Pond plant ID. Has claw-like leaves. And others...

[knifegill]

If you can ID any others you see here, that would be awesome, too.

And what kind of algae looks like a green ball of whiskers? It's a 1" wad that looks like it's made of cat whiskers. Very stiff and pokey stuff.

 

[msjinkzd]

that looks like hornwort

 

[knifegill]

Thanks! Think you're right! What about the little piece with the wavy leaves?

 

[msjinkzd]

I really cannot tell from the picture, could you try for a clearer one?

 

[Noto]

I agree, it's temperate hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum. The other plant in the first pic is waterweed, Elodea canadensis. The other plant in the second and third pics is curly pondweed, Potamogeton crispus. The algae you describe could be a Cladophora species, but don't take my word for it.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

FYI, the hornwort can be floated. In fact its suppose to be floated, it does better that way.

 

[knifegill]

Thanks everyone!

Unfortunately, these are the crispest pictures my camera would do. I took about ten shots with different settings and those were the best. I might move them into a different container and try again later. For now, the guesses I got seem right on.

The elodea and hornwort are both floating plants for sure, but I planted them in the gravel so my wife would tolerate this living vase on our desk. I'm amazed she hasn't thrown a fit about the hydra. I suspect that the gravel is open enough that the stem below the substrate won't rot much. Also, my tapeworm seems to wrap himself around the base of the plants and I'd hate to kill him be taking that away without understanding how he survives. I'm suspecting more and more that he's not a tapeworm but some sort of aquatic flatworm. If he reproduces I'll be so stoked...