Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri)

The Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) is a show-stopping centerpiece bulb plant that throws up broad, arrowhead-shaped leaves in deep red and burgundy. It is one of the easiest "wow" plants in the hobby: set the bulb in your substrate, give it light and a root tab, and watch it grow into a bushy red focal point that fish and shrimp love to shelter under.

Browse the rest of our live aquarium plants to build out a full planted tank.

Care Guide

The Red Tiger Lotus is wonderfully forgiving and adapts to a wide range of setups.

• Lighting. Grows under everything from low to high light. Stronger light keeps the plant compact and deepens the red coloration, while low light produces taller leaves with more green tones.
• Planting. This is a root feeder grown from a bulb. Set the bulb on or just into the substrate with the growing tip exposed. Do not bury the whole bulb, as a fully buried bulb can rot. If it floats at first, anchor it gently until roots take hold.
• Feeding. Push a root tab into the substrate near the bulb and dose iron for the best red color. It responds strongly to a nutrient-rich substrate.
• CO2. Not required. Injected CO2 is optional and will boost growth speed, leaf size, and color.
• Water. Keep it between 72 and 82°F at pH 5.5 to 8.0 in soft to moderately hard water. It tolerates a broad range of conditions.
• Lily pads. Left alone, it sends runners to the surface to form lily pads. To keep it bushy and fully submerged, snip the long stems heading for the surface before they open. Surface pads will shade the tank and slow lower growth.

Specifications

Placement & Companions

• Use as a midground or background centerpiece and give it room, since the leaves spread wide.
• Pairs beautifully with Anubias, Java fern, Cryptocoryne, and foreground carpet plants.
• The broad red leaves create cover and shade for shy fish, fry, and shrimp.
• Excellent in community tanks, shrimp tanks, and planted aquascapes.

Recommended Supplies

• Seachem Flourish Tabs to feed the bulb at the roots
• Aquarium Co-Op Easy Potassium to support lush leaf growth in the water column
• CaribSea PyroFlora Volcanic Substrate for a nutrient-rich planted base
• Browse more live aquarium plants to complete the scape

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I bury the whole bulb?
No. Set the bulb on or just into the substrate with the growing tip exposed. A fully buried bulb can rot. If it floats at first, anchor it gently until the roots take hold.

Why is my lotus growing toward the surface?
It is trying to form lily pads. Trim the tall stems at the base to keep the plant bushy and submerged.

Does it need CO2?
No. It grows well without CO2. Adding injected CO2 simply makes it grow faster, larger, and redder.

How do I get the reddest color?
Give it stronger light along with good iron and root nutrition. Higher light keeps the leaves compact and a deeper red.