Care Guide

Anubias heterophylla

Anubias Heterophylla

Beginner difficulty

Care at a Glance

Lighting

Low

Growth Rate

Slow

Growth Form

Spreading rhizome

Placement

Mid to Background

True Aquatic

Yes

Available As

Bare root

About This Plant

Florida Aquatic Nurseries grows Anubias heterophylla . This plant was sold for many years under the incorrect name, A. congensis . Anubias heterophylla is a nice variety with wider leaves than Anubias afzelli . It works great as a midground or background plant in larger aquariums helping to create a lush aquascape. The rhizome must be kept above the substrate surface or it can rot. Only the white roots should be buried.

About the Anubias Genus

Family — Araceae

Anubias is a genus of slow-growing rhizome plants prized in the planted-tank hobby for being nearly indestructible. They attach to driftwood and rock rather than rooting in substrate, tolerate low light, and rarely need CO2, which makes them a staple for low-tech tanks, cichlid setups, and beginner aquascapes.

Quick-Reference Details

Common name: Anubias heterophylla
Scientific name: Anubias Heterophylla
Family: Araceae
Native to: Africa
Difficulty: Beginner
Requirements: Easy, beginner plant
Lighting: Low
Growth rate: Slow
Growth form: Spreading rhizome
Placement: Mid to Background
True aquatic: Yes
Available as: Bare root

Difficulty — Beginner

Tolerates a wide range of conditions and forgives setup mistakes. Thrives even in low-light tanks.

CO2 & Fertilization

CO2 is not required. This plant performs well in low-tech tanks with only basic liquid fertilization.

Tank Size & Setup

Best in tanks 20 gallons or larger so background stems have room to grow up and be trimmed without overtaking the foreground.

Aquascaping & Placement

Place in the midground between foreground carpets and tall background stems. The structure adds visual depth and shelters small fish and shrimp. The rhizome is the green horizontal stem. Attach it to driftwood, lava rock, or stone with cotton thread or super-glue gel — burying the rhizome causes rot.

Tank-Mate Compatibility

Compatible with the full range of community-tank species — tetras, rasboras, livebearers, corydoras, and most other peaceful freshwater fish do not damage the foliage. Tough enough for cichlid tanks and goldfish setups where most other plants are uprooted or eaten — the leaves are too leathery for those fish to chew through.

Pro Tips for Growing Anubias heterophylla

1Never bury the green rhizome — only the white roots should touch substrate, or the rhizome rots.
2Attach to driftwood or stone with cotton thread, super glue gel, or a rubber band until the roots grip.
3Wipe leaves gently to remove dust algae — Anubias leaves are tough enough to handle physical cleaning.

Common Care Issues

Rhizome rot

The rhizome (the thick horizontal stem) must stay above the substrate. Buried rhizomes turn black and mushy within a few weeks. Tie the plant to hardscape or wedge it between rocks instead.

Pale or stretched leaves

If new growth comes in pale yellow or the stems stretch unusually long, the plant is reaching for more light. Either raise the fixture's intensity or add a richer fertilizer.

Algae on old leaves

Slow growers accumulate dust and spot algae on older leaves. Wipe affected leaves with your fingers during water changes, and consider adding a few Amano shrimp or Otocinclus as cleaners.