An extremely hardy, slow-growing epiphytic plant with tough, broad leaves. It is famously easy to care for and serves as an excellent foundational plant when attached to driftwood or rocks.
Anubias Barteri At a Glance
Anubias Barteri Care and Setup
Layout Fit
Anubias Barteri usually works best attached to wood or stone in the midground or background and needs enough room to mature at about 35 cm tall and 25 cm wide.
Water Window
Aim for freshwater conditions with a steady current, plus 20 to 30 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 2 to 15 dGH.
Upkeep Rhythm
Expect slow growth with low maintenance. It usually stays easy to manage between normal maintenance sessions.
Anubias Barteri Care Guide Summary
The Anubias Barteri is a rhizome or epiphyte plant that usually works best attached to wood or stone in the midground or background. Give it room to reach about 35 cm tall and 25 cm wide, so the mature plant still fits the layout. It is approachable for newer planted-tank keepers once the initial planting is done correctly. In day-to-day care, it responds best to low light, freshwater conditions, and a steady current. It usually grows well without added CO2. Keep this species within a comfortable range of 20 to 30 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 2 to 15 dGH.
Anubias Barteri Planting, Feeding & Maintenance
The Anubias Barteri does best when the setup matches the way it naturally grows. It should be tied or wedged to wood or stone until the roots grip securely. Most of its nutrition comes from the water column, so steady liquid fertilization matters more than heavy root feeding. It does not need a nutrient substrate to stay viable in an aquarium. Keep the routine steady: low light and low nutrient demand usually give better results than big swings from week to week. This plant can also adapt to emersed growth, which is useful for growers who propagate outside the display tank.
Anubias Barteri Compatibility
Use these signals as quick context, not hard rules. They help you judge how well Anubias Barteri is likely to stay in place, tolerate curious fish, and contribute real cover in a mixed planted tank.
Aquarium Benefits
The Anubias Barteri can work very well in a mixed tank, but its value depends on how well it handles fish pressure and how much usable cover it really provides. It is less likely to be chewed by curious fish, and its tough / leathery leaves usually help it hold up in calm community tanks. Once rooted or attached, it is relatively dependable and easier to keep in place around more active fish. It adds some usable cover without turning the layout into a dense thicket. Its canopy can shade neighboring plants, so leave space around lower growers that need direct light. Aquarists also lean on it for breaking up sight lines, a useful spawning site, a grazing surface, and shelter for shrimp, not just for appearance.
Anubias Barteri Propagation
This species is usually propagated by rhizome division. With slow growth and low upkeep, it rarely crowds neighboring plants in a hurry. That gives you a better sense of whether simple trimming is enough or whether it is smarter to plan division, replanting, or thinning before the layout closes in.
Anubias Barteri Variants
Trade names and cultivated forms do not always change how a plant behaves in the tank. The notes below call out the differences that actually matter in care and layout planning, while anything not mentioned still follows the base profile.
Nana
A universally popular, compact variety with smaller leaves, ideal for midground or foreground placement in most aquariums.
This form is most often used attached to wood or stone in the foreground or midground and stays around 12 cm tall and 15 cm wide. In the aquarium, expect moderate shade cast.
Also known as: Anubias nana, Anubias barteri var. nana
Nana Petite
A miniature mutation of Anubias nana producing tiny leaves, perfectly scaled for nano aquariums or fine detailing on hardscape.
This form is most often used attached to wood or stone in the foreground and stays around 5 cm tall and 8 cm wide. In the aquarium, expect low shade cast. It is often chosen for shelter for shrimp and a grazing surface.
Also known as: Anubias petite, Anubias nana petite, Anubias bonsai
Coffeefolia
A striking variety featuring deeply ribbed leaves that resemble coffee plant foliage, often emerging with a reddish-brown tint.
This form stays around 20 cm tall and 25 cm wide.
Also known as: Anubias coffeefolia, Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia
Pinto
A variegated, highly sought-after form with white and green marbled leaves. The reduced chlorophyll slows its growth further and demands slightly elevated light.
This form is most often used attached to wood or stone in the foreground or midground and stays around 10 cm tall and 12 cm wide. Compared with the base plant, it leans toward intermediate difficulty, moderate maintenance, and moderate light. In the aquarium, expect moderate shade cast.
Also known as: Anubias pinto, Anubias nana pinto, White Anubias
Frequently Asked Questions About Anubias Barteri
Is Anubias Barteri a good beginner aquarium plant?
Yes, the Anubias Barteri is an excellent, low-maintenance choice for beginner aquarists. Newer hobbyists can do well with it as long as the planting method and weekly routine stay consistent.
Where should Anubias Barteri be placed in an aquarium?
This plant usually looks best attached to wood or stone in the midground or background. At full size it can reach about 35 cm tall by 25 cm wide, so leave room for it to mature. It is best tied or wedged onto wood or stone.
Does Anubias Barteri need strong light or CO2?
For the best results, provide it with low lighting. Additionally, it usually grows well without added CO2.
What water conditions suit Anubias Barteri?
Aim for freshwater conditions, a steady current, and a range around 20 to 30 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 2 to 15 dGH to keep this species inside its comfort zone.
How does Anubias Barteri spread or help the aquarium?
It is usually propagated by rhizome division. In the display tank, aquarists value this plant for breaking up sight lines, a useful spawning site, a grazing surface, and shelter for shrimp.
Plants That Grow Well With Anubias Barteri
These plants share compatible water parameters and growth habits with Anubias Barteri, making them reliable companions in a shared aquascape.
Marimo Moss Ball
Aegagropila linnaei
Prieto's Plant
Schismatoglottis prietoi
Singapore Moss
Vesicularia dubyana
Belinda's Buce
Bucephalandra belindae
Buce Motleyana
Bucephalandra motleyana
Dwarf Buce
Bucephalandra pygmaea
Side-by-side comparisons for Anubias Barteri
These guides compare Anubias Barteri directly with another plant, helping you choose between similar roles, care needs, and layout tradeoffs.
African Water Fern
Bolbitis heudelotii
Afzel's Anubias
Anubias afzelii
Gillet's Anubias
Anubias gilletii
Java Fern
Leptochilus pteropus
Congo Anubias
Anubias heterophylla
Meebold's Lagenandra
Lagenandra meeboldii
Fish That Suit Anubias Barteri
These fish pair well with Anubias Barteri based on shared water preferences and temperament, helping you build a balanced tank around this plant.
X-Ray Tetra (Pristella)
Pristella maxillaris
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya
Twig Catfish (Farlowella)
Farlowella acus
Mosquitofish (Gambusia)
Gambusia affinis
Gold Barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Related plant profiles
These cards open plant profiles directly. They are chosen by overall care, layout, and growth-pattern similarity, rather than a side-by-side comparison guide.
Gillet's Anubias
Anubias gilletii
Anubias gilletii is a relatively large and robust epiphyte from West Africa. Known for its broad, somewhat elongated leaves and sturdy stems, it makes an excellent midground to background accent when attached to hardscape. Like most Anubias species, it is highly adaptable, very slow-growing, and features tough leaves that resist herbivorous fish.
Afzel's Anubias
Anubias afzelii
Anubias afzelii is a robust and larger species of Anubias distinguished by its upright, elongated, leathery green leaves. Due to its significant mature size, it is typically utilized in the midground to background of larger aquariums. Like other Anubias, it thrives when its rhizome is left exposed to the water column, easily attaching to rocks and driftwood.
Congo Anubias
Anubias heterophylla
A robust, large-leaved rhizome plant native to Africa. It features upright, leathery, lanceolate to elliptical green leaves that make it an excellent background or midground structural plant. Like other Anubias, it is very hardy, undemanding, and should be attached to hardscape or planted with the rhizome completely exposed above the substrate.
Jungle Val
Vallisneria americana
Jungle Val is a classic, exceptionally hardy background plant known for its long, ribbon-like leaves that often trail across the water surface. It propagates rapidly via runners and is excellent for creating natural thickets and line-of-sight breaks for fish. It is a heavy root feeder and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, including hard water and low-end brackish setups.
Broadleaf Sagittaria
Sagittaria latifolia
A robust, fast-growing marginal plant that can be grown submerged in large aquariums. While famous for its large, arrowhead-shaped emersed leaves, it produces long, strap-like foliage when grown completely underwater. It spreads vigorously via thick stolons and forms a strong root system, often attempting to breach the water surface.
Leopard Val
Vallisneria nana
A striking, grass-like aquatic plant with narrow, ribbon-like leaves that often exhibit a subtle mottled or 'leopard' pattern under favorable lighting. It spreads rapidly via runners to form dense thickets, making it an exceptional background plant that provides natural line-of-sight breaks and excellent refuge for fry.