Is this normal?

[Flower1982]

I have a java fern in my 10 gallon tank. A few days ago I noticed that there are some baby plants growing from underneath the one large leaf from my java fern. Is this normal? I've never heard of a plant reproducing like this.
Here are some pictures of it. Sorry if the pictures aren't very good.

 

[phanmc]

Yes, that's normal. Java fern, like many other ferns, has spores which can form little plantlets. Take a look at the underside at some of the leaves and you may see rows of dark spots, which are the spores.

 

[loaches r cool]

Yes, normal. You might want to read up first if you have questions, for example take a look at http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Java_fern
I normally do monthly plant maintanence and have a couple dozen little java fern plantlets every month I remove.

 

[Flower1982]

Thanks for the information. How do I seperate the babies from the parent plant? I've heard that you can't bury the roots of the java fern, that it does better being tied to a peice of driftwood.

 

[Miyavism]

Yes, burying the rhizome (the rooty-green part) will suffocate the plant. I just tie mine to small rocks and sink 'em - easy to place, easy to move.

 

[loaches r cool]

You can usually bury the roots just not the rhizome. As for the plantlets, just wait till they are big enough before you seperate. often times when they start getting big enough they come off by themselves. I'd have to guestimate the leaves should be atleast around 2" long before I'd seperate them. Just gives the plant better chances when you let them grow a little bigger still attached. Though I have had many come off the plant smaller and do fine. Java's seem to be a little tougher than most others.