Is Anubias Barteri a Good Plant for African Lungfish?

Possible with Caution

Anubias Barteri can work with African Lungfish, but this is a possible with caution pairing. The plant may need a protected position, stronger anchoring, or companion plants before it feels reliable in day-to-day use. The match depends on anchoring and placement more than the water numbers alone.

Anubias Barteri

Anubias barteri

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PlacementMidground

LightLow

DifficultyBeginner

Size35 × 25 cm

African Lungfish

Protopterus annectens

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TemperamentHighly Aggressive

FamilyOddballs

Temp24–30°C

Water TypeFreshwater Only

Quick Decision

A plant can be technically compatible with a fish and still fail in the actual tank if the fish digs, chews, needs denser cover, or uses a different part of the layout.

Overall fit

74/100

Possible, but the scape needs more care.

Water match

Workable overlap

Shared range: 24-30°C, pH 6-8, 5-15 dGH.

Plant pressure

Moderate

Anubias Barteri needs thoughtful placement and anchoring.

Layout value

Moderate cover

Anubias Barteri helps with breaks lines of sight, useful spawning site, good grazing surface, and good refuge for shrimp.

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Plant and Fish Fit Notes

Use these signals to decide whether the plant is doing useful work for the fish, or whether it is only surviving beside it.

FactorAnubias BarteriAfrican Lungfish

Temperature

Anubias Barteri20-30°C

African Lungfish24-30°C

Overlap: 24-30°C.

Anubias Barteri6-8

African Lungfish6-8

Overlap: pH 6-8.

Hardness

Anubias Barteri2-15 dGH

African Lungfish5-20 dGH

Overlap: 5-15 dGH.

Water and flow

Anubias BarteriFreshwater Only, Moderate (Standard)

African LungfishFreshwater Only, Low (Still Water)

Flow expectations are close enough for one layout.

Space used

Anubias BarteriMidground, Background, and Attached to hardscape

African LungfishBottom (Substrate), Middle (Open Water), and Top (Surface)

Pressure signals

Anubias BarteriHigh uproot resistance, Tough / leathery leaves

African LungfishHighly Aggressive, Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish), Generally Aggressive, and Aggressive to same species/look-alikes

Plant pressure: Moderate.

Planting value

Anubias BarteriBreaks lines of sight, Useful spawning site, Good grazing surface, and Good refuge for shrimp, No substrate required

African LungfishSand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), and Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding)

Shared Tank Conditions

Anubias Barteri fits inside the water range normally used for African Lungfish. The shared window is about 24 to 30 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 5 to 15 dGH, which gives you enough room to aim for stable middle-ground conditions.

Their flow expectations are close enough to combine: Anubias Barteri prefers moderate flow, while African Lungfish prefers gentle, low-flow water.

Both are suited to freshwater, so salinity does not add an extra planning problem.

Fish Pressure and Plant Resilience

African Lungfish can still be rough on plants, but this pairing becomes more realistic when the plant is anchored well and used as part of a larger layout.

Anubias Barteri has moderate cover density, high uproot resistance, and tough / leathery leaves. It can also help with breaking up sight lines, spawning sites, grazing surfaces, and shrimp refuge.

Anubias Barteri is less tempting than softer, more palatable plants for known nibblers.

The point to watch is african Lungfish may still investigate the plant, but the tougher foliage gives it a better chance.

Layout Fit

Anubias Barteri is a rhizome / epiphyte plant usually used midground, background, and attached to hardscape.

African Lungfish is an oddball fish, so the pairing works best when the planting style supports how that fish uses space and cover.

Anubias Barteri reaches about 35 cm tall by 25 cm wide and is usually attached / wedged to hardscape with no substrate required. That makes placement and anchoring more important than simply adding a larger bunch of stems or leaves.

In this pairing, the useful plant values are line-of-sight breaks, spawning sites, grazing surfaces, and shrimp refuge. Place it where African Lungfish can actually use that structure instead of hiding the plant where it cannot do much.

Practical Recommendation

Treat this as a managed pairing. Plant it securely, give it time to root or attach, and use other plants or hardscape if the fish needs more shelter than one species can provide.

The decision should center on this signal: African Lungfish may still investigate the plant, but the tougher foliage gives it a better chance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anubias Barteri and African Lungfish

Is Anubias Barteri a good plant for African Lungfish?

Can African Lungfish damage Anubias Barteri?

African Lungfish may still investigate the plant, but the tougher foliage gives it a better chance.

Anubias Barteri and African Lungfish share a workable water window around 24 to 30 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 5 to 15 dGH. Keep the tank near the middle of that overlap for the best long-term result.

What does Anubias Barteri add to a tank with African Lungfish?

Anubias Barteri is less tempting than softer, more palatable plants for known nibblers.

What is the main risk in this plant and fish pairing?

African Lungfish may still investigate the plant, but the tougher foliage gives it a better chance.