Skip to product information
1 of 4

Echinodorus tenellus

Fine grass-like leaves on a compact foreground Echinodorus tenellus plant

Regular price
£7.99
Regular price
Sale price
£7.99
  • Hurry, only 5 items left in stock!
Quick Facts

Common name: Pygmy Chain Sword

Origin: North America

Position in Aquarium: Foreground

Grows up to (cm): 15 cm

Pot Size: 5 cm

Growth rate: Fast

Description

Echinodorus tenellus is one of the smallest members of the Echinodorus genus, producing a dense mass of fine, grass-like leaves that spread slowly to form a natural-looking low carpet. Unlike the larger sword plants, tenellus stays compact — typically under 10 cm — making it one of the few Echinodorus species suited to foreground planting.

It is an undemanding plant, growing under medium light without CO2 supplementation. Propagation is straightforward: the plant spreads by sending out horizontal runners that develop into new rosettes, gradually filling in the foreground area over time. A nutritious substrate supports this spreading habit and keeps the fine leaves a healthy bright green.

Supplied as an established potted plant, Echinodorus tenellus suits aquariums from 40 litres upward. It works well as a low-growing foreground plant in both smaller set-ups and larger layouts where a delicate, grass-textured foreground is desired without the need for CO2 injection.

Plant Sizes

You’ll receive a healthy, rooted plant in a pot, similar to those shown. Each one is hand-checked before dispatch.

Shipping

Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 4pm, Monday to Friday. Tracked 24 Service from £4.99, DPD Express from £6.99.

Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy chain sword) Aquafleur
Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy chain sword) Aquafleur
Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy chain sword) Aquafleur

Customers praised this aquarium plant as "healthy" with "strong roots" that thrives in tanks. Most shoppers reported rapid growth with runners appearing within days. Plants arrive well-packaged. However, some noted it may be challenging for novices, with occasional browning leaves reported.

  • They have almost doubled in size and are already spreading just one week after planting.
  • It's been in about a week and is starting to produce runners already.
  • I received this plant in very good condition with very strong healthy roots
  • 5 stars: 14 (82%)
  • 4 stars: 2 (12%)
  • 3 stars: 1 (6%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
John O. (Glasgow, GB)
Lovely plant

Healthy plant received 3 weeks ago. The plant was well packaged and is doing great in my tank

A
Amanda M.
Beautiful plant

I received this plant in very good condition with very strong healthy roots

M
Mark R.
Review

Lovely healthy plant that is doing really well in my aquarium.

R
Richard L.
Review

Big heathy leaves and good roots. Despite warnings about possible leaf loss the plants have soon established themselves and started throwing out runners.

j
john s.
Review

Ordered a few plants from *Aqua-essentials* the plants were not the usual plants around in my local aquarium shops
So it was easy to pick this Echinodorus Tennellus as one to buy.The whole experience from ordering to receiving the well packed plants was 100%
fast posting of lovely grown plants-thank you so much

A
Amanda L.
Review

All seemed well when first planted but not thriving. A few brown leaves appearing

C
Clare N.
Review

Very healthy plant. Sadly it didn't do well in my aquarium, so perhaps not ideal for novices.

J
Jim H.
Review

They are clearly experts all the plants I bought are top quality and thriving in my aquariums

D
David G.
Review

Using this in the foreground of my aquarium as a carpeting plant. It’s been in about a week and is starting to produce runners already.

L
Leigh A.
Review

Healthy plant

A
Alasdair W.
Review

good plant growing in one week quick post

R
Roy W.
Review

Received these plants the day after dispatch. They were well packed and very healthy. They have almost doubled in size and are already spreading just one week after planting.

T
Tom S.
Review

I bought 8 of these and all had a lot less leaves than in the picture but most were still ok. Two however were quite poor with very little root growth and after a week are just about hanging on! Will have to wait and see if the co2 and ferts make them pick up. Packaging was excellent and service second to none. Perhaps just a bit more attention should be paid to the packing people to the health of the individual plants before despatch but allround pretty good.

S
Sharon B.
Review

Good, healthy plants and look great in my tank. Planted the same day they arrived and I took care to get as many little plants as possible out of each of the pots. Hopefully I will be rewarded with a good, dense mat on the bottom of my tank - so long as my chain loach leave them alone long enough.

D
David M.
Review

only in the tank 6 days , sending out runners already . great buy looks at home already

M
Mohammad R.
Review

Very impressed with the quality of the plants and also the delivery, it was well packed and would highly recomend to anyone trying to purchase plants.

Product FAQs

Helpful details before you buy.

How large does Echinodorus tenellus get?

It typically stays under 10 cm in height, making it one of the very few Echinodorus species suited to foreground planting.

Does it need CO2 to carpet?

No. It spreads via runners without CO2, though the process is slower than with CO2 injection. In a low-tech tank it will spread steadily under medium light.

How does it spread?

It sends out horizontal runners along the substrate, each producing a new small rosette. Over several weeks these fill in to create a grass-like carpet.

What substrate suits it best?

A fine, nutrient-rich substrate such as an aqua soil or plant substrate is ideal. It can also grow in coarse gravel if root tabs are added for nutrition.

Can it be kept in a nano aquarium?

Yes. Its small size makes it an excellent choice for nano tanks from 40 litres upward, where it provides a natural grassy foreground.

Skip to product information
1 of 4

Echinodorus tenellus

Fine grass-like leaves on a compact foreground Echinodorus tenellus plant

Ask a question
Easy care Medium light CO2 not required Foreground plant
Regular price
£7.99
Regular price
Sale price
£7.99
  • In stock — 5 available

In-stock orders normally dispatch before 4pm, Monday–Friday. Delivery details

Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy chain sword) Aquafleur
Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy chain sword) Aquafleur
Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy chain sword) Aquafleur

Complete your setup

Useful additions for your aquarium

Care essentials chosen for this plant

Healthier plants
Brighter results
Plant food Neutro+ Aquarium Plant Fertiliser - All-in-One Liquid Fertiliser

Essential nutrients for healthier,
more vibrant plants.

Recommended size
£10.99
Liquid carbon Neutro CO₂ - Liquid Carbon for planted aquariums

Helps boost plant growth
and colouration.

Recommended size
£10.99
Root nutrition Neutro TerraTabs - Root Tabs for Planted Aquariums

Long-lasting nutrition
for strong, healthy roots.

Recommended size
£9.99
Useful additions for planting day Carefully packed with your plants Specialist aquarium plant care
Bundle offers

About this plant

Echinodorus tenellus is one of the smallest members of the Echinodorus genus, producing a dense mass of fine, grass-like leaves that spread slowly to form a natural-looking low carpet. Unlike the larger sword plants, tenellus stays compact — typically under 10 cm — making it one of the few Echinodorus species suited to foreground planting.

It is an undemanding plant, growing under medium light without CO2 supplementation. Propagation is straightforward: the plant spreads by sending out horizontal runners that develop into new rosettes, gradually filling in the foreground area over time. A nutritious substrate supports this spreading habit and keeps the fine leaves a healthy bright green.

Supplied as an established potted plant, Echinodorus tenellus suits aquariums from 40 litres upward. It works well as a low-growing foreground plant in both smaller set-ups and larger layouts where a delicate, grass-textured foreground is desired without the need for CO2 injection.

Preparing a potted plant

Gently remove the pot and growing wool, then follow the planting advice for this species.

Potted plant care guide
Delivery & live plant guarantee

Orders placed before 4pm Monday–Friday normally dispatch the same working day. Special-order items leave once all items are available.

Delivery options and charges · Returns and guarantees · Help with plants that arrived damaged

Customers praised this aquarium plant as "healthy" with "strong roots" that thrives in tanks. Most shoppers reported rapid growth with runners appearing within days. Plants arrive well-packaged. However, some noted it may be challenging for novices, with occasional browning leaves reported.

  • They have almost doubled in size and are already spreading just one week after planting.
  • It's been in about a week and is starting to produce runners already.
  • I received this plant in very good condition with very strong healthy roots
  • 5 stars: 14 (82%)
  • 4 stars: 2 (12%)
  • 3 stars: 1 (6%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
John O. (Glasgow, GB)
Lovely plant

Healthy plant received 3 weeks ago. The plant was well packaged and is doing great in my tank

A
Amanda M.
Beautiful plant

I received this plant in very good condition with very strong healthy roots

M
Mark R.
Review

Lovely healthy plant that is doing really well in my aquarium.

R
Richard L.
Review

Big heathy leaves and good roots. Despite warnings about possible leaf loss the plants have soon established themselves and started throwing out runners.

j
john s.
Review

Ordered a few plants from *Aqua-essentials* the plants were not the usual plants around in my local aquarium shops
So it was easy to pick this Echinodorus Tennellus as one to buy.The whole experience from ordering to receiving the well packed plants was 100%
fast posting of lovely grown plants-thank you so much

A
Amanda L.
Review

All seemed well when first planted but not thriving. A few brown leaves appearing

C
Clare N.
Review

Very healthy plant. Sadly it didn't do well in my aquarium, so perhaps not ideal for novices.

J
Jim H.
Review

They are clearly experts all the plants I bought are top quality and thriving in my aquariums

D
David G.
Review

Using this in the foreground of my aquarium as a carpeting plant. It’s been in about a week and is starting to produce runners already.

L
Leigh A.
Review

Healthy plant

A
Alasdair W.
Review

good plant growing in one week quick post

R
Roy W.
Review

Received these plants the day after dispatch. They were well packed and very healthy. They have almost doubled in size and are already spreading just one week after planting.

T
Tom S.
Review

I bought 8 of these and all had a lot less leaves than in the picture but most were still ok. Two however were quite poor with very little root growth and after a week are just about hanging on! Will have to wait and see if the co2 and ferts make them pick up. Packaging was excellent and service second to none. Perhaps just a bit more attention should be paid to the packing people to the health of the individual plants before despatch but allround pretty good.

S
Sharon B.
Review

Good, healthy plants and look great in my tank. Planted the same day they arrived and I took care to get as many little plants as possible out of each of the pots. Hopefully I will be rewarded with a good, dense mat on the bottom of my tank - so long as my chain loach leave them alone long enough.

D
David M.
Review

only in the tank 6 days , sending out runners already . great buy looks at home already

M
Mohammad R.
Review

Very impressed with the quality of the plants and also the delivery, it was well packed and would highly recomend to anyone trying to purchase plants.

Product FAQs

How large does Echinodorus tenellus get?

It typically stays under 10 cm in height, making it one of the very few Echinodorus species suited to foreground planting.

Does it need CO2 to carpet?

No. It spreads via runners without CO2, though the process is slower than with CO2 injection. In a low-tech tank it will spread steadily under medium light.

How does it spread?

It sends out horizontal runners along the substrate, each producing a new small rosette. Over several weeks these fill in to create a grass-like carpet.

What substrate suits it best?

A fine, nutrient-rich substrate such as an aqua soil or plant substrate is ideal. It can also grow in coarse gravel if root tabs are added for nutrition.

Can it be kept in a nano aquarium?

Yes. Its small size makes it an excellent choice for nano tanks from 40 litres upward, where it provides a natural grassy foreground.