Description

The anubias nana is probably the most indestructible aquarium plant there is: thick, leathery dark green leaves, extremely slow growth and tolerance of conditions that would kill almost any other species. It lives on minimal light, without CO2 and in widely varying water. Its toughness has another practical advantage: it is one of the very few plants that herbivorous fish and digging cichlids do not wreck.
Scientific name
Anubias barteri var. nana
Position
Front or Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Natural grow
Slow
Max height
15 cm

🌊 Water parameters

pH
6 - 7.5
GH
3 - 15
Temperature
22 - 28 °C
Current
Low or moderate

Requirements

Light requirements
Low
Light spectrum requirements
6000 - 8000 (Kelvin)
Require CO2
no
Soil requirements
Rocks or wood

Habitats

Sources

  • GBIF
    GBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Anubias barteri.

Taxonomy verified.

'nana' is the dwarf variety sold in the aquarium trade. GBIF recognises the species Anubias barteri; the reference points to it.

The aquarium care values (light, substrate, CO2 and water ranges) have no citable source: GBIF supports the taxonomy and distribution, not the cultivation. A source for plants is still to be agreed.