Description
Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri ‘Red’, also listed as Red Water Lily or Nymphaea rubra) is a true centrepiece plant. Underwater it grows broad, red-and-green mottled leaves on long stems. If you let a few stems reach the top, they open into round lily pads that float on the surface, and the plant may flower, with blooms that open at night. Plant the bulb in a nutrient-rich substrate and give it medium to high light for the best colour and growth. Established plants send up multiple leaves that provide natural shade and shelter for fish and fry beneath. A hardy plant tolerant of a range of water parameters, though it appreciates warmer water (22–28°C) and regular trimming of spent leaves.
What you get: one bare-root bulb with about 4–6 leaves and its roots, similar to the photo.
For planting the bulb and growing out those red leaves, see our Red Tiger Lotus care guide.
Care at a glance
- Placement: Midground focal plant or pond
- Light: Medium to high
- CO₂: Not needed
- Temperature: 22–28 °C
- Growth: Moderate to fast
- Difficulty: Easy
Plant the bulb with its top exposed and add root tabs; trim floating leaves to keep the red underwater leaves. Read the full Red Tiger Lotus care guide for planting, trimming and troubleshooting tips.
Compare light, CO2, growth rate and difficulty for every plant we stock in the aquarium plant care chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Red Tiger Lotus a difficult plant to keep?
No, it is easy and good for beginners. Most problems come from two mistakes. Burying the whole bulb can make it rot, and skipping root feeding gives pale, slow leaves. Keep the pointed tip of the bulb uncovered and push a root tab in nearby. A new bulb usually sprouts in 3 to 10 days, though some rest for a few weeks first.
Do Red Tiger Lotus need CO2?
No. Red Tiger Lotus grows well without CO2, so it suits low-tech tanks. Root feeding matters more: use a nutrient-rich substrate or push root tabs in near the bulb. Medium to high light gives the deepest red colour. Adding CO2 with strong light speeds up growth, but you will need to trim leaves heading for the surface more often.
Is tiger lotus a good aquarium plant?
Yes. It is one of the easiest centrepiece plants to keep. It is safe with bettas, gouramis, tetras and shrimp, and bettas like resting on its broad leaves. It grows large, so it has the most room in tanks of 60 cm and above; in a smaller betta tank, trim it often to keep it low. Goldfish and big cichlids may uproot it. See our betta-safe planted tank guide.
How do I care for a Red Tiger Lotus plant?
Push the bulb about halfway into a nutrient-rich substrate, with the pointed tip uncovered. Give it medium to high light and keep the water at 22–28°C. Add root tabs near the bulb, as it is a heavy root feeder. It grows moderately fast. To keep it bushy and red, cut any stem heading for the surface at its base, and remove yellow leaves.
How is Red Tiger Lotus shipped across India?
It is hand-packed 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.
Why buy from Anubias.in: grown in Surat; ₹99 shipping anywhere in India, free on orders of ₹999 or more; prepaid via UPI, cards or netbanking. Any claim (dead, damaged, wrong plant) needs one continuous unboxing video sent within 4 hours of delivery on WhatsApp (+91 81416 96983) or email (buyanubias@gmail.com); photos alone are not accepted. More about buying from Anubias.in.
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