Anubias Nana Care & Info | The Easiest Aquarium Plant?!

A beautifully planted aquarium is a joy to look at, but it's not always the easiest to maintain. Luckily, a planted tank doesn't have to be expensive and a lot of work! You just have to know which plant species to go for. One of our top choices when it comes to easy aquarium plants is the genus Anubias, especially the compact Anubias Nana.

Below, find out why we love this undemanding little aquarium plant so much, plus how to grow it in any type of fish tank.

What is Anubias Nana?

When it was first scientifically described in 1899, this plant was thought to be a species of its own: Anubias nana. It took until 1979 for researchers to realize that this actually isn't the case. In reality, it's a naturally occurring dwarf variety of the well-known (to aquarists, anyway) Anubias barteri. Actually not that surprising, as you'll notice that it looks exactly like the larger version—just in miniature.

Given its varietal status, the official scientific name for this plant is Anubias barteri var. nana. Since that's a bit of a mouthful, we'll just go with Anubias Nana here! This is one of a bunch of popular aquarium plants that's naturally from Africa. Although A. barteri is widespread in West Africa, its dwarf cousin is only found in a small part of the country of Cameroon.

The species' wild habitat is located in the wet tropical biome, and within this already very rainy area, it manages to find the highest-humidity spots of all: riverbanks in tropical rainforests. Here, Anubias Nana usually doesn't grow underwater, but it doesn't mind being partially or entirely submerged for extended periods of time, like if the river level rises in the rainy season.

Did you know? The genus Anubias forms part of the family Araceae. This means it's related to many popular houseplants you may have in your home, like Philodendron and Monstera.

Anubias Nana varieties

Yes, although Anubias Nana is itself a variety of Anubias barteri, there are in fact further sub-varieties! Most of these were "created" by humans by selectively breeding for certain traits, like leaf color. They're called cultivars.

A few of the common Anubias Nana cultivars include:

• Anubias Nana 'Golden': With lighter green leaves that have a yellowish tinge.
• Anubias Nana 'Petite': You guessed it—it's even smaller than the already tiny original! Perfect for nano tanks.
• Anubias Nana 'Pinto': A variegated variety that looks like it's dusted with powdered sugar.
• Anubias Nana 'Snow White': Indeed almost entirely creamy white in color, with very minimal green. Can be more challenging to grow as it can't photosynthesize as well.

Anubias Nana requirements

We love this Anubias variety for many reasons, but the main one is that it's so easy to grow. If you're setting up your first planted (shrimp) aquarium, you can't go wrong with this one, even if you think you don't have a green thumb. It can withstand a wide range of temperatures and water parameters, and it can thrive under minimal lighting.

Although your plant will appreciate it, you don't need a Co2 injection system to grow Anubias Nana successfully, nor is it necessary to dose liquid nutrients. Root tabs aren't needed either, as this specialized plant absorbs nutrients mostly through its leaves. In fact, all you really need is a basic aquarium lamp—although we also recommend a bit of patience, because this isn't the quickest grower.

Anubias plants naturally grow on rocky riverbanks rather than in the soil: it's a rheophyte. Plants in the genus, including this one, use their strong root systems to firmly anchor themselves so the water can't wash them away. Their roots are not adapted to growing in soil, which is too dense for them. Instead, you attach your Nana to a nice piece of rock or driftwood, which you can do using rubber bands or even aquarium-safe superglue.

Did you know? Anubias can bloom underwater, and actually does so quite regularly. The white blooms aren't too spectacular as far as flowers go, but they still add a nice pop of color.

Anubias Nana uses

Where do we start?! This tiny Anubias is among the most versatile aquarium plants out there thanks to its size, low light requirements, and the fact that it doesn't need to grow in soil. Unleash your creativity by positioning it in rock crevices or placing it on a nice piece of driftwood. Maybe surrounded by some moss? The species can grow into dense carpets over time.

Our favorite way to use Anubias Nana is in the form of an "Anubias bonsai". If you can find the right type of driftwood, you can attach the plant on top so it looks like the leaves on a tree. Over time, with careful pruning, you'll have a fantastic, eye-catching aquarium centerpiece.

Don't forget that you can easily propagate a mature Anubias plant. You'll find it has a central rhizome that the leaves sprout from. Just cut vertically through this rhizome, including a few leaves on each piece, and voilà: more plants!

Did you know? Plant-eating fish, like certain cichlid species, don't tend to go for Anubias because its leaves are too thick and leathery. Shrimp and other small creatures, on the other hand, love foraging on it. They don't eat the foliage, but rather the film of algae and microorganisms that grows on it.

Buying Anubias Nana

As mentioned, this is a highly popular aquarium plant, so you should be able to find it in most aquarium stores. You can generally choose between potted plants (you should remove the pot and material), tissue culture plants (more expensive but guaranteed to be free of snails), and pre-mounted plants.

At The Shrimp Farm, we offer a bunch of different types of Anubias. Our favorite is Anubias Nana 'Petite' on driftwood: the perfect addition to your nano tank, shrimp tank, or even a paludarium.

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