Anubias plants are popular aquatic plants, known for their resilience and straightforward care. They fit various aquarium designs. While all Anubias share fundamental characteristics, their diverse varieties offer unique textures, sizes, and colors that enhance an aquatic environment. Understanding these differences helps in selection and placement, creating a thriving aquascape.
Defining Anubias Plants
Anubias plants share common traits that make them popular. They grow slowly, requiring infrequent trimming. A distinguishing feature is their rhizome, a thick horizontal stem from which leaves and roots emerge. This rhizome must not be buried in the substrate, as it can lead to rot.
Instead, Anubias are epiphytic, attaching to hardscapes like driftwood or rocks and absorbing nutrients from the water column. Their adaptability to lower light and general hardiness makes them suitable for many aquarium setups.
Popular Anubias Varieties
The Anubias genus includes many varieties, each with distinct visual characteristics. Anubias barteri var. nana is a dwarf variety with small, dark green leaves (around half an inch), ideal for foregrounds or nano tanks. A larger counterpart, Anubias barteri var. barteri, has broad, oval leaves up to 12 inches, suitable for midground or background. Anubias coffeefolia has unique crinkled, deeply veined leaves that often emerge bronze before maturing to deep green.
Anubias hastifolia offers arrowhead-shaped foliage, growing tall and even emergent from water. Anubias afzelii has narrower, longer leaves than barteri varieties. Smaller options include Anubias nana ‘Petite’ (also known as ‘Pangolino’), with tiny, roundish leaves perfect for intricate detailing or small decor.
Cultivated varieties offer a spectrum of colors and patterns. Anubias ‘Golden’ or ‘Gold Coin’ has yellowish or lime-green leaves, offering a brighter accent. Variegated forms like Anubias ‘Pinto’ and ‘Snow White’ exhibit white and green patterns. These variegated types often require higher light to maintain their coloration.
Selecting and Placing Anubias Varieties
Choosing the right Anubias variety depends on your aquarium’s specific needs and aesthetic goals. Consider the plant’s mature size relative to your tank’s dimensions; smaller varieties like ‘Petite’ suit foregrounds or nano tanks, while larger types such as A. barteri var. barteri fit midground or background. Leaf shape and color can create visual interest and contrast.
Proper placement is important for Anubias health. Since they are epiphytic, their rhizomes must remain exposed to water flow and not be buried. Attach Anubias to driftwood, rocks, or other hardscape using fishing line, cotton thread, or cyanoacrylate glue. Over time, roots will naturally adhere. Anubias tolerate low to moderate lighting and generally do not require high CO2 or extensive fertilization, making them forgiving plants.