Anubias nana 'Petite'
Anubias barteri var. nana "Petite"
Also sold as Anubias Petite · Anubias nana Bonsai · Anubias nana mini
Synonyms Anubias mini · Anubias bonsai · Nana petite · Petite anubias
Anubias nana 'Petite' (Anubias barteri var. nana "Petite") is an epiphyte for rock and wood and the foreground, growing to about 5 cm (2 in) at a slow pace. It wants 68–82°F (20–28°C), low light and no CO₂, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Epiphyte |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | Not neededWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| Max height | 5 cm (2 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | attached to rock or wood |
| pH | 6–8 |
Before it goes in
- Anubias nana 'Petite' lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- It grows without CO₂.
- Glue or tie it to rock or wood. Buried in the substrate the rhizome rots, which is the usual way Anubias nana 'Petite' is killed.
- It stays around 5 cm (2 in), low enough to keep the front glass clear.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes. Anubias nana 'Petite' does not need CO₂ at all.
How much light does it need?
Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 5 cm (2 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing slowly, after roughly 4 weeks to root in.
Can I attach it to wood or rock?
Yes, and that is the only way to keep it. Glue or tie it down; buried in the substrate the rhizome rots.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Cryptocoryne wendtii and Frogbit.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Anubias nana 'Petite' | Anubias nana | Anubias nana 'Golden' | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Low | Low |
| CO₂ | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Max height | 5 cm | 10 cm | 10 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Easy |
More plants
Sources (1)
- Light, Max height, Root feedingtropica.comSep 2026