Sorry, i made a post like this in photos, as i thought that was the plant section.

Anyway, please read, this is for those who plan to try it in tank

Ok, i have been talking about bamboo lately. And some say that real bamboo is toxic. So i want to make the point clear: I am not talking and the pictures are not real bamboo. Not the ones that pandas eat. It is lucky bamboo that you can get at supermarkets and gift shops. So make sure that you don't have real bamboo in tank.

Just to make sure: some pictures

LUCKY BAMBOO:





REAL BAMBOO:





Again, lucky bamboo is a single hard stem. And no branches. No stems and no real leaves, just leaves that grow out like a flower from the center out. And won't grow to a big tree.

Just wanted to make that clear.

i never knew you could use those. do they do well when the water is salted sometimes??

My mom tried some lucky bamboo and although it was growing and seemed healthy, it grew this thick nasty slime on it, and stunk up the tank, and killed her fish.

ive seen at the petshops lately tho. it looks pretty cool. i might try a few in my tank.

keep in mind to kid, bamboo MUST have some leaves out of the water or it will drown... and do nasty things like said above... so its only really usable if you can either get a REALLY tall peice and have an open top, or if you have a very shallow tank

is the bamboo a fast grower?

No - they don't seem to grow too fast - but not so slow that you can't enjoyseeing it change - I have had a few stalks for over two years now - they are not in my tank at the moment but they they are very tall and would fit - all the leaves have to be above water level as Fantail points out!

Fantail - those look FABU in your tank! Do you add any plant food or nutrients?

FYI- Fancy plants makes platic bamboo strands that can be used to decorate a tank, if you like the look of "real" bamboo leaves adn want them fully submerged:



PS - Fantail - only one of your images opens up - I would love to see the rest!