Anubias Coffeefolia

[fishygal]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and aquarium plants (I've been keeping fish for about three years for my son, who loves anything aquatic). We recently sat up a terrarium for some red-clawed crabs and I placed some anubias coffeefolia in because I'm interested in transitioning to live plants in our aquatic habitats. The pet store owner said the crabs would not eat the anubias, but they did. The rhizome is still green and I'm wondering if I transfer it to our fish aquarium if it will grow back? We're actually in the process of cycling a new aquarium. Will this be a good habitat for anubias and, if so, how should I plant it (I have one in a basket-type container and one mounted to a rock). What are the chances they'll recover from having their leaves eaten?

Thanks for any help!

 

[mark4785]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and aquarium plants (I've been keeping fish for about three years for my son, who loves anything aquatic). We recently sat up a terrarium for some red-clawed crabs and I placed some anubias coffeefolia in because I'm interested in transitioning to live plants in our aquatic habitats. The pet store owner said the crabs would not eat the anubias, but they did. The rhizome is still green and I'm wondering if I transfer it to our fish aquarium if it will grow back? We're actually in the process of cycling a new aquarium. Will this be a good habitat for anubias and, if so, how should I plant it (I have one in a basket-type container and one mounted to a rock). What are the chances they'll recover from having their leaves eaten?

Thanks for any help!

Usually people don't recommend placing plants into a cycling aquarium since they are quite susceptible to algae which will develop in the response to your ammonia-dosing (assuming you're doing a fishless cycle). Often the algae will grow on the plant leaves and starve the plant.

So in answer to your question, the rhizome should grow new leaves if:

- It isn't submerged.
- It has some form of c02 (liquid c02 such as Easycarbo definitely will help it to grow).
- It has some form of light; around 6 hours of it (not-recommended in a cycling aquarium because it will cause algae growth).
- You are not conducting a fishless cycle.

 

[fishygal]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and aquarium plants (I've been keeping fish for about three years for my son, who loves anything aquatic). We recently sat up a terrarium for some red-clawed crabs and I placed some anubias coffeefolia in because I'm interested in transitioning to live plants in our aquatic habitats. The pet store owner said the crabs would not eat the anubias, but they did. The rhizome is still green and I'm wondering if I transfer it to our fish aquarium if it will grow back? We're actually in the process of cycling a new aquarium. Will this be a good habitat for anubias and, if so, how should I plant it (I have one in a basket-type container and one mounted to a rock). What are the chances they'll recover from having their leaves eaten?

Thanks for any help!

Usually people don't recommend placing plants into a cycling aquarium since they are quite susceptible to algae which will develop in the response to your ammonia-dosing (assuming you're doing a fishless cycle). Often the algae will grow on the plant leaves and starve the plant.

So in answer to your question, the rhizome should grow new leaves if:

- It isn't submerged.
- It has some form of c02 (liquid c02 such as Easycarbo definitely will help it to grow).
- It has some form of light; around 6 hours of it (not-recommended in a cycling aquarium because it will cause algae growth).
- You are not conducting a fishless cycle.

No, it's not a fishless cycle. Thanks for the advice. We're picking the fish up tomorrow so I will also get some CO2.
So, when planting, I just gently push the roots down into the substrate and leave the rhizome on top of the substrate? I'm assuming the fat, green carrot-looking thing at the top of the roots is the rhizome.

 

[mark4785]

No, it's not a fishless cycle. Thanks for the advice. We're picking the fish up tomorrow so I will also get some CO2.
So, when planting, I just gently push the roots down into the substrate and leave the rhizome on top of the substrate? I'm assuming the fat, green carrot-looking thing at the top of the roots is the rhizome.

Yes, you should aim to get the tiny small roots into the substrate (mainly for anchorage) while keeping the thick green piece totally above the substrate. Once the roots start to grow they will often dig there way into the substrate themselves so if you don't need to use them for anchorage, and the water current doesn't move your rhizome (green looking carrot thing!) it isn't essential for you to place the roots into the substrate.

 

[tribalbrit]

Anubias will grow much better atached to a piece of bog wood or a rock as it does not like to be planted in the substrate. Nor does it like a lot of light. Place it in the shadows and it should recover fine, it is a slow grower though so may be a few weeks before you see any new leaves.