Narrow Crinum
Crinum calamistratum
Amaryllidaceae
PlantsDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
A bulb plant from the rivers of Cameroon that looks like nothing else in freshwater: very narrow, deeply corrugated dark-green leaves that twist into tight curls and trail 60-100 cm through the water. One mature bulb fills a back corner by itself, so it works as a specimen background plant rather than something planted in groups. Growth is genuinely slow, but a settled plant is close to indestructible and lives for many years.
Care
Bury only part of the bulb - leave roughly half of it standing above the substrate or it will rot. Give medium light, moderate flow and then leave it undisturbed; the leaves are tough enough that most plant-eating fish, cichlids included, ignore them.
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Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Narrow Crinum need?
- Narrow Crinum does best at 18–30 °C (64.4–86 °F), pH 5.5–8 and a general hardness of 2–25 °dGH.
- Where should Narrow Crinum be placed in the aquarium?
- Narrow Crinum works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 100 cm.
- Is the Narrow Crinum suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Narrow Crinum is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
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Water & tank
Temperature18–30°C
Optimal temp.23–27°C
pH5.5–8
Hardness (GH)2–25°d
Carbonate (KH)2–12°d
Water typeBrackish-tolerant
FlowModerate
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