sword is a popular choice for goldfish aquariums. They can grow to be very large (up to 2 feet tall!) and do a great job at helping to eat up excess nitrates in the water. A nutrient-hungry goldfish plant, adding root tab fertilization (Seachem Flourish tabs are a great choice) is recommended. Swords are typically placed towards the back of the aquarium in the aquascape and do well in moderate to high light conditions. The roots will spread all over and can help prevent toxic anaerobic gas pockets from forming in the substrate. They also come in several unusual and beautiful color and leaf variations.
Read More: Amazon Sword Plant for Goldfish Tanks
The biggest obstacle with planting swords is getting them to stay down. You also do not want to bury the crown of the plant (whitish part at the bottom) or it will rot to death. It can be grown planted in pots filled with gravel or directly in the substrate itself (gravel or aquasoil such as Fluval Plant Stratum is preferred over dense sand – though gravel poses a choking hazard for goldfish).
12. Sagitaria
Benefits:
Dwarf varieties can create lush carpets
Develops a strong root system to aerate substrate
Adds interest to foreground
Description:
Sagitaria comes in several varieties, among which are the dwarf and the taller grass-like variety. The dwarf is incredibly popular for creating carpets on the aquarium floor. Both propagate by sending out runners. If you would like to make a dwarf sag carpet, it is recommended to plant the plants first and let them grow in for at least a month before introducing fish to allow their root systems to get established. Otherwise the goldfish will enjoy uprooting them and your plants will all be floating at the top. The good news is that is about the extent of damage goldfish will do to this plant. It can be used in a low-tech setup and does quite well without CO2 injection.
Using tweezers is highly recommended to plant these little guys. They will hold down well in sand or gravel and will grow best if soil is added below the gravel. It can be tricky to plant them in aquasoil due to their tendency to float up, especially with digging fish.
Bonus Plant: Elodea
Benefits:
Grows incredibly fast
Highly water oxygenating
Flexible plant that does well with any substrate (or none at all)
Description:
Elodea (also known as Anacharis) is one of the fastest growing water plants in the aquarium hobby. It is not a picky plant and can do well in almost any setup with a wide range of water conditions and lighting. Fancy goldfish generally leave this plant alone, but even if the goldfish nibble at it it grows so fast that it’s hard for them to ever annihilate. With enough light it produces fine streams of bubbles that oxygenate the water. Offers shelter for eggs and fry and ensures cleaner water for fish. The biggest issue I’ve had with it is what to do with all the extra plants.
Throw it in the water as is or plant the stems in the substrate if desired. Elodea will throw out roots regardless if it has a substrate or not. Propagate by pinching the stems to create new plants.
Why Choose Live Plants over Fake Ones for Your Goldfish?
There’s no doubt about it:
There’s just nothing quite like the natural beauty of a planted goldfish tank.
*Embarrassing story alert*
Okay, so I always new I wanted live plants in my tank (which used to be a Tupperware bin) when I was young. So I actually snuck down to our neighbor’s pond, harvested a cattail and put it in a pot of sand with my goldfish.
Needless to say it didn’t last long, so don’t try that at home!
Now don’t get me wrong:
Plastic plants have their perks.
They are usually inexpensive… and very difficult to kill 
But I’m not fond of them.
The plastic ones can pose the dangers of pokey edges to clumsy goldfish. And the silk ones always seem to fall apart or fade after a bit.
Not to mention they never seem to have a “real” look, and they don’t offer anything to the aquarium environment biologically speaking.
Live plants, on the other hand… why wouldn’t you want them?
They absorb nitrates to use as fertilizer. In a closed aquarium, this is very beneficial for your water quality.
Get this:
They also help produce oxygen (O2) while absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2).
This is more important the smaller your fish’s home is.
And of course…
They are gorgeous!!
Now we come to the question:
Which Plants will Goldfish Avoid?
I’ve tried a lot of different ones in my search for the perfect goldfish plant. And I’m happy to say I’ve found the answer.
It needs to be tough.
See, it isn’t easy finding live plants that stand a chance with the “monster munchers” in your tank.
Just when you think you’ve found the prettiest one…
*CHOMP!*
Bye-bye tender leaves.
And bye-bye hard earned cash. :'(
Goldfish need vegetable matter as part of their diet, but I think you’d rather give them a piece of lettuce as a more economical snack!
And unless you have a much larger ratio of plants and water to fish, nothing edible stands a chance – not even the faster growing ones.
I learned the hard way that, while duckweed might look nice initially, they’ll only end up passing through your goldfish’s tummy
So whatever plant you choose, you will want to make sure your goldfish won’t eat it.
Something else to consider is whether or not the plant requires some kind of liquid fertilizer being dosed into the water.
The good news is goldfish are such heavy waste producers that some plants such as Anubias and Java Fern may not require supplementation in that respect.
Is there a Way to Prevent Goldfish from Destroying Your Aquarium Plants?
While most goldfish will not eat the ones recommended in this article, there is an element of subjectivity with each individual fish keeper’s experience.
Some fish are just more destructive than others and will shred anything edible, no matter what (though fortunately these kind of goldfish are few and far between!).
Fancy goldfish seem to be less prone to destroying them than athletic breeds like Commons or Comets.
The truth is…
In my experience, most goldfish destroy plants because they don’t have anything else better to do.
They’re bored.
But don’t lose hope:
One way to deter goldfish from chowing down on your beauties is to DISTRACT THEM.
Give them softer foraging materials like wilted spinach, cucumber, cilantro or other leafy veggies and they will be much more likely to ignore your other plants.
These are way more appetizing and satisfy their desires to tear into something!
Also:
Growing in your plants for a month or so is also a good idea before adding fish.
Where and When Should You Buy Aquarium Plants?
Buying your goldfish’s plants online (which is what I do) has some nice advantages – you can get access to far more selection than what’s at your local pet store.
That said:
Some plants don’t ship as well as others.
More sensitive species such as Vallisneria can show up to your door brown and wilted if shipped in excessive cold or hot temperatures.
(Speaking from experience here.) :/
Checking the weather to make sure it won’t be under 30 or over 100 degrees F for a few days after you plan to order is a good idea.
Quarantining Your New Plants
Check with the seller and see what they do to ensure your plants don’t come with unwanted “hitchhikers.”
Snails are usually the biggest issue, but in rarer cases pathogens could be transmitted (depending on where your plant is from and how it was housed).
For a seller that does no quarantine or grows their plants in a tank with other fish, you will need to make sure your plants are disease and pest free yourself.
You can do this by keeping the plant isolated for a minimum of 28 days.
Some people have success doing a hydrogen peroxide and water dip (though this may be hard on certain species).
Either way, healthy plants will help make for a healthy aquarium.
How to Attach Your Goldfish Plants
Some people use nylon string.
I did that for a LONG TIME, and let me tell you – it was a total pain.
No matter how strong you tie it, it always gets loose due to disturbance during water changes.
Loose thread is hazardous to goldfish, who can get caught on it by their gills or fin rays (this actually happened to my goldfish on several occasions).
Some recommend superglue, but the problem is that it usually has other things in it that can potentially leach into the water.
But then I found plant glue. <3
Let me tell you, this stuff has been a life-saver.
You can attach your Anubias or Java Fern or Java Moss or whatever to wood or rocks in seconds, and it is goldfish safe too (unlike Superglue).
I use this kind by the makers of Seachem Prime.
Lately I’ve been having success using these lead plant weights for my Anubias and Java fern.
It’s less messy and seems to last much longer than the glue.
Now just watch them grow
What About You?
Do you keep live plants in your goldfish tank, or are you still nervous about trying them out?
What has your experience been with a planted goldfish tank?
Let me know your experiences in the comments section below.
Water lettuce.
Some plants can survive if they grow fast enough to avoid being eaten.
This usually depends on a low ratio of fish to plants.
However this method usually ends up just slowing the INEVITABLE DEATH of these plants. 😉
