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Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias nana Thick Leaf

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Thick Leaf'

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

Also known as Anubias nana Fatty, Anubias nana Fatty Thick Leaf, Anubias Thick Leaf

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Anubias nana Thick Leaf (Anubias barteri var. nana 'Thick Leaf')
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
5.9 in
15 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–8.0
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Cultivated selection (parent variety native to West Africa, Cameroon)

Overview

Anubias nana Thick Leaf is a dwarf anubias with stiff, extra-thick leaves, about as tough as aquarium plants get. It grows on wood or rock and is an easy plant for a patient keeper.

Did you know

Anubias nana Thick Leaf has waxy leaves firm enough that even goldfish and other plant-shredding fish usually leave them alone. That makes it one of the few plants worth trying in a goldfish or cichlid tank.

Caring for Anubias nana Thick Leaf

Attach the rhizome to hardscape and never bury it, since it needs no substrate at all. Trade stock is farm-grown emersed, so expect it to drop some leaves as it adjusts underwater.

Give Anubias nana Thick Leaf low light and decent flow. It needs no added CO2, and it feeds from the water column, so a liquid fertilizer suits it.

Growth is very slow, and the long-lived leaves are where algae settles. Keep the light modest so algae cannot colonize them, and be patient. Propagate by cutting the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each.

Good to know

Anubias nana Thick Leaf is an Araceae cultivar of Anubias barteri var. nana, sold as Thick Leaf and also as Fatty. Its rounded, dark green leaves are noticeably more rigid than standard nana. They have a waxy, almost plastic feel and a slight wave. It is a trade selection without a published breeder.

In the wild

Anubias nana Thick Leaf is a cultivated selection and has no wild population. The nana variety grows in Cameroon on shaded rock and wood along forest streams, emersed or shallowly submersed.

Common questions

Is Anubias nana Thick Leaf a different species from Anubias barteri?

No. Anubias nana Thick Leaf is a form of Anubias barteri. It reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm), against 13.8 in (35 cm) for the species. It also differs in difficulty and spread.

Does Anubias nana Thick Leaf need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Anubias nana Thick Leaf 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 nana Thick Leaf need CO2?

No. Anubias nana Thick Leaf grows well without added CO2 and suits a low-tech tank.

How much light does Anubias nana Thick Leaf need?

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

Does Anubias nana Thick Leaf need root tabs?

No. Anubias nana Thick Leaf 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 nana Thick Leaf?

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

How tall does Anubias nana Thick Leaf grow?

Anubias nana Thick Leaf grows to about 5.9 in (15 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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