Anubias nana petite
Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite'
Also known asAnubias petite · petite anubias
Water parameters
Light and nutrients
Substrate type: epiphyte. Propagation: rhizome division.
Substrate compatibility
| Substrate | pH effect | Nutrient load |
|---|---|---|
| Wood and rock mounts (Hardscape mount) | varies | none |
| Inert sand (Pool filter sand) | neutral / inert | none |
| Inert gravel (Aquarium gravel) | neutral / inert | none |
| Bare bottom (no substrate) (Bare bottom) | n/a | none |
| Aquasoil (ADA Amazonia) | lowers pH | very high |
| Mineralized clay substrate (Seachem Fluorite) | neutral / inert | moderate |
With fish
Origin and habitat
A cultivar selected from Anubias barteri var. nana for extremely compact growth. Not a wild species; developed in aquarium nurseries (likely in Singapore or Thailand). 'Petite' leaves are 1–2 cm long, roughly half the size of standard Anubias nana. The rhizome is correspondingly thinner and the overall growth rate is even slower. Despite the tiny size, the plant has the same tough, leathery leaf texture as other Anubias, making it resistant to herbivorous fish. Tissue culture specimens are widely available and are the cleanest way to purchase. The miniature scale makes it ideal for nano aquascapes and detailed foreground work where standard Anubias nana would be too large.
Care notes
Identical care requirements to standard Anubias nana but grows even more slowly. Under optimal conditions (moderate light, CO2, balanced nutrients), expect one new leaf every 2-4 weeks per growth point. Each leaf is 1–2 cm long, about half the size of standard nana. Attach to small stones, driftwood branches, or stainless steel mesh pads for detailed aquascaping. Super glue (cyanoacrylate gel) is the best attachment method for pieces this small; thread is fiddly to work with at this scale. Do not bury the rhizome. Tolerates low to moderate light well. Under high light without CO2, algae is a significant problem because the extremely slow growth means new leaf surface cannot outpace algal colonization. In high-light setups, CO2 injection, balanced nutrient dosing, and a dedicated cleanup crew (Amano shrimp, nerite snails, otocinclus) are strongly recommended. Black beard algae on Petite leaves is particularly frustrating: the tiny leaves make manual cleaning impractical, and a heavily BBA-covered plant often needs to be treated with a hydrogen peroxide dip outside the tank. Prevention through light, CO2, and nutrient balance is far better than treatment. Propagation by rhizome division works the same as other Anubias, but the slow growth means 6-12 months before a new plant produces enough rhizome length to divide. This cultivar costs more than standard Anubias nana because production at the nursery level is slower.