Common name
Anubias barteri
Scientific name
Anubias barteri
Category
Aquarium plant
Group
Anubias
Environment
Freshwater aquarium or paludarium
Origin
West and west-central tropical Africa
Care level
Easy
Adult size
Approximately 20–45 cm tall in aquarium cultivation; creeping rhizome commonly reaches 10–15 cm or more
Expected lifespan
Long-lived perennial under suitable conditions; exact lifespan is unknown
Minimum housing
No fixed litre minimum; allow at least 45 cm vertical room and 20 cm or more horizontal spread
Temperature
Unknown — no dependable species-specific numeric aquarium range was found
pH
Unknown — no dependable species-specific numeric aquarium range was found
Hardness / minerals
Unknown — generally reported as adaptable from soft to hard freshwater, but no dependable numeric GH/KH range was found
Salinity
Freshwater; not a brackish plant
Lighting
Low to moderate; shade reduces persistent algae on slow leaves
Placement / zone
Midground to background on wood or rock, or rooted with the rhizome exposed
Filtration
Use gentle circulation and fine mechanical capture to keep detritus from settling on slow leaves and around the rhizome. Do not aim a harsh jet at new growth, and guard intakes after division or attachment work.
Aeration
Maintain ordinary whole-aquarium gas exchange. In low-flow hardscape pockets, ensure water still exchanges around the rhizome; in carbon-injected systems protect night-time oxygen.
Maintenance
Keep the rhizome exposed, remove failing leaves at the petiole base, clean persistent algae and sediment gently, inspect attachments, and divide only established branching growth with clean tools.

Identity and search names

Species profile for Anubias barteri, excluding separately named cultivated forms where their size and appearance differ enough to need their own profile.

Search names: Anubias barteri var. barteri, Broadleaf anubias

Environment and housing

Attach to rock or wood, or place roots in substrate without covering the rhizome. Provide gentle circulation across the leaves and avoid unstable ornaments.

Social structure: One clump or a spaced group of clonal divisions; no animal social structure applies. Leave room for the mature rhizome and species-specific leaf spread.

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Balanced water-column nutrients; optional root access where roots enter substrate

Feeding routine: Maintain balanced non-zero nutrients and correct specific deficiencies rather than dosing heavily by routine.

Breeding, reproduction or spread

Cut only firm healthy rhizome. Each division should retain roots and several leaves before being secured.

Detailed care and app-ready planning

Identity scope
Species profile for Anubias barteri, excluding separately named cultivated forms where their size and appearance differ enough to need their own profile.
Adult size and space
Allow 20–45 cm height and 20 cm or more spread; mature specimens can shade compact foreground plants.
Social structure
One clump or a spaced group of clonal divisions; no animal social structure applies. Leave room for the mature rhizome and species-specific leaf spread.
Swimming zone or placement
Attached foreground, midground or emersed hardscape according to the identified species or cultivar; no animal swimming zone applies.
Feeding ecology
Slow-growing photosynthetic rhizome plant using light, dissolved carbon and restrained water-column nutrition.
Feeding plan
Maintain balanced non-zero nutrients and correct specific deficiencies rather than dosing heavily by routine.
Water stability
Numeric temperature, pH and GH/KH limits remain Unknown. Maintain stable dechlorinated freshwater and make changes gradually.
Habitat structure
Rhizome exposed on rock or wood, or roots placed in substrate while the rhizome remains above it, with gentle debris-clearing flow.
Compatibility plan
Avoid burying by digging fish, scraping by large plecos and locations where detritus or intense light remains on the leaves.
Breeding or reproduction plan
Cut only firm healthy rhizome. Each division should retain roots and several leaves before being secured.
Quarantine
Inspect for snails, eggs, algae, pesticides and rhizome rot; rinse and quarantine according to livestock sensitivity.
Welfare checks
Check rhizome firmness, new-leaf emergence, yellowing, holes, blackened tissue and algae coverage.
Biosecurity and release
Never release aquarium plants, fragments, substrate or wastewater into drains, ponds, dams or waterways. Check current Australian import conditions and state weed rules using the accepted botanical identity and all known synonyms.
Main risk
Rhizome burial and insufficient mature space.
Adult projected load
Projected load is slow perennial leaf and rhizome biomass, shading, trapped detritus and viable divisions. Biological waste is low, but neglected leaves can become long-term algae and debris surfaces.
Filtration
Use gentle circulation and fine mechanical capture to keep detritus from settling on slow leaves and around the rhizome. Do not aim a harsh jet at new growth, and guard intakes after division or attachment work.
Aeration
Maintain ordinary whole-aquarium gas exchange. In low-flow hardscape pockets, ensure water still exchanges around the rhizome; in carbon-injected systems protect night-time oxygen.
Maintenance
Keep the rhizome exposed, remove failing leaves at the petiole base, clean persistent algae and sediment gently, inspect attachments, and divide only established branching growth with clean tools.
Overridable warnings
Non-overridable: never bury the rhizome or release viable divisions, leaves with growing tissue, substrate or aquarium water. Light, fertiliser and attachment methods may vary only while the rhizome remains firm, exposed and free of persistent algae or rot.
Identity
Accepted species Anubias barteri. “Var. barteri” remains common in aquarium trade, while current botanical backbones place several former infraspecific names under the species.
Environment
Attach to rock or wood, or place roots in substrate without covering the rhizome. Provide gentle circulation across the leaves and avoid unstable ornaments.
Feeding
Use restrained balanced fertilisation. Root feeding can supplement water-column nutrition but does not justify burying the rhizome.
Breeding
Divide a healthy creeping rhizome into sections with several leaves and roots. It may flower submerged, but routine propagation is vegetative.
Adult size and space
Allow 20–45 cm height and 20 cm or more spread; mature specimens can shade compact foreground plants.
Growth Rate
Slow. Leaves persist for years, so algae management is a long-term requirement.
Lighting Plan
Use low to moderate light and shade if algae persist. High light is not a substitute for slow growth.
Carbon Plan
Injected carbon dioxide is optional. Keep any addition consistent and avoid daily pH swings.
Nutrient Plan
Maintain balanced non-zero nutrients and correct specific deficiencies rather than dosing heavily by routine.
Substrate Plan
Secure the rhizome to hardscape or leave it on the substrate surface. Only roots should enter the substrate.
Propagation plan
Cut only firm healthy rhizome. Each division should retain roots and several leaves before being secured.
Biosecurity and release
Never release aquarium plants, fragments, substrate or wastewater into drains, ponds, dams or waterways. Check current Australian import conditions and state weed rules using the accepted botanical identity and all known synonyms.

Compatibility, welfare and risk

Compatibility: Robust for many peaceful planted aquaria, but digging fish may detach it and intense light can coat leaves with algae.

Welfare: Check rhizome firmness, new-leaf emergence, yellowing, holes, blackened tissue and algae coverage.

Main warning: The rhizome must remain exposed. Burying it can cause rot, and the plant grows much larger than nana forms.

Biosecurity and release

Never release aquarium plants, fragments, substrate or wastewater into drains, ponds, dams or waterways. Check current Australian import conditions and state weed rules using the accepted botanical identity and all known synonyms.

Sources