Cryptocoryne 'Flamingo'
Cryptocoryne "Flamingo"
Also sold as Cryptocoryne wendtii Flamingo
Synonyms Pink crypt · Crypt flamingo · Flamingo crypt
Cryptocoryne 'Flamingo' (Cryptocoryne "Flamingo") is a rosette plant for the midground and the foreground, growing to about 15 cm (5.9 in) at a slow pace. It wants 72–82°F (22–28°C), medium light and CO₂ if you have it, and counts as a medium-difficulty plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Rosette plant |
|---|---|
| Light | MediumThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | RecommendedWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Temperature | 72–82°F (22–28°C) |
| Max height | 15 cm (5.9 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | planted in the midground and the foreground |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
Before it goes in
- Cryptocoryne 'Flamingo' needs medium light. Under a low-light LED it thins out instead of filling in.
- CO₂ is not required, but without it expect slow growth and a thinner result.
- It feeds through its roots, so in plain sand or gravel it needs root tabs; in an aquasoil it does not.
- Expect it to melt back a few weeks after planting and regrow from the roots — pulling it out at that point is the mistake.
- It only colours up under strong light with CO₂; in a low-tech tank it stays green.
- Its leaves are medium: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail will eat it.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes, but slowly. Cryptocoryne 'Flamingo' is listed as CO₂-recommended, not CO₂-required: without injection it survives and grows, it just takes far longer to fill in.
How much light does it need?
Medium light — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line. Colour is a separate question: it only turns red under strong light with CO₂.
How big does it get?
About 15 cm (5.9 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing slowly, after roughly 8 weeks to root in.
Why is it melting?
That is normal for this one. It usually drops its existing leaves a few weeks after planting and regrows from the roots — leave it in place and it comes back.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are medium, so some will: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail.
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, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Dwarf Hairgrass Mini.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Cryptocoryne 'Flamingo' | Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii' | Cryptocoryne walkeri | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Medium | Low | Low |
| CO₂ | Recommended | Not needed | Not needed |
| Max height | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm |
| Difficulty | Medium | Easy | Easy |
More plants
Sources (1)
- Root feeding, CO₂, Color, Meltingbuceplant.comSep 2026