I'm no plant expert, but what you saw was probably pothos.  I have read in a few places that philodendron can be toxic to fish, but that pothos is fine.  FM can tell you how to tell the difference between the two (I've read her explanation several times, but it never sticks!).

Both heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens) and pothos (Epipremnum aureum) have similarly-shaped leaves and both come in variegated foms, so unless you're familiar with both plants, the leaves may not help much. The vine will, though, because pothos has a distinctive ridge in the vine that philo does not (you can feel it with your fingers) and also "troughs" in the petioles of the leaves. Unless they've been pulled off, philo has dried brownish-red sheaths at each leaf node (the sheaths protect the emerging leaf, then dry out as the leaf grows and they are no longer needed, but they usually stay on unless you pull them off). Pothos has a sort of sheath, but you really have to look for it--philos' you can't miss. Philo vines are also somewhat more slender than pothos and pothos leaves are somewhat more leathery than philo.

If you need side-by-side pictures, just let me know. I'd have taken some already, but the fishies are in bed and the crabbies are out at play, so I don't want to disturb them.
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Everything's better with penguins.

I thought philodendron was often used as plant filters in tank.  Do you have any of those 'sites' Perdue?

I found a reference to that in the Baensch Atlas, Liv. There's a picture (p. 15) of a planted tank that has house plants positioned over it and the last part of the caption beneath says, "...When freshwater fishes are kept, philodendron roots can be encouraged to grow into the aquarium water. These quickly branch, offering good hiding possibilities for fry. Catuion:  these roots must not be injured, as they release a sap which can be toxic to some fishes."

I have a heart leaf philo that hangs over one of my tanks and one of the vines was long enough that it hung down right in front of the filter. I let it lie partway in the water and it rooted nicely--the roots are probably a foot long. Whether I have any of those "some fishes" to which the sap might be toxic, I don't know, but I am careful not to break the roots, just in case.
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Everything's better with penguins.

You can find phildendron sold as aquatic plant in some stores (like Petsmart)  I guess caution is the best approach, though.  So it is best to stick to pothos.  I have both plants and can barely tell the difference - so it sure is not easy.

One thing I can say for letting philo root in aquarium water--it certainly makes for nice, healthy leaves. The two leaves below are on the same vine; the small one on the "dirt side" (before the water roots) and the large on the "water side" (grown after the vine rooted in the tank). Either it loves the extra water or fish poo makes some very good fertiliser because the vine now has to be cut back, since it's dragging on the floor.


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Everything's better with penguins.

I think philodendron is used in plant filters for this reason.  Very good nitrate absorber.  

So do you have a picture of pothos as well so we can compare?    I see the "dried brownish-red sheaths" that you said is a philodendron characteristic.

Oh, sure--make me dust the leaves.

Heart leaf philo on the left, pothos (it's a golden, but a plain green leaf) on the right. Philo leaves have a more pronounced "heart" shape with a sharper point and are darker green.



Philo on top, pothos on bottom. Although both have nodes that can become roots if conditions are right, pothos does not have obvious sheaths like philo. Mature philo vine is sort of brownish (new growth is green); pothos is green (new growth is pale green).



Philo on top, pothos on the bottom. Philo vines are smooth all around; pothos has a ridge and tends to be "sturdier" than philo.



Pothos has a "trough" on each petiole:



Philo has no trough; the petioles are smooth:


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Everything's better with penguins.

Those are great pictures/explanations.

I had mine correctly identified.

Thanks FM,  You rock  

Now *that* was useful!  Great pics, FM...it's so much easier when you see them side by side.

Here I was thinking it was a Philo but now I am positive it is a Potho because of your descriptions.  Thank you so much.  I think my new froggers are going to love them.  I have some cheap bulbs from wal-mart but they are not doing so hot.  Thank you sooooo much.  I'm gonna tell you guys all about my new froggers on thursday or maybe friday.  SOOO EXCITED!!!!

FROGGIEGURL wrote:

Thanks, but will the leaves rot just sitting in the water all of the time?  I've only had the roots in the water.

Did I miss the answer?  Is it okay for Potho leaves to be in water?  I seem to remember a photo of someone's tank with the entire plant submerged in the tank.

"Jeez, all that rambling and my Mama didn't even answer your question--just like her, isn't it? Pothos will do fine submerged; I have some in Castle Moon that was completely submerged when I first moved in, but it's grown up past the surface now. Ignore the little brown snail; he's one of my loyal subjects."  -- King Leonard

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Everything's better with penguins.

That does it for me.  I may even try it one day.  Thanks, FM!

Thanks for all the help!!

Wonderful pictures and details, FM!

I do indeed use pothos in my tanks, as you noted, Jess. It's GREAT. Very hardy for the most part, roots in water, the leaves and vines are so nice for the frogs & fish. When I find a dying shoot or leaf, I just pinch it off. I have several pothos plants, but am patiently waiting for new growth- I've harvested all of the "definitely new shoots with no store pesticides on them" cuttings. I need to find someone in town who has tons of these plants and will happily lop off a bunch for me...ah, the Freecycle List! Or the homeschooling list! Or, I'll sneak some scissors into Wendy's- they have some kickin' pothos there...

I did try some philo in a tank or two, but it rotted VERY fast. Seems much more fragile when completely submerged. The pothos vines ROCK- they're so sturdy that you can get a little creative with positioning them, or you can just let 'em do their thing- they fill the space nicely on their own.

Thanks for the info on shipping from XE- good to know! I'll be SO excited to see your frogs and wish them a safe journey!