Anubias Nancon

Anubias Nancon

Anubias Nancon (Anubias barteri var. nana × Anubias afzelii “Congensis”) is a nursery-bred hybrid created by aquarist Bob Gasser. It takes the toughness and deep green color of Anubias nana and pairs it with the long, narrow, pointed leaf of Congensis. The result is a dark, elegant Anubias that is far larger than nana at maturity — established plants reach roughly 12 to 14 inches tall, with spade-shaped leaf blades up to about 4 inches long held up on tall stems.

Care tip: Never bury the rhizome in substrate — it will rot. Tie or glue Anubias Nancon to driftwood or rock with the rhizome fully exposed, or wedge it between stones. Roots will grip the hardscape on their own over a few weeks.

Like all Anubias, Nancon is extremely forgiving. It grows well under low to moderate light without CO₂, at 72–82°F and a pH of 6.0–7.5. Growth is slow — expect a new leaf every few weeks — so regular liquid fertilization pays off with steady growth and rich color, while the slow pace means maintenance is minimal. Keep it out of intense direct light; slow-growing leaves under strong lighting are prone to collecting algae.

Because of its mature size, Anubias Nancon is best treated as a midground to background plant rather than a foreground plant. Potted and smaller bare-root plants will start out compact, but they steadily build height as the rhizome extends and new, taller leaves are produced. Larger plants and mother pots already have the long stems and full leaf count that make this hybrid stand out.

In the aquascape, Nancon makes a bold, dark-leaved anchor on a tall piece of driftwood or the back edge of a rock formation, where its upright, arrow-shaped leaves add height and structure. It contrasts nicely with finer-leaved stem plants and mosses, and works well in low-tech tanks, in tanks with plant-nibbling fish (which tend to leave tough Anubias leaves alone), and in larger tanks where a hardy statement plant is needed.

Care & Specifications