plant · Araceae
Duckweed
Lemna minor
Wild range: Temperate to subtropical freshwaters of the Northern Hemisphere; nearly cosmopolitan outside arctic/subarctic zones (Cosmopolitan)
At a glance: Duckweed care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Duckweed?
The compiled profile lists 18.0–29.0 °C for Duckweed (Lemna minor). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Duckweed?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 2.5 US gallons (10.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Duckweed?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 6.5–7.5. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
Free-floating surface plant of still to slow freshwater: ponds, ditches, backwaters and eutrophic shallows. Forms dense green mats; each frond typically bears a single dangling root.
Where they are found
Subcosmopolitan. Native across much of Africa, Asia, Europe and North America; naturalized in parts of Australasia and South America (Wikipedia identity). Flowgrow: temperate zone, almost cosmopolitan.
Aquarium care
True floating plant—do not plant in substrate. Needs only low to moderate light and nutrients from the water column; atmospheric CO2 is enough (no injection). Growth is explosive: skim or net excess at every water change so the mat does not seal the surface and shade submerged plants. Prefer gentle surface flow or a floating ring; strong returns pile fronds into corners where they rot. Excellent nitrate/phosphate export and fry cover, but famously hard to eradicate once established—quarantine gear and never release outdoors. Goldfish, koi and some cyprinids graze it.
Compatibility
Community-safe floater. Provides shade and microfauna for shrimp and fry. Grazed by goldfish, koi and many pond fish. Can outcompete light-hungry stems/carpeting plants if left unmanaged; keep coverage partial or confined. Hitchhikes easily on nets and plants.
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.