Anubias barteri

Anubias Barteri Growing & Care Guide

Anubias Barteri, the parent species of the celebrated Anubias family, is a robust, large-leafed aquatic plant native to West Africa. Renowned for its broad, heavy spade-shaped leaves and ironclad resilience, it makes a premier midground anchor for larger tanks, requiring zero soil planting.

Lighting Low to Moderate

Water Hardness Aquatic (pH 6.0-7.8)

Substrate Attached to wood/rocks

Water Temp 20°C - 28°C

Toxicity Toxic to Pets (Oxalates)

Botanical macro photography of Anubias Barteri (Anubias barteri) - Plant AI care database

How to Identify Anubias Barteri

Anubias Barteri (Anubias barteri) is an iconic aquatic species. Recognizing its key structures is crucial for successful aquascaping and thriving growth.

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Visual Shape & Growth: Large, thick-stemmed epiphyte with broad, spade-shaped dark green leathery leaves.
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Leaf Morphology: Large, thick spade-like dark-green leaves that can grow up to 6 inches long.
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Root & Anchoring Structure: Extremely strong, thick white-green roots that wrap tightly around hard wood or stones.

💡 Plant AI Tip: Take a photo with Plant AI to identify aquatic weeds and diagnose fungal spot diseases in 1 second.

Complete Cultivation & Spawning Guide

Follow our detailed scientific water parameters and care guides to keep your Anubias Barteri thriving.

pH: 6.0 - 7.8, GH: 3 - 15 dGH. Extremely resilient to a broad range of hardness levels and stable water chemistry.

Low. Grows perfectly without CO2. Supplemental liquid carbon can be dosed occasionally to assist growth.

Low to moderate lighting is ideal. Direct, high lighting will quickly cover its large leaves with unsightly spot algae.

Cut away dead or algae-covered leaves at the stem base. Cut the main rhizome into sections with a sterilized blade to propagate.

Feeds from the water column. Absorbs nitrogen, potassium, and micro-nutrients via its highly developed exposed roots.

Do not bury the rhizome. Secure the plant to large pieces of driftwood, volcanic rocks, or roots using fishing line or zip ties.

Enjoys warm waters between 20°C and 28°C (68°F - 82°F). Keep away from freezing cold draft areas.

Appreciates strong, consistent water flow to keep the massive leaves free from settling dust and detritus.

Completely cichlid-proof and goldfish-proof due to its thick, fibrous leaf structure. Excellent for large, aggressive tanks.

Very prone to Green Spot Algae. Place in shaded areas and employ large Nerite snails or Bristlenose plecos to graze leaves.

Best placed in the midground or background of medium to large aquariums. Provide ample space for its sprawling roots.

Common Diseases & Treatment

Rhizome Rot (Bacterial)

Symptoms: The stout green rhizome turns soft, black, and decomposes, losing all its leaves.

Action: Prune rotted tissue immediately, dip in dilute hydrogen peroxide, or discard infected specimens to prevent spread.

Green Dust Algae (GDA)

Symptoms: A slimy, dusty layer of green algae covers the broad leaf surfaces.

Action: Reduce light duration, position the plant in a shaded corner, and add a cleanup crew of snails and algae-eating fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

How large does Anubias Barteri grow?

It is much larger than Anubias Nana. Leaf blades can grow up to 6 inches long and the plant can easily reach a height of 10 to 12 inches, making it ideal for large tanks.

Can it grow out of water?

Yes! In high-humidity environments like terrariums or paludariums, it grows happily emersed, often producing beautiful white calla-lily-like flowers.

Why is my Anubias Barteri losing leaves?

This is usually caused by burying the rhizome in substrate, which suffocates the plant. Always keep the creeping green rhizome above gravel or sand.

Is Anubias Barteri toxic to dogs and cats?

Yes. Like all members of the Araceae family, it contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause oral irritation if chewed by land pets.