AquaSage
Species library

Anubias Nana

Anubias barteri var. nana

Araceae

PlantsDifficulty: ○○○○Data: well-established

About

Anubias nana is a compact dwarf variety of the West African aroid Anubias barteri, staying under about 12 cm tall with clusters of small, thick, dark-green leaves. Like java fern it is an epiphyte: its creeping rhizome must be tied or glued to wood or rock and never buried, or it will rot. Almost indestructible, it thrives in very low light with no CO2 and its leathery leaves are ignored by most herbivorous fish.

Care

Attach the rhizome to hardscape and never bury it, keep light low to avoid algae on the slow leaves, and skip CO2. A light liquid fertiliser keeps leaves dark green but it survives lean tanks.

Diet

Draws nutrients from the water column through its leaves and roots; occasional liquid fertiliser deepens leaf colour, but the plant persists with none.

Sources