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Hey guys,

How do I nurture anubias? Do I have to attach them to something, or can I just stick them in gravel?

How hard are they to keep?

They do better attached to driftwood or rocks, just use some black thread to tie them on , by the time the thread rots they should be attached. You can also put them in the gravel but be careful not to bury the rhizome.

How to nuture them ? Easy - do nothing ! Anubias are very slow growing (so don't let this worry you and think you have to add tons of ferts) and consequently need absolutely no attention. About the only thing I would be careful with is light, they are so slow growing they can be a magnet for algae in bright light. If you have a lot of light try to put them in a shaded place.

How hard are they to keep? - Probably the easiest plant there is, almost indestructible.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I own 3 different varities right now; Anubias barteri (Giant Anubias, and they are correct), Anubias barteri var.nana (Dwarf Anubias) and Anubias heterocoyle... both are attached to wood or just left floating on the substrate.

All are doing excellent. To increase growth, add more light and Co2 (as any plant). Be careful though, algae seems to love these plants, so Otocinclus or Amano Shrimp are a must to "tend" to the leaves.

Gary

I only keep anubias bateri var. nana, and some just don't like to be attached to anything, so they just float around the tank and still growing well. i only use liquid fertilizer and that keeps them happy. Really a hardy and noble plant. Crazygar is right, they are like the perfect housing for algae.

I have both frazeri and nana rooted in the gravel (keeping the stem above, mind you), and they are growing like gang busters! I gravel vac right up to the roots (due to my UGF), and they just keep growing! The nana likes to throw out a bloomstalk now and then. I'm only working with 1 wpg, and that's just fine by them. I can't recommend them enough!

Anubias is the plant keepers dream. I've somehow supplied the City Of Windsor with just Rhizome cuttings. I started off with just 2 plants and now I have propagated more than I can count. At one point, I had a tank FULL of var.nana it was a nice site.

Gary

Ok! You guys have made the decision for me.

I'm going to get myself some anubias at the next available opportunity.

Question - are anubias root feeders or leaf feeders?

They absorb their nutrients from the Water Column, so I would definately say leaf (though, I do believe the Rhizome does this as well) feeder.

Gary

Can somebody, please explain what the "Rhizome" is.

Thanks alot in advance.

:88)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

A rhizome is a horizontal stem, as is a stolon. Technically, I guess that Anubias would have a stolon, as it is grown above the substrate (a rhizome would grow below it). In any case, with the root system that develops on Anubias, and the fact that it can grow emersed (with the leaves above the water), I would believe that root tabs would be the best way to fertilize. Can anyone confirm this for us?

I would imagine it would depend on how you are growing it. If it's attached to rock or wood, well a root tab would be pretty useless, as the roots are exposed to the water column and will take nutrients from there.

If it is with the roots buried it in the substrate then a root tab might work.

Either way Anubias are so slow growing they probably need very little in the way of additional fertilisers.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

They do love Co2 though. I've noticed quite a remarkable differance in growth rates with and without Co2 injection. Though, with high light and growth rate, comes algae that loves to make Anubias its home. This is where our Otocinclus come in handy.

Gary

I just added some anubias v. nana to my tank a few weeks ago. Everyone says it grows painfully slowly but mine shot out two new leaves in the last five days.
My wendtii, which I added at the same time as the nana is also growing quickly, even outgrowing the hornwort.
I was surprised to see all this new growth so soon, especially after reading about these "slow" growers on the net.
Anubias is a great plant, looks great, low maintenance (so far).

My anubias var nana in the lower right front.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/DaFishMan/GoldieandZap.jpg

It does have some algae spots on it, maybe I should drop into the Oto tank for awhile ?

The Amazon Nut...