Cabomba Piauhyensis Red

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Purple cabomba

Synonyms

Cabomba furcata; Cabomba warmingii

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, West Indies, Central America

Habitat

Warm, shallow, slow-moving to stagnant, acidic waters of lakes, streams and floodplains in tropical South and Central America

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Difficult

Growth form

Stem

Max height

4 – 20 in (10 – 51 cm)

Spread

4 in (10 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Midground, Background

Water

Temperature

75 – 82 °F (24 – 28 °C)

pH

5.0 – 6.8

GH

1 – 8 dGH

dKH

0 – 7 dKH

PAR

100 – 200 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Required

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

High

Colors

Red, Brown, Green, Purple

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings, Splitting

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Care guide

Overview

Fine, needle-like leaves radiate in feathery whorls that deepen from olive-pink to crimson and wine-red under strong light. This demanding stem plant needs intense illumination, injected CO2 and soft, acidic water to hold its color and avoid melting. Best planted in groups, spaced to let light reach lower whorls, with regular trimming to keep growth compact.

Care

Red fanwort ranks among the more demanding stem plants in the hobby, needing aggressive lighting, injected CO2 and warm, soft, acidic water to hold its wine-red to brownish-red coloration and stay compact. Under weaker light the whorls elongate, fade to green and become prone to melting and rot from the base upward. A nutrient-rich substrate combined with regular liquid fertilization gives the sturdiest stems and the fullest, most colorful crowns.

Planting & trimming

Plant stems in groups with adequate spacing so light can reach the lower whorls, since crowding accelerates shading and melt. It roots readily in a nutrient-rich substrate and should be inserted a few nodes deep rather than buried at the growing tip. Regular trimming of the top portion for replanting, while discarding the older leggy base, keeps the plant compact and encourages fresh, well-colored growth.

Fertilizing

This plant feeds through both roots and leaves, so a nutrient-rich substrate paired with a complete liquid fertilizer covering nitrate, phosphate, iron and trace elements works best. Iron and micronutrient dosing helps intensify the red-purple tones, while a shortage typically shows up as darkened leaves, stunted growth and stretched internodes. Because it grows quickly it depletes nutrients fast and benefits from consistent, frequent dosing rather than occasional heavy feeding.

Propagation

Propagation is by terminal cuttings: snip the healthy top growth and replant it, letting the remaining rooted base sprout new side shoots. It can also be propagated by splitting off naturally occurring side branches once the plant matures. Cannot be grown emersed, so all propagation and cultivation occurs fully submerged.

Problems

Melting and basal rot are the most common problems, usually triggered by insufficient light, unstable water parameters or a sudden move to a new tank. Weak or fluctuating CO2 levels lead to similar decline, with leaves thinning and dropping from lower whorls first. Algae can also colonize the fine feathery foliage if lighting is excessive relative to nutrient and CO2 supply, so balance is important.

Sources

1. Red cabomba care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
2. How to grow Cabomba furcata - The 2Hr Aquarist
3. Cabomba furcata - Red Cabomba - Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
4. Cabomba furcata ("piauhyensis") | Aquasabi - Aquascaping Shop

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