Cryptocoryne spiralis 'Red Tiger'
Twisting bronze-red blades striped with tiger veining.
Red Tiger throws long, spiraling strap leaves in deep bronze-red overlaid with dark tiger striping — a background crypt with the drama of a stem plant and the maintenance of none. Slow to start and prone to the usual crypt melt after shipping; leave it planted and it returns stronger within three weeks. Farm-raised from established mother plants.
What it needs to thrive
- Lighting
- Low to moderate — 25–50 PAR. Deepest red under moderate light with iron dosing.
- Flow
- Low, gentle flow. High turbulence tears the long leaves.
- Feeding
- Column and root feeder — dose a complete liquid fertilizer weekly; root tabs for heavy substrate rooters.
- Temperament
- Peaceful — shrimp-safe, fry-safe, and grown pesticide-free.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Ideal Tank Size
- 20 gallons and up
- Water Parameters
- 70–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · GH 3–10 · KH 1–8 · nitrate 10–25 ppm with a complete liquid fertilizer
Background and rear corners. Bury the crown at substrate level and add a root tab beneath it.
Peaceful. Once rooted it resents being moved — plant it where you want it permanently.
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.
