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Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias Dragon Claw

Anubias barteri var. glabra 'Dragon Claw'

One of 29 forms of Anubias barteri · See all forms →

Also known as Anubias minima Dragon Claw, Dragon Claw Anubias, Anubias barteri var. glabra 'Minima Dragon Claw'

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Anubias Dragon Claw (Anubias barteri var. glabra 'Dragon Claw')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Forms · Anubias barteri

See all 29 →

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
4.7 in
12 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Cultivar (parent variety native to West Africa, Guinea to Gabon)

Overview

Anubias Dragon Claw is one of the easiest ways to add texture to hardscape. It is rated easy and lives on wood and rock rather than in the substrate.

Did you know

Each leaf of Anubias Dragon Claw curls in its own way. A grown clump reads as a tangle of different claw shapes, not a tidy rosette. That is why aquascapers reach for it as a focal point.

Caring for Anubias Dragon Claw

Glue or thread the rhizome onto wood or rock. Keep the rhizome proud of the substrate so it does not rot.

Anubias Dragon Claw grows in low to medium light with no CO2. Strong light mostly buys algae on the slow old leaves. It feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better than root tabs. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).

It grows slowly in almost any stable tank, and its stiff leaves shrug off grazing fish. To propagate, divide the rhizome with at least three leaves per section.

Good to know

Anubias Dragon Claw belongs to the family Araceae. It sits within Anubias barteri var. glabra, the variable narrow-leaved variety that also covers the plants sold as minima. Shops often label it Anubias minima Dragon Claw. What sets it apart is horticultural, not botanical. Its narrow, elongated dark green leaves have irregular, curled margins that give each leaf a claw-like outline, and some are flecked with lighter variegation.

In the wild

Anubias Dragon Claw is a nursery selection of Anubias barteri var. glabra, so its habitat is the farm, not the wild. The parent variety lives along West African rainforest streams from Guinea to Gabon. It grips rock and wood at the waterline, emersed in the wet season spray and submersed when the water comes up.

Common questions

Is Anubias Dragon Claw a different species from Anubias barteri?

No. Anubias Dragon Claw is a form of Anubias barteri. It reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm), against 13.8 in (35 cm) for the species. It also differs in difficulty, hardness, feeding, pH and spread.

Does Anubias Dragon Claw need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Anubias Dragon Claw grows attached to rock or wood, so tie or glue the rhizome in place. If you plant its roots, keep the rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.

Does Anubias Dragon Claw need CO2?

No. Anubias Dragon Claw grows well without added CO2 and suits a low-tech tank.

How much light does Anubias Dragon Claw need?

Anubias Dragon Claw is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.

Does Anubias Dragon Claw need root tabs?

No. Anubias Dragon Claw feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better. Root tabs only help if its roots reach into the substrate.

How do you propagate Anubias Dragon Claw?

Anubias Dragon Claw propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Anubias Dragon Claw grow?

Anubias Dragon Claw grows to about 4.7 in (12 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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