If you are looking for an aquarium plant that can instantly give your underwater landscape a noble and well-groomed look, take a closer look at Anubias Barteri. This plant has long won the hearts of aquarists, and the main reason for this is its special, almost glossy foliage. The dark green, dense leaves shine under water, reflecting light and creating the effect of an expensive, living decoration.
What makes this plant so special is its character. Anubias Barteri does not require complex care, bright lighting, or carbon dioxide. It grows slowly but steadily, gradually forming lush and very durable bushes. It can be easily attached to driftwood or stones, and then it will look like a natural decoration created by nature itself.
Thanks to its hardiness and striking appearance, this anubias is the perfect choice for both beginners and experienced aquarium designers. It gets along well with most fish, and its tough leaves are usually left untouched even by herbivorous inhabitants. This plant does not just live in the aquarium, it creates an atmosphere of harmony and tranquil beauty.
Distribution
Judging by the name, one gets the impression that Anubias are native to Egypt. The name of the genus is consonant with the names of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. But this is a typically African culture.
Anubias barteri habitat depending on the variety:
- var. barteri – Cameroon, southeastern Nigeria. Grows on riverbanks in the shade of mangrove trees.
- var. caladiifolia – Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Gabon, Nigeria, Congo. It prefers swampy areas near forest water bodies.
- var. glabra – Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Ivory Coast. Favorite places – stream banks and swamps. Can grow out of water or semi-submerged.
- var. nana – Cameroon. In most cases, it remains underwater, clinging to rocks and snags with its roots. Less often, it takes root in the ground.
- var. angustifolia – Liberia, Cameroon, Guinea. Grows along the coastline of rivers and streams.
- Variegated, Broad leaf – throughout West Africa. They prefer shaded water areas.
Anubias Barteri grows in both aquatic and aerial environments.
Anubias barteri is a real favorite among aquarists because it not only looks impressive but also requires minimal care. Its dense, shiny leaves look as if they are covered with varnish, and they look great in the foreground or middle ground of an aquarium. The plant is unpretentious: it grows in low light, is not afraid of low water hardness, and coexists peacefully with fish that usually destroy greenery. The main thing is not to bury the rhizome in the soil, but to attach it to stones or driftwood. Thanks to its hardiness and beauty, Anubias Barteri is the perfect choice for both beginners and experienced aquarists.
Growing and care
There is a belief that anubias are typically terrestrial plants and are not suitable for aquarium keeping. But this statement is debatable. There are not many 100% aquatic plants, such as hornwort or elodea, in herbalists.
Most representatives of aquaflora, such as Cryptocoryne, Ludwigia, or Echinodorus, are amphibious plants that grow in both aquatic and aerial environments. Anubias belong to the latter category. Therefore, they can be placed in aquariums, paludariums, and humid greenhouses.
General recommendations:
- All varieties feel more comfortable in tropical aquariums.
- Placement plan for Anubias barteri. Variegated, Broad leaf – middle or back, var. nana Wrinkled leaf, var. nana Marbled, Yellow heart – middle, var. nana Bonsai, var. mana Petit – front, front, Angustifolia, var. Barteri – front or middle, Caladiifolia – middle, front, Glabra – back.
- Long acclimatization period. Frequent transplanting is not desirable.
- Since representatives of this species have dense and stiff leaves, fish are indifferent to them. Therefore, Anubias Barteri can be safely grown in the same aquarium with cichlids.
- The shoots grow very slowly.
- It is advisable to plant it in the shade of light-loving plants, for example, those floating on the surface, which can shade the Anubias.
- It is preferable to place it in a tall tank, as it is easier to organize diffused and overhead lighting suitable for this species.
- They demonstrate their best decorative qualities in humid greenhouses.
- The main pest is blue-green algae.
- The main pathology faced by aquarists is growth point rot.
Medium-sized and compact Anubias barteri are planted in groups. Only tall bushes are placed individually. This species blooms mainly in an airy environment; it is difficult to achieve the appearance of flower stalks when submerged.
Optimal water parameters
Purity is important for anubias. In conditions of high organic concentration, the leaf plates become covered with algae, and the plant may die.
Hydrochemical indicators:
- total hardness – 2-15°dH;
A weekly replacement of 25% of the total water volume is recommended.
Lighting requirements
- Anubias barteri is a shade-loving plant. In bright light, the leaf blade becomes deformed, the leaves turn blue-green, and algae appear. Lighting should be no more than 0.5 W per 1 liter, for up to 12 hours.
Soil requirements
- This species has a powerful root system and obtains some of its nutrients from the soil. Therefore, the soil must be enriched with nutrients. A good choice of substratenutrient is Tetra Complete Substrate.
Need for feeding
If there are living organisms in the aquarium, Anubias does not need to be fed. In all other cases, fertilizer must be added.
The following preparations are popular among experienced aquarists:
Florastim – 1 cube per 30 liters.
Tetra PlantaMin – it is advisable to reduce the dosage specified in the instructions by half.
Kemira Lux – 0.2 g per 1 liter. An analogue of this preparation is Fertika Lux.
API Leaf Zone – 5 ml per 40 liters.
If dry fertilizers are used, the concentration should be as follows: 0.1% solution. This is 50 ml of solution per 1 liter of water, which is equivalent to 20 g of powder per 20 liters of water.
Reproduction characteristics
Anubias barteri reproduced by cuttings. To do this, cut off a part of the rhizome with 3 leaves or a side shoot from the mother plant and plant it in the soil, after adding nutrients.
Anubias barteri is a truly special plant that can become the highlight of any aquarium. Its main strength lies not in its rapid growth or bright color, but in its amazing texture and endurance. These dense, leathery leaves with a glossy sheen look noble and add a sense of solidity to the composition.
Caring for it is easy, even for a beginner. The plant is undemanding in terms of light and water parameters, and its tough leaves are usually too hard even for the most voracious fish. Just remember the main rule: do not bury its thick rhizome in the soil, but attach it to a log or stone.
The result is the perfect choice for creating long-lasting and stable underwater landscapes. Anubias will delight you for years with its lush green color and characteristic sheen, requiring only minimal attention in return. It is a reliable and very beautiful choice for an aquarium that will never go out of style.
