Does Anubias need CO2?

No. Anubias grows in low-tech tanks without CO2 injection or liquid carbon supplementation.

What light does Anubias need?

Anubias is a low-light plant. Standard aquarium LEDs cover this with room to spare. It is one of the plants you can light from a basic shop hood and still get growth.

Is Anubias safe for shrimp?

Yes. Anubias is safe in shrimp tanks. The usual quarantine still applies: any plant from a commercial nursery should be soaked and rinsed first to flush copper and pesticide residue.

Image: Wikimedia Commons — attribution available on this site.

Plant appearance can vary with lighting, nutrients, CO₂, and whether it is grown submerged or emersed.

easylow lightNo CO2slow growthrhizome

Anubias

Anubias barteri var. barteri

Also: Anubias barteri, Broad-leaf Anubias

Anubias is a slow-growing rhizome plant from West Africa. Its thick, dark-green leaves are extremely resilient and are largely ignored by most fish, except dedicated herbivores. It thrives tied to hardscape rather than planted in substrate.

Evidence: verifiedConfidence: high

Livestock warningAnubias is at moderate-to-high risk from herbivores and fin-nippers — check your fish list before buying.

Care at a glance

Difficultyeasy

Lightlow

CO2Not needed

FertiliserNot essential

Growth rateslow

Max height25cm

Placementmidground

Min tank20L

Water parameters

Temperature22–28°C

pH6–8

Shrimp safeYes

Herbivore riskmoderate

Propagationrhizome division

Beginner guidance

Do not bury the rhizome, it will rot. Tie to wood or rock and allow roots to anchor naturally. Very low light suits it fine; algae on leaves is common in high-light tanks.

Cautions

Bury roots only, never the rhizome.

Sources

Anubias barteri. Wikipedia — Species overview: native range (West Africa), growth habit, and aquarium cultivation notes.
Anubias barteri. Flowgrow aquatic plant database — Care parameters, placement, and propagation from keeper database.

Fish whose water overlaps

Peaceful freshwater species with overlapping temperature and pH — still run a pair check for the real mix.

Similar plants

Java Mosseasy · low light · no CO2
Java Ferneasy · low light · no CO2
Amazon Swordeasy · medium light · no CO2
Hornworteasy · low light · no CO2
Water Wisteriaeasy · medium light · no CO2
Water Spriteeasy · medium light · no CO2

Plan the tank around this plant

Set a 20L+ footprint, then verify livestock before you buy Anubias.

Open pair checker Tank builder

Tank hubs: 30L

Related plant guides

Easy beginner aquarium plantsLow-light aquarium plantsPlants for shrimp tanks

All plants 30L tank hub

Common questions about Anubias

Does Anubias need CO2?: No. Anubias grows in low-tech tanks without CO2 injection or liquid carbon supplementation.
What light does Anubias need?: Anubias is a low-light plant. Standard aquarium LEDs cover this with room to spare. It is one of the plants you can light from a basic shop hood and still get growth.
Is Anubias beginner-friendly?: Anubias is rated easy for difficulty. Do not bury the rhizome, it will rot. Tie to wood or rock and allow roots to anchor naturally. Very low light suits it fine; algae on leaves is common in high-light tanks.
Is Anubias safe for shrimp?: Yes. Anubias is safe in shrimp tanks. The usual quarantine still applies: any plant from a commercial nursery should be soaked and rinsed first to flush copper and pesticide residue.