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	crypt. balansae
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	Quick question about this plant: I recently bought a number of these plants from two different sources. The plants i bought from one source looked exactly like those seen in most pictures of this plant - long crispy green leaves. The other batch, however, was about as tall as I'd expect crypt balansae to be, but the leaves were oval, almost spear shaped and smaller than those from the first batch. In other words, the length was mostly stem. I know crypts grow different leaves based on the conditions they're grown in, but has anyone had experience with balansae doing this? The two plants look almost too different to be the same... Thanks *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	Do you have pictures? There's so many varieties of crypts that could possibly match that description... ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	I know... I'm sorry. I kinda realized that too after I posted. I'll post pics tonight when I get home. I just didn't think that any other crypts had stems that large. I mean, one of my wendtii crypts has leaves that are 7-8 inches, but the stem itself is pretty short. Same thing with the balanaes that look like balansaes. But with this mystery plant, the stem is probably 8-10 inches long, and the leaf on top maybe 2 1/2 inches. That's why i'm confused, it looks nothing like how it should. *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	OK, here's a pic of the mystery crypt Compare it to a normal crypt balansae and let me know what you think. Thanks NowherMan6 attached this image: *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	Definitely doesn't look like balansae... It sort of looks similar to one of the crypts I have in my five gallon. However, I have two varities and kinda don't remember which is which. I've got lutea and wilisii (spelling optional on that last one )... take a look on [link=tropica.com]http://www.tropica.com" style="COLOR: #000000[/link] or something similar... see if your plant resembles on of those. ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
harleysiber Fish Addict Posts: 591 Kudos: 554 Votes: 47 Registered: 11-Aug-2003	From the pics at tropica, it could be Willisi, but Parva seems very close also. Very long stems on that one.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	Yeah, that's what I mean... way longer than balansae should be. Parva is actually very small - the smallest crypt, I think... but willisi looks about right. Last edited by NowherMan6 at 02-May-2005 19:43 *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	Yeah, parva's the smallest of the crypts, far as I know (and I'd love to get my hands on some ). I'd vote willisi then... I know it looks pretty identical to what I have. And one or the other of the two types I have is already a proven mother plant... now I just have to figure out which one it is! Good luck with it! ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	Actually it does look a little like Willisii.....but.... your descripton of it's height does sound too tall for Willisii. Also Willisii leaves tend to be a little stiffer and more pointy/sharper then other crpyts. When I read your description I immediately thought C.Retrospiralis or C.Spiralis. Very long stems with a much smaller leaf on top but again the pic doesn't look like one of those. From the pic alone I would say Wendtii ! I've seen and have some that grow that way, very tall with a small leaf on top, usually the ones that are very shaded. Your plant may have been kept in poor light and might change shape in better light. 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.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	It's funny you mention that, bensaf, because the leaves look very similar to the wendtii that I already have. It was the long stems that were throwing me off. My other wendtii are quite short, some of the leaves actually lie directly on the substrate. I didn't think they coul dbe that leggy... In any case, I'll have to look for some mor ebalansae now... *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	Crypts are very adaptable, part of the reason they are so easy to grow. In good light they have big leaves that may lie flat, in poorer light they'll stretch, and in poor conditions will continue to grow just with much smaller foliage 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.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	Yup. I think my wendtii are starting to qualify for "carpet plant" status.... Thanks again, everyone! *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43


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