TankBud

Cryptocoryne affinis

Also known as Cryptocoryne haerteliana

FreshwaterRosetteRunners

Cryptocoryne affinis (Cryptocoryne affinis)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
11.8 in
30 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Araceae
Origin
Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand

Overview

A vigorous midground crypt reaching 15 to 30 cm, more demanding than most because it sulks and melts if conditions swing. Give it a matured, stable tank, nutrient-rich substrate with root tabs, and moderate light, and it rewards you with fast runner spread. Avoid replanting it once settled, and expect a melt-and-recover cycle after any move.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne affinis grows along streams and rivers in Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, where it is often found in flowing forest water. Submersed it develops long green leaves with a striking silvery or violet-red underside. It spreads readily by runners and can form a dense stand.

Good to know

It is a valid, long-recognised species in the Araceae, one of the first crypts to become established in the hobby. It is notorious among growers for being one of the most melt-prone crypts, dropping all its leaves in response to sudden shifts in water chemistry. The dark red-violet leaf undersides are a reliable field character separating it from many green-backed relatives.

Did you know

Did you know Cryptocoryne affinis was one of the very first Cryptocoryne species cultivated by hobbyists, and its reputation for dramatic 'crypt melt' is exactly why the term became part of aquarium vocabulary.

Related plants