Anubias barteri

Barter's Anubias is a highly valued plant in the freshwater aquarium hobby, renowned for its resilience, slow growth, and distinct aesthetic. Originating from Africa, it is adapted to a broad spectrum of aquatic environments, making it exceptionally forgiving for hobbyists. Its lighting requirements are minimal; it thrives in shaded or low-light conditions, which mimics its natural habitat under the canopy of larger plants or along shaded riverbanks. When exposed to medium or high-intensity lighting, its leaves become a prime surface for algae growth due to its slow metabolic rate. While the leaves are tough and waxy, persistent algae can eventually impede photosynthesis.

This plant's adaptability extends to water parameters, as it tolerates a wide range of temperatures typical for tropical setups, as well as both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline pH levels. It is also indifferent to water hardness, flourishing in both soft and hard water. A key aspect of its biology is its method of nutrient uptake. As an epiphyte, it primarily absorbs nutrients from the water column through its roots and rhizome. Consequently, it does not need to be planted in a substrate; doing so is detrimental and will cause the rhizome to rot. The proper method is to affix the plant to hardscape elements like driftwood or porous rocks, allowing the roots to eventually anchor themselves securely. Gentle water circulation is beneficial, as it delivers nutrients to the plant and prevents detritus from settling on its leaves, but strong currents should be avoided.

In terms of its role in the aquarium ecosystem, it is not a significant oxygen producer or a primary consumer of nitrates, given its slow growth. However, its broad, sturdy leaves provide excellent resting spots and shelter for fish, shrimp, and other invertebrates. The complex root structure that develops over time also offers a safe haven for fry and creates a vast surface area for the colonization of beneficial bacteria, which contributes to overall water quality. Its robust leaf structure makes it an ideal choice for aquariums with herbivorous fish or boisterous cichlids that tend to destroy more delicate plant species.

Anubias barteri is a flowering plant species belonging to the Araceae family, a group commonly known as aroids. Native to West Africa, its natural distribution spans several countries where it inhabits streams, rivers, and marshes. Ecologically, it is a rheophytic and amphibious plant, capable of growing both fully submerged and emersed on riverbanks. Its conservation status is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a widespread and stable wild population.

The morphology of A. barteri is well-adapted to its environment. The most notable feature is a thick, creeping rhizome that functions in nutrient storage, vegetative propagation, and anchorage. From this rhizome, simple, leathery leaves emerge on individual petioles. Leaf shape can be variable but is typically ovate to lanceolate with an entire margin. This robust leaf structure is an evolutionary defense against herbivory and physical damage from water currents. Its metabolic rate is inherently slow, which corresponds to its low light compensation point and minimal demand for dissolved carbon dioxide. This makes it a successful understory plant in its natural habitat and a low-maintenance species in aquaria.

Reproduction occurs both sexually and vegetatively. Sexual reproduction involves the production of a characteristic aroid inflorescence, consisting of a spathe and spadix, which typically occurs when the plant is grown emersed. However, in both natural and cultivated settings, vegetative propagation via rhizome fragmentation is the predominant method of dispersal. Sections of the rhizome that break off can independently establish new colonies. Physiologically, A. barteri demonstrates significant tolerance to a broad range of water chemistry, including a wide pH and hardness spectrum, but it is strictly a freshwater species with negligible salinity tolerance. Its slow absorption of nutrients from the water column makes it a minor contributor to phytoremediation within an aquatic ecosystem.

Propagating Barter's Anubias is a simple and highly successful process, making it ideal for hobbyists of all skill levels. In an aquarium environment, this plant reproduces asexually through vegetative division of its rhizome. While it is capable of flowering and sexual reproduction, this is rare in submerged conditions and not a practical method for home aquarists.

The primary technique for propagation is rhizome division. To begin, carefully remove the parent plant from its attachment point in the aquarium. Using a sharp, sterilized pair of scissors or a razor blade, cut the thick, horizontal rhizome into multiple sections. For the highest chance of success, each new division should possess at least three to four healthy leaves and, ideally, a few roots. Small, leafless rhizome fragments are unlikely to survive and sprout new growth.

Environmental factors for successful propagation are the same as those for its general care; no special conditions are required. The plant thrives in stable tropical temperatures with low to moderate lighting and does not depend on a nutrient-rich substrate or CO₂ supplementation. After cutting the rhizome, the new divisions are ready to be placed back into the aquarium. Attach each section to a piece of rock or driftwood using cotton thread, fishing line, or a small amount of aquarium-safe cyanoacrylate super glue. It is critically important not to bury the rhizome in the substrate, as this will suffocate it and lead to irreversible rot.

Newly created plants will establish themselves very slowly due to the species' inherent slow growth rate. Be patient, as it may take several weeks before you observe new root or leaf development. To prevent common issues, ensure there is gentle water flow around the rhizome to keep it clean and prevent fungal growth on the cut surfaces. Placing the new divisions in areas of lower light will help them acclimate without being outcompeted or covered by algae.