Bucephalandra 'Velvet Giant'
Broad, velvet-textured foliage for a dramatic shaded hardscape accent.
A large-form Bucephalandra sold under the Velvet Giant trade name. Expect slow, steady rhizome growth and richly textured foliage. Trade names can vary between growers, so the photo is a representative Bucephalandra image.
Reference image — cultivar may vary.Imagen de referencia — el cultivar puede variar.
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What it needs to thrive
- Lighting
- Low to moderate light. Avoid excessive intensity on slow-growing leaves.
- Flow
- Gentle to moderate flow that keeps debris off the leaves and rhizome.
- Feeding
- Feeds mainly from the water column; use a complete liquid fertilizer sparingly.
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shrimp-safe, and suitable for planted community aquariums.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Ideal Tank Size
- 10 gallons and up
- Water Parameters
- 70–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · soft to moderately hard water · 0 ammonia / 0 nitrite
Secure to stone or wood in the midground and keep the rhizome exposed.
Quarantine, dip, and acclimation
Quarantine
Hold all new fish in a bare-bottom 10–20 gallon QT for a minimum of 4 weeks. Observe for flashing, clamped fins, white spots, or breathing changes. Treat preventatively with copper (1.75–2.5 ppm chelated) or tank-transfer method for ich, plus a praziquantel course for flukes. Invertebrates and corals skip QT but go through dip and observation instead.
Recommended coral dip
For every new coral: a 5–10 minute bath in your reef-safe dip of choice (Bayer Complete, CoralRx, or Reef Primer) following label dosage, followed by two clean saltwater rinses. Inspect plugs and bases for flatworms, pyramid snails, and eggs — remove or refrag onto clean plugs before placing in display.
Acclimation
Float sealed bags in your QT or display for 15 minutes to match temperature. Then drip acclimate at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes until volume has tripled. Net livestock into the tank — never pour shipping water in. Dim the lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.
