Anubias ‘Dragon Claw’

Yes. Anubias Dragon Claw needs the same easy care as other Anubias: low to moderate light, no CO₂ and water at 22–28°C. Its curled, twisted leaves are natural for this cultivar, not a sign of stress. Keep the rhizome above the substrate and the light gentle enough to avoid algae on the leaves.

Anubias Dragon Claw usually grows about 10–20 cm tall in an aquarium, with twisted, claw-like leaves around 5–8 cm long. It grows slowly, about one new leaf every 2–4 weeks without CO₂, and spreads sideways along its rhizome rather than upwards, which makes it a midground plant for most tanks.

No. Anubias ‘Dragon Claw’ grows well with no CO₂ and only low to moderate light. Added CO₂ can speed up growth a little. Strong light is not needed and often causes algae spots on its slow-growing leaves.

Tie it to driftwood or rock with cotton thread, or fix it with a dot of aquarium-safe super-glue gel, and keep the rhizome uncovered. The curled leaves show best at eye level on a vertical wood face in the midground, in gentle water flow so debris does not settle in the folds. Its roots grip the surface within a few weeks.

Yes, Anubias ‘Dragon Claw’ is safe for shrimp tanks and community aquariums. Shrimp graze biofilm from its folded leaves, which helps keep them clean. We recommend a gentle rinse before adding it to your tank.

It is hand-packed in Surat and sent by courier anywhere in India for a flat ₹99, free on orders of ₹999 or more. If it arrives dead, send one continuous unboxing video within 4 hours of delivery on WhatsApp (+91 81416 96983) or email (buyanubias@gmail.com) and we refund or replace it. Photos alone are not accepted.

There is no single official rarest Anubias, but variegated cultivars such as Anubias ‘Pinto’ and ‘Snow White’ are usually the hardest to find. Their white or cream leaf areas carry little chlorophyll, so they grow very slowly and take longer to propagate. Twisted-leaf forms like ‘Dragon Claw’ are also less common than Anubias Nana. Read our variegated Anubias care guide.

Yes, Anubias is harmless to all aquarium fish, but not every fish leaves it alone. Bettas, gouramis, tetras, rasboras, corydoras and livebearers ignore its thick, tough leaves. Goldfish may nibble, and large cichlids, silver dollars and mature common plecos can shred or rasp it over time. With these fish, tie ‘Dragon Claw’ firmly to wood or rock so it cannot be uprooted, and expect some leaf damage. Its leaves contain calcium oxalate, which does not harm fish or shrimp in the tank, but keep trimmed leaves away from cats, dogs and other pets. See our Anubias tank mates guide.

No, ‘Dragon Claw’ grows slowly, like all Anubias — usually one new leaf every 2–4 weeks in a tank without CO₂. Moderate light, a weekly liquid fertiliser and added CO₂ can speed it up a little, but it stays a slow grower. The upside is that it rarely needs trimming and keeps its curled shape for months. See our Anubias fertiliser schedule.