Question 1

Why is the rhizome the most important part of Anubias nana?

Accepted Answer

The rhizome is the horizontal central stem from which all leaves and roots grow — it is the living core of the Anubias plant. Unlike terrestrial plants where the stem is above ground and the roots below, the Anubias rhizome functions as both — it is the stem that must remain in open water (not buried in substrate) to receive oxygen, and it is also the point from which new leaves and roots emerge. When the rhizome is buried, it is deprived of oxygen by the substrate and begins to rot. The rot progresses inward along the rhizome toward the growing tip, eventually killing the plant from the inside out. The rhizome must always remain above the substrate level and in contact with flowing aquarium water.

Question 2

Why does Anubias nana get algae on its leaves?

Accepted Answer

Anubias nana is particularly prone to leaf algae because it grows very slowly — leaves remain on the plant for many months, giving algae a long-duration surface to colonise. The primary cause of algae on Anubias leaves is excess light for the carbon (CO2) level available in the water. Without adequate CO2 to use the available light energy for photosynthesis, the excess light energy promotes algae growth instead. The solution is almost always to reduce light intensity or duration (6–8 hours per day is usually sufficient for Anubias), move the plant to a shadier position in the tank, or add liquid carbon supplement. Biological solutions: Otocinclus catfish and Nerite snails graze algae effectively from Anubias leaves without damaging the plant.

Question 3

Can Anubias nana be kept in a goldfish aquarium?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Anubias nana is one of the most reliable plants for goldfish aquariums. The waxy, slightly bitter leaf surface is unpalatable to goldfish, which strongly prefer soft, delicate plant material. While goldfish will investigate and occasionally nibble Anubias nana leaves, they rarely cause significant damage. Anubias nana, Anubias barteri and Java Fern are the three plants most consistently recommended for goldfish aquariums where plant survival is otherwise impossible. Attach Anubias nana to smooth river stones in a goldfish tank — this provides natural-looking hardscape planting that is both goldfish-resistant and authentic.

Question 4

How do I propagate Anubias nana?

Accepted Answer

Anubias nana propagates by rhizome division. When the plant has developed into a long rhizome with many leaves, use a clean sharp blade (razor blade or scissors sterilised with hot water) to cut the rhizome between two leaf nodes, ensuring each section has at least 3 leaves and some visible root growth. Each cut section grows independently — attach each piece to a separate piece of driftwood or rock and it will continue developing. Allow at least 4–6 weeks after division before assessing growth on the new sections. The plant can also produce daughter rhizome tips that branch from the main rhizome — these can be left to develop on the same piece of driftwood or separated when they have 3+ leaves.

Question 5

How does Anubias nana differ from other Anubias varieties?

Accepted Answer

Anubias nana is the smallest and most compact of the commonly available Anubias species — its leaves typically reach 2–4cm in length, making it perfectly scaled for nano aquariums and foreground or midground positions in standard-sized tanks. Anubias barteri (the parent species) produces larger leaves of 8–12cm and is better suited as a midground to background plant in tanks 60L+. Anubias coffeefolia has attractively ribbed, darker leaves. Anubias nana 'Petite' is an even smaller cultivar with leaves under 1.5cm for nano setups. All Anubias varieties share the same rhizome attachment requirement, low-light tolerance and no-CO2 needs — Anubias nana is simply the most versatile and widely available size.

Question 6

Can I keep Anubias nana in a tank with shrimp?

Accepted Answer

Anubias nana is arguably the best plant for shrimp aquariums of any plant available. The slow-growing waxy leaves accumulate a thin biofilm of microorganisms (periphyton) on their surface — this biofilm is the primary natural food source that shrimp graze constantly in the wild. Neocaridina (Red Cherry Shrimp, Yellow Shrimp) and Caridina (Crystal Red, Bee Shrimp) shrimp spend significant time grazing the Anubias leaf surfaces, which reduces reliance on supplemental feeding and produces more natural foraging behaviour. The dense structure of an established Anubias nana grouping also provides hiding places and egg-laying cover that encourages shrimp breeding.

Question 7

How long does it take for Anubias nana roots to attach to driftwood?

Accepted Answer

Anubias nana typically develops functional root attachment to driftwood within 4–8 weeks when correctly positioned. After super glue gel attachment: the plant is mechanically held from day one while roots develop independently. After thread attachment: roots usually firmly grip the driftwood surface within 4–6 weeks, at which point the thread can be removed. You can test attachment by gently tugging the plant — a firmly attached plant will resist removal without the threads or glue. Once the roots have attached to the wood, the plant will remain secure without any external binding. Attachment is faster on rough-surfaced driftwood and porous rock than on smooth surfaces.

Question 8

What is the best position for Anubias nana in an aquarium?

Accepted Answer

Anubias nana is best positioned in the foreground to midground of the aquarium, attached to driftwood or rock that sits on the substrate. Its compact size (typically 8–15cm height when established) suits foreground positions in tanks 30L+ and centerpiece or background positions in nano tanks under 20L. It grows well in the shade of larger plants — positioning Anubias nana beneath Java Fern or Cryptocoryne leaves provides the low-light conditions it prefers while creating a natural layered planting. Avoid positioning directly under the light source, particularly in high-light planted tanks — a shadier position under hardscape or other plants produces cleaner, algae-free leaves.

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