hi everyone, I just came from the petstore and bought this thing called "betta bulbs" for my betta.  Can anyone tell me how to let it grow?  Do I just drop it in his tank?  How big does it grow to, and how long.... and how to maintain it?  Thanks

I've never heard of them - I take it this is a plant and didn't come with any instructions?  Most interesting.  Lots of folks have successfully and happily used the packages of aquarium bulbs they get at WalMart but this is the first I've heard of any being called Betta Bulbs.



todley

The only plant bulbs for aquariums that I know of are aponogeton (same as walmart.)  You just drop them into the water and they will hopefully sprout roots and drop to the bottom.  Once they sprout you can stick then into the substrate a bit to keep them where you want, but don't bury the bulb.  The plant will grow off to one side of the bulb itself.  



Are they dark brown and kinda hairy like a coconut but a bit peanut shaped?  If yes, it's probably what I described above. I got a pack of them at Wal-Mart but only one of them sprouted.  The rest got all moldy so I took them out of the tanks.

Thanks kranders and todley!  Yes, it was dark brown and fuzzy and round.  I dropped them in Sapphire's tank yesterday.... hopefully they will sprout!  I got them at Petco and it came in this little plastic bag with no insructions.  Oh well...  thanks again for the info!  I will read more about aponogeton.     

Hey, let us know how they do.  I'm curious what percentage of these things actually grow.  The one I have that did sprout is doing well.  So far it has about a dozen long slender leaves, light green in color, and is growing really fast.

I will    I dropped 2 of them in the tank.... we'll see what happens!  Kranders, how long did it take for the one you have to sprout out, and how big did it get?  It's really strange how the package had no instructions whatsoever.

I put two of these in a snail tank just fed by indirect sunlight and they grew like crazy!

Hi Doc Barb!    Wow... I hope mine grow too!  How long did it take to grow?   I'm on Day 2... nothing's happening so far...

I got some of the bulbs too. Of four two actually turned into beautiful plants. I saw my first sprout withing 48 hours. the second took about 72 hours. They grow really fast and make a pretty plant. I have them in my snail tank with some Long Finned Leapord Danios. Makes a beautiful tank.   Even though only two of the four sprouted I think it was a great deal for the price.

one of the two seems to have sprouted!    I checked this morning and there's a teeny white stub at one side of the other one...     

I have both species of Wal-mart apongentum bulbs, and they grow great!  I have found about 8 out of 10 sprout successfully in anywhere from 24-72 hours.  Some take a little longer.  I have seen one sprout after a week.  They'll grow in almost any conditions, tolerating both salt and very low light, and being roughed up by the fish.  They also flower.



Useful Info based on my experiences:



1. Fish that push the bulbs around will slow down sprouting, rooting, and growth.  If you plan on putting them in a tank with meddlesome fish--in my case a moonlight gourami and a CAE--pre-sprout them in an ordinary bowl with gravel on the bottom.  Once they start developing roots, plant the roots in the substrate.



2.  Sometimes, if another species of plant (ex, hygro difformis) starts growing rapidly, hogging up nutrients, apongentums will molt. They aren't dead, just leafless.  This is the time when you break out the fertilzer. A few Flourish tabs will work wonders. Liquid fertilzers will also work, just not as well.



3.  When buying new bulbs, look for packages containing bulbs that are large and plump.  These bulbs have greater sprouting success.

I bought a pack of "betta bulbs" a few months ago. Almost all of them sprouted and now I have lots of big, broad leaved plants in all my tanks that are beautiful.



RR