Cryptocoryne Affinis Red

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Crypt Affinis Red; Water Trumpet; Cryptocoryne affinis Metallic Red

Synonyms

Cryptocoryne affinis Metallic Red

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Malaysia, Thailand

Habitat

Sandy and gravel riverbanks of shaded, often limestone-fed flowing streams in Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, growing emersed on margins and submersed in the channel.

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Rosette

Max height

5 – 12 in (13 – 30 cm)

Spread

8 in (20 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Midground

Water

Temperature

72 – 82 °F (22 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

2 – 12 dGH

PAR

20 – 50 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green, Red, Brown

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Runners, Rhizome division

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Care guide

Overview

Lance-shaped rosettes reach 5 to 12 inches, spreading slowly to about 8 inches across as runners fill in the midground. Green leaves carry brownish-red margins that deepen with iron supplementation and moderate light. Easy in low-tech setups once settled, but melt readily if uprooted or exposed to shifting water chemistry.

Care

A hardy but change-averse crypt, this selection carries brownish-red margins on otherwise green lance-shaped leaves. It tolerates a wide span of water chemistry and low-tech conditions without CO2, but it responds badly to being uprooted or to sudden shifts in hardness, pH, or temperature. Once established in a permanent spot, growth is steady and it forms a dense midground stand via runners over time.

Planting & trimming

Plant the rhizome shallowly in nutrient-rich substrate or gravel with root tabs added, keeping the crown at or just above the surface. Choose a permanent position from the outset, since this species dislikes being disturbed or relocated once settled. Trimming is limited to removing melted or aging leaves at the base as new ones emerge.

Fertilizing

Root tabs pushed into a nutrient-rich or inert substrate work best, since this crypt is a heavy root feeder despite also taking up some nutrients from the water column. Iron and micronutrient supplementation helps maintain leaf colour and prevents pale or yellowing new growth. Liquid fertilizer alone is usually insufficient for strong root and runner development.

Propagation

Propagates readily by runners sent out from the rhizome, which develop into plantlets that can be separated once they have their own roots and a few leaves. Rhizome division of an established clump is also effective for producing new plants.

Problems

Crypt melt is common after planting, transport, or any abrupt change in water parameters, with leaves dissolving over a few days before new growth resumes from the rhizome. Keeping conditions stable long term is the main prevention, and melted foliage should be trimmed away rather than left to foul the water. Algae can foil the leaves under excess light or insufficient nutrient uptake, so lighting should stay moderate.

Sources

1. Cryptocoryne affinis Metallic Red care guide · TankBud
2. Cryptocoryne affinis care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
3. Cryptocoryne affinis - Wikipedia
4. Cryptocoryne affinis – Hardy Midground Aquarium Plant - Care & Propagation

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