Anubias rot is an uncommon disease that can affect anubias plants in the aquarium hobby. Unfortunately, there is very little information about how it starts and how to stop its spread. In this article, we explain the symptoms for anubias rot, possible causes, and the best course of action to take if you spot it.
Anubias is a popular aquatic plant known for its beautiful leaves and hardy nature. However, like any other plant, anubias can also suffer from diseases that affect its health and appearance As an aquarium hobbyist, it’s important to identify and treat these diseases early on to avoid spread and damage. In this article, we’ll discuss some common anubias diseases, how to spot them, and effective treatment options
Common Anubias Diseases
Here are some of the most prevalent diseases that impact anubias plants
Black Spot Disease
This fungal infection manifests as small, circular black spots on the leaves. It quickly spreads to nearby leaves and causes them to yellow and fall off. Left unchecked, black spot disease can defoliate the entire plant.
Brown Algae
Excess silicates and phosphates in aquarium water can lead to brown algae growth on anubias leaves. This diatom algae coats the leaves with a brown, dusty film and blocks light absorption for photosynthesis.
Root Rot
Overwatering and poor substrate drainage fosters root rot fungi growth Infected roots turn black/brown and the plant shows stunted growth and yellowing leaves,
Bacterial Infections
Bacteria like Pseudomonas and Dickeya bacteria can infect the rhizome and roots, causing them to turn mushy and brown. Leaves shed off and the whole plant rots away without treatment.
Identifying Anubias Diseases
Keep an eye out for these symptoms to identify potential anubias diseases early:
- Black/brown spots or velvety coating on leaves
- Leaves yellowing and falling off
- White fungal growth on leaves or rhizomes
- Roots turning brown/black and mushy
- Rhizomes darkening and getting soft
- Slow growth and small new leaves
Treating Anubias Diseases
Once you’ve identified the problem, prompt treatment can help save your anubias. Here are some effective treatment options:
Improve Aquarium Hygiene
Many diseases stem from unclean water and poor aquarium hygiene. Perform regular partial water changes, clean filters, reduce organics, and maintain stable water parameters. This removes excess waste/nutrients and discourages disease growth.
Use Anti-Fungal Medications
For fungal infections like black spot disease, use broad spectrum anti-fungal medications formulated for aquarium use. Remove badly infected leaves and do a 3-4 day treatment as per product instructions.
Apply Hydrogen Peroxide
A mild 3% hydrogen peroxide solution can help eliminate some bacteria and fungi on leaves and roots. Dip infected plants for 1-2 minutes daily until symptoms subside. Rinse off the H2O2 thoroughly before re-planting.
Apply Potassium Permanganate Bath
A mild 2-5 mg/L potassium permanganate solution helps disinfect plants and control some bacterial/fungal diseases. Dip plants for 5-10 minutes daily until disease clears. Rinse off thoroughly afterwards.
Use Antibiotics
For stubborn bacterial infections, antibiotics specifically made for aquarium use should be used cautiously. Remove diseased plants, do a 3-5 day antibiotic treatment as per product guidelines.
Cut Off Infected Parts
Prune off badly infected, rotting or dead leaves, roots and rhizomes. Disinfect your tools before each cut to avoid spreading disease. This removes infected tissue and allows the plant to recover better.
With prompt identification and treatment, most anubias diseases can be controlled and reversed before causing major damage. Maintain vigilant monitoring, aquarium hygiene and act quickly at the first signs of disease for best results. Let us know if you have any other tips for dealing with anubias problems!
Do I Have Anubias Rot?
One of the first symptoms of anubias rot is the loss of leaves. However, unlike the melting caused by emersed-grown leaves, a leaf lost from anubias rot often detaches at the end of its leaf stalk (where it originally connected to the rhizome). The base of the leaf stalk may feel soggy or have a little bit of goo oozing out of the end.
The discolored leaves on this anubias plant are growing from the rotting part of the anubias rhizome.
The most prominent indicator of anubias rot is the state of the rhizome. A healthy rhizome should be very firm to the touch and green in color. An infected rhizome often has a mushy or squishy texture. Plus, it may have discolored areas that look like clear-ish jelly, white, yellow, brown, or black. Depending on how advanced the disease is, it may have a foul, rotting smell associated with it. Finally, roots growing from or near the affected area of the rhizome often become discolored and rot away.
The rhizome is rotting, and the roots growing from the infected area are starting to soften and disintegrate as well.
What Causes Anubias Rot?
Researchers have yet to find a definitive cause for anubias rot. Current theories are that it’s caused by a bacteria or fungus, but it’s hard to determine since sometimes the plant is weakened by an initial infection and then a secondary pathogen takes advantage of the situation. Based on our experiences with selling thousands of anubias, we believe that anubias rot is present in all plant farms, so there’s no way to avoid it unless you buy only tissue-grown plants.
Anubias Rot update: Did the plants survive?
FAQ
What’s wrong with my Anubias plant?
How to save a dying Anubias plant?
How to treat Anubias rot?
How to keep Anubias healthy?
How do I choose a healthy Anubias plant?
The leaves should be free from any yellowing or brown spots, which could indicate health issues. A healthy Anubias plant will have lush green leaves that have a slightly glossy look to them. Another important factor to consider when buying an Anubias plant is the roots. Healthy Anubias plants should have strong and firm roots.
How do I care for Anubias barteri?
Here are some guidelines to ensure the right lighting conditions for your plant: Intensity: Anubias barteri is a low to moderate light-demanding plant. It thrives in moderate to low-intensity lighting. Avoid exposing it to intense, direct light, as this can lead to algae growth and cause stress to the plant.
Do Anubias need to be cleaned before planting?
Before attaching the Anubias plant to hardscape material such as rocks or driftwood thoroughly clean them. Cleaning helps remove any dirt or debris that may contaminate the plant or damage its roots. Cleaning also allows the Anubias to attach itself faster & more easily to your hardscape.
Is Anubias a good aquarium plant?
Anubias is a highly sought-after aquatic plant among aquarium hobbyists due to its ease of care, beautiful & varied appearance (from Big to Mini to Snow) and versatility in size. There are two common species of Anubias, namely Anubias barteri and Anubias heterophylla. Anubias is a genus of aquatic plants that belongs to the Araceae family.