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Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias pinto

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Pinto'

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

Also known as Anubias nana Pinto, Anubias Pinto White, Anubias barteri nana 'Pinto'

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Anubias pinto (Anubias barteri var. nana 'Pinto')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Forms · Anubias barteri

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Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
3.9 in
10 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Cultivar (parent species native to West Africa)

Overview

Anubias pinto is a slow, compact variegated nana for the midground. It grows on wood or rock and is an easy plant to keep.

Did you know

Every Anubias pinto leaf is patterned differently. A plant that turns fully white will eventually starve, so a balance of green and white is what keeps it alive.

Caring for Anubias pinto

Attach the rhizome to wood or rock rather than planting it, and keep it exposed to avoid rot. Medium light helps new leaves come in with strong white marbling. Go too high, though, and algae quickly settles on the slow leaves.

CO2 and gentle fertilizer are not required, but they help Anubias pinto push leaves a bit faster and stay healthy. It feeds through its roots and from the water, so a liquid fertilizer covers it.

Trim away any all-white or melting leaves. Divide the rhizome to propagate, and each piece grows on as a true-to-type clone.

Good to know

Anubias pinto is a selected variegated form of the dwarf Anubias barteri var. nana, in the family Araceae. Its leaves carry irregular white, pale green and dark green sectors, caused by patches of cells lacking chlorophyll. The white tissue cannot photosynthesize, so the plant relies on its green areas for energy. That is part of why variegated anubias grow even slower than standard nana.

In the wild

Anubias pinto is a variegated cultivar with no wild population of its own. Its parent, Anubias barteri var. nana, grows on shaded streambanks and rocks in West Africa. It clings to hardscape there, with its rhizome in slow, soft, shaded water.

Common questions

Is Anubias pinto a different species from Anubias barteri?

No. Anubias pinto is a form of Anubias barteri. It reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm), against 13.8 in (35 cm) for the species. It wants medium light, where the species wants low. Added CO2 helps it, while the species grows well without. It also differs in difficulty, hardness, feeding, pH, placement and spread.

Does Anubias pinto need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Anubias pinto 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 pinto need CO2?

No, but it helps. Anubias pinto can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Anubias pinto need?

Anubias pinto wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Anubias pinto need root tabs?

No. Anubias pinto 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 pinto?

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

How tall does Anubias pinto grow?

Anubias pinto grows to about 3.9 in (10 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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