TankBud

Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias nana

Anubias barteri var. nana

One of 24 forms of Anubias barteri · See all forms →

Also known as Dwarf Anubias, Anubias barteri nana

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Anubias nana (Anubias barteri var. nana)
Carlosar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Forms · Anubias barteri

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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
6.0–8.0
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Beginner
Family
Araceae
Origin
West Africa (Cameroon)

Overview

This is the classic beginner epiphyte for foreground and midground spots, attached to driftwood, stone, or hardscape with thread or cyanoacrylate glue. Keep the rhizome exposed above the substrate so it does not rot, and let the roots anchor naturally. It needs no CO2, tolerates low light, and feeds mostly from the water column, so liquid ferts are enough. Watch for algae buildup on the old leaves under bright light, and resist the urge to bury it.

In the wild

Anubias nana is the dwarf variety of Anubias barteri, native to Cameroon in West Africa. It grows on rocks and roots along shaded streams and riverbanks, living submersed when flooded and emersed for much of the year as the water recedes. The wild habitat is soft, slightly acidic, slow-moving forest water.

Good to know

It is a recognized botanical variety of Anubias barteri in the family Araceae, distinguished by its much smaller leaves and compact habit. Like the species it grows from a horizontal creeping rhizome rather than runners, and individual leaves can live for several years. It readily produces underwater flowers, a small white spathe around a spadix, even in aquariums.

Did you know

A single Anubias nana leaf can stay alive for two to three years, far longer than most aquarium plants, which is why a healthy rhizome slowly accumulates an attractive, bushy cluster of leaves over time.

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