- Common name
- Anubias nana
- Scientific name
- Anubias barteri
- Category
- Aquarium plant
- Group
- Anubias
- Environment
- Freshwater aquarium or paludarium
- Origin
- The nana trade form is associated with Cameroon; most aquarium stock is cultivated
- Care level
- Easy
- Adult size
- Approximately 5–15+ cm tall; 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 15 cm height and 15 cm or more spread
- Temperature
- Unknown — no dependable trade-form-specific numeric range was found
- pH
- Unknown — no dependable trade-form-specific numeric 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; thrives in shade but leaves collect algae under excessive light
- Placement / zone
- Foreground to midground on wood or rock, 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
Trade route for compact plants historically sold as Anubias nana or Anubias barteri var. nana. Current Kew treatment places these names within Anubias barteri; do not present nana as a separate accepted wild species.
Search names: Anubias barteri var. nana, Anubias nana, Nana anubias
Environment and housing
Attach to rock or wood, or keep the rhizome on the substrate surface. Low light and gentle circulation suit its slow durable leaves.
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 low-demand water-column nutrition
Feeding routine: Maintain balanced non-zero nutrients and clean leaves; diagnose new growth before increasing fertiliser.
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Divide only firm established rhizome, leaving several leaves and roots on each section.
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Trade route for compact plants historically sold as Anubias nana or Anubias barteri var. nana. Current Kew treatment places these names within Anubias barteri; do not present nana as a separate accepted wild species.
- Adult size and space
- Usually 5–15+ cm tall with a 10–15+ cm rhizome; mature clumps can spread wider than their height.
- 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 clean leaves; diagnose new growth before increasing fertiliser.
- Water stability
- Numeric temperature, pH and GH/KH limits remain Unknown. Keep freshwater conditions stable and change minerals 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
- Protect from fish that uproot, rasp leaves heavily or cover the rhizome with substrate.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Divide only firm established rhizome, leaving several leaves and roots on each section.
- Quarantine
- Inspect undersides, rhizome and roots for snails, eggs, algae, pesticides and rot.
- Welfare checks
- Check rhizome firmness, new-leaf growth, holes, yellowing, algae and accidental burial.
- 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
- Treating the trade form as a separate accepted species or burying its rhizome.
- 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
- Current accepted species is Anubias barteri. Anubias barteri var. nana and Anubias nana remain important historical and trade names for the compact form.
- Environment
- Attach to rock or wood, or keep the rhizome on the substrate surface. Low light and gentle circulation suit its slow durable leaves.
- Feeding
- Use restrained balanced fertilisation; avoid over-lighting or heavy dosing intended to force faster growth.
- Breeding
- Divide a healthy rhizome into rooted leafy sections. It may flower submerged, but aquarium propagation is normally vegetative.
- Adult size and space
- Usually 5–15+ cm tall with a 10–15+ cm rhizome; mature clumps can spread wider than their height.
- Growth Rate
- Slow; individual leaves may persist for years and therefore accumulate algae.
- Lighting Plan
- Low to moderate light. Use shade and reasonable photoperiod rather than intense light.
- Carbon Plan
- Injected carbon dioxide is optional. Avoid unstable daily dosing.
- Nutrient Plan
- Maintain balanced non-zero nutrients and clean leaves; diagnose new growth before increasing fertiliser.
- Substrate Plan
- Keep the rhizome exposed. Roots may enter substrate or attach to porous hardscape.
- Propagation plan
- Divide only firm established rhizome, leaving several leaves and roots on each section.
- 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: Suitable for many peaceful aquaria; protect from digging, crushing and algae-producing high light.
Welfare: Check rhizome firmness, new-leaf growth, holes, yellowing, algae and accidental burial.
Main warning: Current botanical backbones place var. nana under Anubias barteri. Keep the nana trade identity for size, but do not present it as a separate accepted species.
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.