Cryptocoryne balansae (Cryptocoryne balansae) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae (current name), Balansa crypt
Family
Araceae (arum family)
Origin
Limestone streams of mainland South-East Asia, including southern Thailand
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
60 cm
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Hardness
8–25 dGH
Care level
beginner
Lighting
Medium light; CO2 helpful

Care

Cryptocoryne balansae is now treated as a variety of Cryptocoryne crispatula: C. crispatula var. balansae. It grows in streams with limestone beds, where the water is hard and alkaline, and is the form Tropica sells as C. crispatula. It forms a single rosette of long, narrow, strongly puckered and crinkled leaves, 20–60 cm long, with a spread of 15–20 cm, making an excellent background plant. Tropica rates it easy, with medium growth, though it needs time to settle after planting before it grows strongly. Because it comes from hard water it does well in hard, alkaline tap water where many crypts struggle. Temperature figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocoryne); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Crypts spread by runners from the rhizome, producing daughter plants that can be cut off and replanted once they have a few leaves and roots. Plants grown emersed may flower; the flower is a twisted "water trumpet" (a spathe), and seed is rarely set in cultivation.

Compatibility and tank mates

Crypt leaves are fairly tough and are usually left alone by fish, shrimp and snails. Large digging cichlids and goldfish may uproot young plants. Tropical tanks only.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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