Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias Pangolino

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Pangolino'

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

Also known as Anubias sp. 'Pangolino', Pangolino Anubias

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Forms · Anubias barteri

See all 24

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
0.8 in
2 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–8.0
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
1.6 in (4 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
A cultivated dwarf form bred in Germany from Anubias nana, whose wild parent species grow along streams and rivers in West and Central Africa.

Overview

Attach the rhizome to a small rock or piece of wood and never bury it, as the base rots easily. Keep light low to moderate because the leaves grow so slowly that algae will settle on them under bright light, and CO2 is optional. Growth is very slow, so buy the size you want and expect only a few new leaves each month.

In the wild

Anubias 'Pangolino' is widely regarded as the smallest anubias in the hobby, with narrow leaves barely a centimeter long on a fine creeping rhizome. It arose in tissue culture from an already tiny nana form and keeps that miniature habit underwater. Its size makes it a jewel for nano tanks and detailed foreground work on small stones.

Good to know

Anubias flower and fruit both underwater and above it, which is unusual among aquarium aroids, and the genus grows from a slow creeping rhizome. Pangolino appeared as a dwarf mutation during meristem culture of a small Anubias nana selection.

Did you know

The name Pangolino comes from the pangolin, since the tiny overlapping leaves were thought to resemble the scaly animal's body.

Related plants