Why are the leaves on my Anubias barteri turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves typically indicate a nutrient deficiency in the water column, most commonly a lack of iron or potassium. Dosing a high-quality, comprehensive liquid fertiliser directly into the water should help resolve the issue and encourage healthy, deep green new growth.

Can I plant Anubias barteri directly in gravel or sand?

You can safely bury the long, thin, trailing roots in your substrate, but you must ensure that the thick, fleshy horizontal stem (the rhizome) remains completely above the substrate line. If the rhizome is buried, it will eventually rot away and kill the entire plant.

How do I securely attach Anubias to my driftwood?

You can temporarily tie the rhizome to the wood using basic cotton thread or clear fishing line, which can be removed once the plant naturally anchors itself in a few weeks. Alternatively, aquarium-safe cyanoacrylate superglue can be used to affix the rhizome directly to the surface for an instant bond.

Why is my Anubias growing so incredibly slowly?

Anubias barteri is naturally a very slow-growing epiphyte, often producing only one or two new leaves per month even under ideal conditions. While adding CO2 and increasing lighting can slightly boost this biological rate, slow and steady growth is entirely normal for this specific species.

How do I clean stubborn algae off my Anubias leaves?

Gently rubbing the tough leaves with your fingers during routine water changes can easily remove loose algae. For more stubborn growth like green spot algae, a brief dip in a heavily diluted bleach solution (followed immediately by thorough dechlorination) or introducing natural algae-eating creatures like Amano shrimp or Nerite snails is highly effective.

FreshwaterPlantsBeginner

Anubias Barteri

Anubias barteri

An exceptionally robust and popular epiphytic plant renowned for its broad, leathery leaves and undemanding care requirements.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C
pH range: 6 – 8
Hardness: 3 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 15 – 40 cm
Min. volume: 20 litres+
Lifespan: 3 – 10 years
Diet: N/A (Autotroph)
Preferred setup: Attach the fleshy rhizome to hardscape such as driftwood or rocks; never bury the rhizome in the substrate.

About the Anubias Barteri

Anubias barteri is arguably one of the most popular and resilient plants in the aquarium hobby today. Its tough, broad, deep green foliage and highly adaptable nature make it an outstanding choice for both novice fishkeepers and seasoned aquascapers. As a natural epiphyte, it vastly prefers to grow attached to hardscape elements rather than being rooted directly in the substrate, offering versatile and dynamic aquascaping opportunities in almost any freshwater environment.

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Where Anubias Barteri comes from

Native range

West Africa

Countries / regions

Cameroon, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea

Habitat

Fast-flowing, shaded streams and rivers, growing epiphyte-style attached to rocks or fallen timber, often fluctuating between partially and fully submerged depending on seasonal water levels.

Widely cultivated commercially for the aquarium trade, with wild collection being largely unnecessary.

Similar species

Anubias nana
Anubias barteri var. nana
Java Fern
Microsorum pteropus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Goldfish often destroy softer plants, but the tough, leathery leaves of Anubias barteri usually withstand their relentless grazing.
Great
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Excellent algae grazers that will diligently keep the broad leaves of Anubias free from unsightly algae without damaging the plant itself.
Great
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Shrimp love to forage on the microscopic biofilm that naturally accumulates on the plant's broad leaves and trailing roots.
Great
Silver Dollar
Metynnis argenteus
While Anubias is remarkably robust, large dedicated herbivorous fish may occasionally attempt to heavily nibble on its tender new growth.
Compatible with caution
Apple Snail
Pomacea maculata
Large, voracious herbivorous snails might attempt to consume the plant if alternative food sources are completely absent from the aquarium.
Compatible with caution

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