Microsorum pteropus 'Trident'
Finer and more elegant than standard Java fern, each leaf splits into three to five slender lobes, giving the whole plant a feathery silhouette. Faster than 'Windelov', less bombproof than the plain species. Looks especially good back-lit on a piece of upright spider wood.
Java Fern 'Trident' (Microsorum pteropus 'Trident') is a rhizome / epiphyte aquatic plant for the midground to background of a planted tank. It reaches 15–30 cm under good conditions and grows at a slow to medium rate. Light: low to medium. CO₂: none to optional. Target 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Substrate: Attach to wood or stone, never bury rhizome. Propagate via daughter plantlets on leaf tips, rhizome division.
Care at a glance
Finer and more elegant than standard Java fern, each leaf splits into three to five slender lobes, giving the whole plant a feathery silhouette. Faster than 'Windelov', less bombproof than the plain species. Looks especially good back-lit on a piece of upright spider wood.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether java fern 'trident' fits in your tank.
Polypodiaceae
Rhizome / Epiphyte
Midground to Background
Attach to wood or stone, never bury rhizome
Daughter plantlets on leaf tips, rhizome division
Selectively bred cultivar (Borneo origin)
Selectively bred cultivar (Borneo origin)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: none to optional. Light requirement: low to medium. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a slow to medium rate.
Java Fern 'Trident' (Microsorum pteropus 'Trident') needs low to medium light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: midground to background. Substrate: Attach to wood or stone, never bury rhizome It typically reaches 15–30 cm.
Propagation method: Daughter plantlets on leaf tips, rhizome division. Java Fern 'Trident' is a rhizome / epiphyte plant.
Target 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to high.
Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
