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I've looked on all the plant websites, now I just want the experts opinions: What are the smallest varieties of crypts? I understand this can be a complicated matter, as different tank conditions can lead to different sizes, especially with that Jekyll and Hyde plant, crypt. wendtii.

So far the consensus is that parva is the smallest, but it also seems to be painfully slow growing. Tropica says a group will start to fill out in 6 months, but from member experiences on other boards 6 months is very generous.

What about lucens, is this a small variety? Some pics suggest so, others not.

Any comments appreciated.

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Hi Nowher,

I have this crypt that stays short (less than 10cm) and grows more bushy (as in producing side plantlets) over the last 8 months. Unfortunately I can't seem to find a match for it in any of the websites. Perhaps a variety of crypt willisii? I'll see if I can find a pic of it so someone can help identify it.

Crypt parva & crypt pygmaea seem to be the smallest of them all though. No personal experience with the growth rate of parva, but I can let you know in 6 months (I just ordered a couple of bunches, should arrive next week).

-P

OK, found some pics.
Here it was about 4 months ago:


A couple of weeks ago:


Shot of whole tank, to give idea of size (crypt is on the front right, tank is 12" tall):


-P

After Parva the only crypt I've found to stay small is Willisii(used to be Nevellii). It's has narrow spear like leaves and tends to get bushy rather then tall. Mine are in good light and this just seems to encourage the leaves to lie flat on the substrate.

Willisii "Lucens" seems to be a taller bigger version.

If you are looking for some that doesn't get tall but will take up a lot of width C.Wendtii "Tropica" is one that will lie very flat on the substrate in good light.

Paulus the one in your pic isn't Willisii. Looks like a form of C.Wendtii possibly Petchii or Beckettii. I've got the same one , it has the potential to get well over 6 inches tall.

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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.

Hey upikabu,

Thanks. Nice pics. I'm definetely going to try parva, I expect no miracles, I'd just like to see how it does. Best of luck with it

The crypt you have, while growing low, is still too large for the tank I plan on putting it in. the tank is only a 7 gallon, 10 inches tall. Most crypts would look large and out of place in such a tank, hence my search for the smallest varieties.

EDIT: Thanks for the info Bensaf, I figured you'd know as well as anyone. I'm excited to try out the parva, I'll probably start off with quite a bit, I dunno, maybe it'll help it grow together faster. I assume it gets the normal crypt treatment, initially spaced a few centimeters apart?

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Back in the saddle!

Paulus the one in your pic isn't Willisii. Looks like a form of C.Wendtii possibly Petchii or Beckettii. I've got the same one , it has the potential to get well over 6 inches tall.

I figured it wasn't. Willisii normally costs upwards of $15 here (and only online); this one I got for about $5. Mine probably stayed small and compact because it's in a relatively low-light, non-CO2 tank with little/no substrate fertilization.

I'm definetely going to try parva, I expect no miracles, I'd just like to see how it does. Best of luck with it

Thanks, you too! We'll see which one of us it likes better. Perhaps we can use this thread to update how it's doing in each of our tanks? (If it doesn't get deleted/archived by the time it shows any growth, that is. )

BTW, how much lighting do (will) you have on that tank? I heard parva is relatively light demanding as far as crypts go. Are you planning to add CO2 or Excel? Mine will be in my 3wpg, 23g tank with DIY CO2.

Cheers!



-P

Yep with better light and Co2 it will grow. After I added both the thing went nuts and became huge after being the perfect size.

Willisii will work well. I've it in a 5gal and it's a perfect size.

Don't know anything to speed up Parva. I have in Co2 and non Co2 tanks and grows just as slowly in both

Shame, it's nice but expensive and hard to find.

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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.

We'll see which one of us it likes better. Perhaps we can use this thread to update how it's doing in each of our tanks? (If it doesn't get deleted/archived by the time it shows any growth, that is. )

Sounds like a plan

And thanks for the info Bensaf. I've been snooping around aquabid and I think I've found some. It is expensive, but no more so than anubias petite nana... though the anubias probably grows faster

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I recently found a small crypt: c. petchii that has nice rust-colored stems and dark olive leaves, and in my tank at least, it stays very small, no more than 3 inches, but as with c. wendtii, YMMV.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

I know growing conditions can affect how large they get. Keep wendtii in shallow gravel and it should stay small.

BTW: Lighting will be 28W on the 7 gallon tank. Not much at that size, but enough. I planned on just using excel for carbon, and want to keep this tank semi-low maintenence - WCs every few weeks etc., ala Barr's method. As you said, we'll see which it likes better

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Back in the saddle!