Anubias Barteri

Anubias Barteri

Anubias barteri is a classic West African aquarium plant celebrated for its toughness, versatility, and lush, deep green leaves. Found in nature along rivers and streams, growing both submerged and emersed, it has become a staple in aquascaping because it tolerates a wide range of conditions and stands up even to boisterous or herbivorous fish that might destroy more delicate plants.

Anubias Barteri Overview

In the aquarium, Anubias barteri forms sturdy clumps of thick, oval to slightly elongated leaves growing from a creeping rhizome. The leaves are leathery and robust, giving the plant a strong, architectural presence in the midground or along hardscape.

Aquarists appreciate Anubias barteri for:

• Exceptional hardiness and adaptability: It thrives in low to moderate light, varied water chemistry, and both high- and low-tech setups, making it ideal for beginners and advanced aquascapers alike.
• Durable, fish-safe foliage: The thick, tough leaves are rarely damaged even by larger or more “plant-curious” fish, so it’s a great choice in tanks where softer plants may get shredded.
• Epiphyte growth on hardscape: As with other Anubias, it is an epiphyte that prefers to grow attached to rocks, driftwood, and decorations rather than buried in substrate, creating natural-looking “rooted” features on hardscape.
• Aquascaping versatility: Anubias barteri looks fantastic when attached to driftwood (such as Stump Wood, Tiger Wood, Saba Wood, Blackwood, or Driftwood on Slate) and aquascaping rocks like Seiryu Stone, where it softens hard edges and helps build a lush, mature-looking layout.

For aquascaping, Anubias barteri is perfect in the midground, clustered around the base of wood and rock, and can be combined with smaller species such as Anubias nana ‘Petite’ on Lava Rock in the foreground and taller background plants like Cryptocorynes or vallisneria. You can explore our dedicated Anubias category to mix and match leaf shapes and sizes to create layered, natural groupings.

Anubias barteri is also available potted and grown on driftwood and rock, giving you instant, ready-to-place aquascaping pieces.

Care Guide for Anubias Barteri

Anubias barteri is famously easy to care for. It tolerates a wide range of water parameters and does well in low-light aquariums where many other plants struggle. High-intensity lighting is not necessary and, in fact, moderate or lower light often helps keep algae off the slow-growing leaves.

The most important care rule is to keep the rhizome above the substrate. The thick horizontal stem (rhizome) should not be buried in gravel or sand, as this can cause it to rot. Instead, place the plant so the rhizome rests on top of the substrate or, preferably, attach it to a solid surface such as rock, driftwood, or other décor. You can use thread or aquascaping glue to secure it; over time, the roots will grip onto the surface on their own.

Because Anubias is a slow grower, it does not require heavy fertilization. Regular water changes and a modest, balanced fertilizer regimen will usually be enough. If you’re running a more heavily planted tank with CO₂ and rich substrate, Anubias will simply sit there looking good without demanding much extra attention. Older leaves can be trimmed at the base with sharp scissors when they become damaged or algae-covered. Our Modern Aquarium Aquascaping Tools are ideal for this kind of precise trimming and for gently repositioning plants on hardscape.

The plant propagates by producing side shoots along the rhizome. Once a section has several leaves and roots of its own, you can carefully cut the rhizome and attach the new piece elsewhere in the tank—great for spreading Anubias barteri across multiple wood and rock features.

• Light: Low–Moderate
• Temperature Range: 70–82°F
• Placement: Midground–Background (attached to hardscape or decor)
• CO₂: Not required
• Difficulty: Very Easy / Beginner-friendly
• Growth Rate: Slow

With simple care—don’t bury the rhizome, avoid overly intense light, and keep water quality stable—Anubias barteri can thrive for years and become one of the most reliable, long-lived plants in your aquarium.

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