Rotala Macrandra shimoga
Rotala Macrandra shimoga
Rotala Macrandra shimoga is a deep red Rotala macrandra variety from the Shimoga region of Karnataka, India, noted for dramatic leaf color contrast and extreme sensitivity to suboptimal conditions. The deep red coloration of shimoga is among the most intense of any macrandra variety, and the dramatic contrast between the vivid red leaf surfaces and the visible leaf venation creates a botanical complexity that makes well-grown shimoga one of the most visually compelling Rotala specimens in the hobby.
Care tip: Rotala Macrandra shimoga grows best in high lighting with CO₂ required. Maintain temperatures of 72–82°F and pH 5.5–6.8. Regular liquid fertilization supports healthy growth and best coloration.
Growing to 10 to 14 inches, shimoga is a background plant that requires the very best high-tech conditions to avoid rapid deterioration. The combination of deep red color and dramatic venation contrast requires consistently soft water, CO₂, intense light, and careful nutrient management — any shortfall in these parameters is immediately visible as color decline and leaf deformation.
As an advanced plant, shimoga requires CO₂ injection and very high lighting. The pH range of 5.5 to 6.8 reflects the soft, acidic water preferences of this Indian macrandra variety. Temperatures between 72 and 82°F provide comfortable conditions. The chart's designation as very sensitive needing soft water and CO₂ is accurate — this is a specialist plant for high-tech aquarists who have mastered Rotala macrandra maintenance.
In the aquascape, Rotala Macrandra shimoga creates the deepest, most dramatically colored macrandra background available — a display of intense, contrasting red that represents the extreme expression of the macrandra color range. For high-tech aquarists who can provide ideal conditions, shimoga creates a background of extraordinary botanical richness that sets it apart even among other demanding Rotala macrandra varieties.
Rotala Macrandra shimoga is the most demanding and most dramatically colored macrandra variety — a specialist plant for expert-level high-tech aquarists who want the absolute maximum from the Rotala macrandra species. Its intense deep red and dramatic contrast make it a botanical achievement for those who can meet its considerable demands.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Placement | Background |
| Max Height | 10–14 inches |
| Light Level | High |
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| pH | 5.5–6.8 |
| CO2 Needs | Required |
| Origin | India |
| Notes | A deep red Rotala macrandra variety from the Shimoga region of India noted for dramatic color contrast and extreme sensitivity to suboptimal conditions. Needs soft water, CO₂, and strong light to avoid rapid deterioration. Under ideal conditions it produces some of the deepest, most dramatic red coloration in the Rotala genus. |
