Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) – Exotic centerpiece plant with bold red foliage; adds height, drama, and natural shade.

1 healthy bulb (with or without sprouting leaves)

Transform your aquarium into a living work of art with the Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) — one of the most stunning and dramatic aquatic plants in the hobby. With its vibrant red to deep burgundy leaves, bold, arrow-shaped foliage, and graceful floating pads, this plant instantly becomes the focal point of any aquascape. Native to tropical Africa, the Red Tiger Lotus is admired for its fast growth, adaptability, and ability to create natural balance in freshwater tanks through oxygenation and nutrient absorption.

Whether you’re looking to create a lush jungle aquascape or a serene, lotus-filled pond environment, this striking species offers both beauty and function — adding depth, height, and color contrast that captivates the eye.

🌿 Why You’ll Love Red Tiger Lotus

• Dramatic Focal Point: Its deep red, heart-shaped leaves make a bold statement, creating a visual centerpiece in your aquarium.

• Natural Shade & Shelter: Large leaves provide shade that helps control algae growth and offers fish and shrimp cozy hideaways.

• Fast-Growing & Hardy: Adapts well to most freshwater setups; excellent for beginners and experienced aquascapers alike.

• Unique Leaf Variations: Produces both submerged leaves (broad and speckled) and floating pads that rise to the surface, adding vertical depth.

• Improves Water Quality: Absorbs excess nutrients and releases oxygen, promoting a cleaner and more stable tank ecosystem.

💧 Care & Growing Conditions

Red Tiger Lotus is surprisingly easy to grow and can thrive in a wide range of aquarium setups when provided with good lighting and stable conditions.

• Light Requirements: Medium to high light intensity enhances its rich red coloration. Under low light, leaves tend to stay greenish-brown.

• CO₂ & Fertilization: CO₂ supplementation helps maintain faster, fuller growth, but it’s not essential. Root tabs or nutrient-rich substrate are highly recommended to support its heavy root feeding habit.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)

  • pH: 6.0–7.5

  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water

• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast. If left untrimmed, it will send floating leaves to the surface and may produce delicate white blooms under strong lighting.

• Tank Placement: Best as a midground or background centerpiece in larger aquariums (20 gallons and up).

🌸 Aquascaping Inspiration

The Red Tiger Lotus is a plant of contrast, combining both elegance and intensity. Its red hues create an eye-catching break among green foliage plants like Anubias, Cryptocoryne, or Java Fern. Use it to anchor the visual center of your layout or as a natural divider between planted zones.

• Ideal Companions: Sword plants, Vallisneria, Ludwigia, and mosses balance its bold look.

• For Natural Balance: The shade from its broad leaves can help limit algae and reduce direct light exposure for low-light plants below.

• For Artistic Design: Combine with dark substrates and driftwood to make the red tones truly pop.

In aquascapes, its dynamic form — with broad submerged leaves and occasional floating pads — brings a sense of verticality and movement that other rooted plants can’t match.

🪷 Maintenance Tips

• Root Care: Plant the bulb halfway into the substrate, leaving the top exposed to prevent rot. Once it establishes roots, it will sprout rapidly.

• Leaf Management: Trim excess floating leaves to encourage more compact underwater growth and maintain balanced lighting in your tank.

• Propagation: New plants can sprout from side shoots or adventitious bulbs. Separate and replant them once roots and leaves form.

• Nutrient Feeding: Use root tabs or nutrient-rich substrates regularly — Red Tiger Lotus is a heavy root feeder that thrives on iron and trace minerals.

🦐 Tankmates & Compatibility

This species is peaceful and fully compatible with most community fish, shrimp, and snails.

• Perfect for: Tetras, rasboras, gouramis, shrimp, and livebearers.

• Avoid: Fish that dig or eat plant matter, such as goldfish or large cichlids.
  Its dense foliage provides cover for shy fish and fry, while the plant’s broad leaves create a calming, shaded retreat beneath its canopy.

🌿 Fun Fact

Under the right conditions, your Red Tiger Lotus may even bloom underwater or at the surface, producing delicate, fragrant flowers reminiscent of miniature pond lotuses — a rare and rewarding sight for any aquarist.

🌟 Key Details

• Scientific Name: Nymphaea zenkeri

• Common Name: Red Tiger Lotus

• Origin: Tropical Africa

• Growth Form: Bulb-based rosette plant

• Placement: Midground to background

• Light Requirement: Medium to high

• CO₂ Requirement: Optional but beneficial

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Propagation: From bulbs or plantlets

• Growth Rate: Fast

💫 Why Choose the Red Tiger Lotus

If you’re looking for a truly exotic showpiece, Nymphaea zenkeri is one of the most spectacular plants you can add to a freshwater aquarium. Its bold red foliage transforms tanks into vivid underwater landscapes — blending beauty, biodiversity, and function in one breathtaking package.

Whether you’re crafting a lush aquascape, designing a biotope tank, or simply want a plant that stands out, the Red Tiger Lotus delivers unmatched color, form, and natural grace. 🌺✨