Anubias nana

Anubias barteri

Compact anubias from Cameroon whose tough leaves herbivorous fish do not eat; first brought into cultivation by Tropica in 1970. Best on wood and rock, and well suited to small tanks.

Needs

Care levelEasy

LightLow

CO₂Not needed

GrowthSlow

HeightUp to 10 cm

Temperature22–26 °C

WhereTied to wood or rock

Feeds throughLeaves, from the water

FamilyAraceae (aroids)

Native toCameroon (the nana form, from forest rivers); species as a whole: West and west-central tropical Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gulf of Guinea Islands (Bioko), Gabon, Congo (POWO, for Anubias barteri as a whole)

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. See sources

How to keep it

Tie (or glue) to wood or stone
Keep the rhizome uncovered
Low to medium light; shade helps against spot algae

Burying the rhizome (it rots)
Strong light: long-lived leaves collect slow-growing algae

Don't bury it. Tie or glue it to wood or rock.

Sources

13 facts checked with sources

Scientific namecorrectedPOWO (Kew): Anubias barteri Schott (synonym list, via POWO API) · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana · Tropica: Anubias barteri var. nana
FamilycorrectedPOWO (Kew): Anubias barteri Schott (via POWO API)
Native rangecorrectedTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana · POWO (Kew): Anubias barteri Schott (via POWO API)
LightTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana (1-2-Grow tissue-culture listing, same plant) · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
CO₂Tropica: Anubias barteri var. nana (1-2-Grow tissue-culture listing) · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
GrowthTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana (1-2-Grow tissue-culture listing) · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
Care levelTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana (1-2-Grow tissue-culture listing) · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
HeightTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana · Tropica: Anubias barteri var. nana (1-2-Grow tissue-culture listing)
TemperaturecorrectedFlowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
Where to plantTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
Water or land plantcorrectedFlowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
AboutTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana
Care tipsTropica: Anubias barteri var. nana · Flowgrow plant database: Anubias barteri var. nana