Medium to strong light (more than most crypts); CO2 not needed
Care
Cryptocoryne parva, from Sri Lanka, is the smallest known crypt, forming compact rosettes of narrow green leaves about 3–10 cm tall that keep their shape and colour in most conditions. It is a fine foreground plant: set small plants a few centimetres apart and in about six months they make a low, dense group. Do not let taller plants shade it. Tropica rates it medium difficulty, with medium light and low CO2 needs. It grows very slowly even in good conditions; root tabs in the substrate help. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocoryneparva); 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. C. parva is one parent of the hybrid C. x willisii.
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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