Cabomba Red aquarium plant — one of the most
dramatic and visually stunning stem plants
available for freshwater aquariums. This cabomba
red aquarium plant produces distinctive fan-shaped
whorls of finely divided reddish-purple leaves
arranged in beautiful circular clusters along
long flowing stems — creating a breathtaking
feathery underwater display of warm colour
that instantly becomes the focal point of
any planted tank layout.
While the classic Cabomba Green offers
cool bright green feathery texture, this
cabomba red aquarium plant brings warmth,
drama, and colour contrast that elevates
any aquascape from beautiful to truly
spectacular. Plant it alongside green
stem plants for maximum visual impact.
What is Cabomba Red Aquarium Plant?
Cabomba Red — also known as Red Cabomba
or Purple Cabomba — is a colour variant
of the Cabomba genus, producing its
characteristic reddish-purple leaf colouration
under good lighting conditions. It is native
to tropical and subtropical regions of the
Americas where it grows in slow-moving rivers,
ponds, and lakes with clear warm water.
In the aquarium this cabomba red aquarium
plant grows as an upright background stem
plant reaching 30 to 50 centimetres in height.
Its distinctive red-purple fan shaped leaf
whorls make it immediately recognisable and
one of the most sought-after coloured stem
plants in the planted tank hobby worldwide.
Why Choose Cabomba Red Aquarium Plant?
🌿 Stunning reddish-purple fan-shaped
whorled leaves create dramatic colour contrast
🌿 Fast growing — quickly fills background
with warm colour naturally
🌿 Excellent natural shelter for fish
fry and baby shrimp after hatching
🌿 Creates beautiful colour contrast when
planted alongside green background plants
🌿 Provides natural spawning sites for
egg-laying fish species in breeding tanks
🌿 Easy to propagate through stem cuttings
— one bunch quickly becomes many
🌿 Colour intensifies under higher lighting
and with added CO2 supplementation
How to Plant Cabomba Red Aquarium Plant
Push the stem ends of this cabomba red
aquarium plant 2 to 3 centimetres into
fine sand or gravel substrate keeping all
leaf whorls above the substrate surface.
Plant in groups of 5 to 7 stems spaced
3 centimetres apart for a full dramatic
red background display in your tank.
This cabomba red aquarium plant prefers
moderate to good water flow — gentle
circulation around the feathery leaves
prevents sediment buildup and keeps the
plant looking its best at all times.
Avoid very strong flow which can damage
the delicate leaf whorls over time.
Getting the Best Red Colour
The intensity of the red and purple
colouration in this cabomba red aquarium
plant depends primarily on lighting.
Under medium to high lighting the colours
become significantly more vivid and
dramatic — deeper reds and richer purples
that truly transform your planted tank.
Under lower lighting this cabomba red
aquarium plant may appear more greenish
with hints of red rather than the full
vivid colouration visible under good
lighting. Adding CO2 also enhances colour
development and speeds overall growth
significantly though it is not required
for basic healthy growth.
Cabomba Red Care Guide
This cabomba red aquarium plant benefits
from medium to high lighting for best
colour and growth. A weekly liquid
fertiliser dose supports healthy growth
and colour development. Regular trimming
every 3 to 4 weeks keeps it looking full
and bushy — simply cut the stems at your
desired height and replant the cuttings
alongside original plants for a denser
and more impressive display over time.
Perfect Plant Combinations
This cabomba red aquarium plant creates a stunning contrast display when planted alongside Cabomba Green
— the combination of red and green feathery whorls side by side is spectacular. Also
pairs beautifully with Vallisneria Spiralis as companion background plants and with
Java Moss in breeding tank setups.
Browse our complete background plant collection for more coloured stem plant options.
Read our guide on setting up a low-tech planted tank
to learn how Cabomba Red fits into a
budget-friendly planted tank setup.
For more information on Cabomba care
visit Fishkeeping World and Aquatic Plant Central.
Care Details
🌱 Care Level: Easy to Medium
💡 Lighting: Medium to High
💧 CO2: Not required (enhances colour)
📍 Placement: Background
🌡️ Temperature: 18°C – 26°C
⚗️ pH: 6.0 – 7.5
💪 Growth Rate: Fast
Every Cabomba Red aquarium plant from
FloraBiz is farm-grown in clean healthy
cultivation tanks in Kozhikode, Kerala and
shipped fresh directly to your doorstep
anywhere in India with our live plant
delivery guarantee.
