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Anubias nana Thick Leaf

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Thick Leaf'

One of 25 forms of Anubias barteri · See all forms →

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

FreshwaterRhizomeRhizome division

Forms · Anubias barteri

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Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
Temperature
72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH
6.0–8.0
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Max height
5.9 in (15 cm)
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Origin
Cultivated selection (parent variety native to West Africa, Cameroon)
Family
Araceae

Overview

About as tough as aquarium plants get. Attach the rhizome to hardscape, never bury it, and give it low to medium light with decent flow; no CO2 or substrate needed. The stiff leaves shrug off boisterous tankmates, which makes it a rare safe pick where softer plants get shredded. Growth is very slow, so the usual Anubias discipline applies: keep light modest so algae cannot colonise the long-lived leaves, and be patient. Propagate by cutting the rhizome.

In the wild

Thick Leaf is a cultivated selection of Anubias barteri var. nana and has no wild population. The nana variety grows in Cameroon on shaded rock and wood along forest streams, emersed or shallowly submersed. Trade stock is farm-grown emersed, so expect it to trade some leaves as it adjusts underwater.

Good to know

An Araceae cultivar of Anubias barteri var. nana, sold as Thick Leaf and also as Fatty. The distinguishing trait is texture: rounded, dark green leaves noticeably thicker and more rigid than standard nana, with a waxy, almost plastic feel and a slight wave. It is a trade selection without a published breeder.

Did you know

The extra-thick, waxy leaves are firm enough that even goldfish and other plant-shredding fish usually leave them alone, making this one of the few plants worth trying in a goldfish or cichlid tank.

Appears in

Low-light plants · No-CO2 plants · Epiphytes · Beginner plants

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