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Hey, I just bought some plants from the stores few weeks ago (including Petco..grrr). There are two plants which act quite different from other plants. I read some articles
online yesterday and there're so called "terrarium plants"

These plants are terrarium plants, which can be used as decorative plants but generally only last a few months in water

. Hm..so I am just wondering my

suspect #1 and suspect #2 are one of those. Thanks alot

suspect #1: I bought this guy from petsmart, it was sealed in a small plastic tube along with some moisterizing jelly inside(so not in water). What I feel is, it's 99% one of those terrarium plant. it's been a month and there's no new root, no new leave (it ain't dying tho) ..some small bubbles would be evolved at the back of the leaves when lighting is strong (unlike other plants which give chains of bubbles)

suspect #2: From petco..dun even have a name..it looks nice but no new leaf is formed after 1 month in the tank. The roots also look quite different from other plants (brown thick roots instead of white thin ones). And like suspect one, not giving chains of bubbles like other plants

some photos of them
http://www.geocities.com/patsonluk/Suspicious.html

Suspect one is a fully aqautic plant called Java fern. Java fern is a slow growing plant. I can grow in almost no light at all. I have no clue on supject 2 other than it my be a sword of some kind.

#1 is definitely java fern, it is a true aquatic plant. I have tons of them. It's hard to tell what #2 is.

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From what I have been told by a person I trust, Java Fern will really take off if you attach it to wood (driftwood, bogwood, etc.). They said they really perfer that and thrive over being shoved in gravel.

Suspect 2 looks kind of like the "mondo grass" I saw at a petsmart I visited a couple of weeks ago.

I agree with CeltGirl, #2 looks like Mondo Grass. The large pet store chains like to pawn this stuff off on unsuspecting aquarists.

Unfortunately Mondo Grass is not a true aquatic. Some time ago I bought some (without knowning what I know now) and it lasted about a month before I had to throw it out.

#1 is definitely Java Fern, as several of the astute F-Profilers have said. That's a great plant to start out with, and grows in just about all lighting conditions.

thanks for all the replies ...hm..I just hang the java fern on a driftwood(I checked it in the store, they call it tropical fern..whateer) ..the grass like plant..hm...not sure if I should pull it out or not..it's not growing nor rotting (a month in tank already)...any idea?

Suspect #1 I also conceur, Java Fern. I to have lots of it.

Suspect #2 looks like a plant I had once when I to did not know any better. In 2 to 3 months it started to die. I put it in a pot in the backyard just for kicks and it is doing much better. I would pull it out of the tank in my opnion.

I'm almost 100% sure that is mondo grass. I've checked a couple of resources and it looks almost exactly like it. It's typically used by bonsai enthusiasts, like myself, to make the landscape of the pot look more realistic. Heh, now I'm tempted to run back over to the petsmart and get some. Without comparing two pictures more closely, it was hard to tell if it was the real deal or not.

hm...mondo grass...guess I will keep it in my tank for now (no sign of dying) just hope mine is a mutation and could live and thrive in water...

again..thanks for all the replies