Description

Pygmy chain sword, sold as Echinodorus tenellus, is a foreground plant with leaves fine as blades of grass that forms a low lawn of five to ten centimetres. It is the classic alternative to dwarf baby tears for anyone who wants to keep it simple: it grows in low light without CO2. In exchange it is slow to start, and until it roots into the substrate it does not begin to spread. Under strong light the leaves take on a reddish tone and the plant stays lower.
Scientific name
Helanthium tenellum
Position
Front
Difficulty
Easy
Natural grow
Slow
Max height
10 cm

🌊 Water parameters

pH
6 - 7.5
GH
2 - 12
Temperature
20 - 28 °C
Current
Low or moderate

Requirements

Light requirements
Low
Light spectrum requirements
6000 - 8000 (Kelvin)
Require CO2
no
Soil requirements
Nutritious sustrate

Habitats

Sources

  • GBIF
    GBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Helanthium tenellum.
  • Tropica
    Tropica Aquarium Plants. Plant database. Ficha de cultivo; consultada 2026-10. Helanthium tenellum.

It is still sold as Echinodorus tenellus; GBIF accepts Helanthium tenellum.

Tropica supports the light, CO2, growth and difficulty; the pH, temperature and hardness ranges have no citable source.