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Cryptocoryne balansae

Tall narrow Crypt for background planting in low light

Regular price
£7.99
Regular price
Sale price
£7.99
  • Hurry, only 6 items left in stock!
Quick Facts

Common name:

Origin: Asia

Position in Aquarium: Background

Grows up to (cm): 60 cm

Pot Size: 5 cm

Growth rate: Slow

Description

Cryptocoryne balansae is a tall, narrow-leaved Thai Cryptocoryne producing strap-like leaves with a distinctive crinkled, hammered surface texture that runs down the full length of each leaf. It can reach 30–50cm in height in good conditions, making it a background plant for medium and large aquariums. The narrow, textured leaves create a very different visual impression from the broader-leaved Crypts.

Low light, no CO2, and planted into the substrate. Root tabs in a nutrient-rich substrate encourage the best growth. Like all Crypts, it may experience temporary leaf melt after being moved — leave the rhizome in place and it will regrow. Once established it is vigorous and reliable.

Plant the roots into the substrate behind other plants. It spreads via runners and forms a dense background stand given time.

Plant Sizes

You’ll receive a healthy, rooted plant in a pot, similar to those shown. Each one is hand-checked before dispatch.

Shipping

Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 4pm, Monday to Friday. Tracked 24 Service from £4.99, DPD Express from £6.99.

Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur
Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur
Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur
Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur

Customers praised these aquarium plants for arriving healthy and well-packaged. Many noted "excellent quality" and good growth, though some mentioned initial leaf loss during adjustment. A few shoppers found plants smaller than expected or received damaged leaves. Overall, customers appreciated the size and condition, with plants thriving in various tank setups.

  • Plants are well packed and on arrival the plants were healthy
  • Came as well grown healthy clump. Much better than some of the stumpy ones in the shops
  • Arrived in beautiful condition. 5 stars just isn't a high enough rating
  • 5 stars: 22 (76%)
  • 4 stars: 3 (10%)
  • 3 stars: 4 (14%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
T
Terry M. (Lincoln, GB)
Plants

Excellent service, plants are well packed and on arrival the plants were healthy will definitely be buying more 👍

F
Faye C.
Review

Came as well grown healthy clump. Much better than some of the stumpy ones in the shops.

J
Jerome D.
Review

Lovely plant, looks splendid in amongst the other plants in my aquarium, compliments the different leaf shapes, colours and sizes of the other plant species in my dutch style aquarium.

E
Ellen M.
Review

I have ordered these plants twice now. They arrive as a decent size and grow well. I haven’t had any issues with melting. Very impressed.

R
Raymond W.
Review

Beautiful healthy plants, doing well in my aquarium

E
Elara M.
Review

The plants have been in my aquarium for a few weeks now and are growing steadily.

R
Raymond W.
Review

Very fast delivery, the plants were very well packaged. Great quality healthy plants.

k
kevin m.
Review

Great service. Great plants as usual

T
Tarik M.
Review

Lost a few of the leaves as it was adjusting to being replanted but after a week, has started to flourish.

G
Glenn W.
Review

Quick delivery and plants well protected for transit
Needed these for the rear of the tank as they were described as growing up to 300mm or more. All previously attempts with Amazon swords had failed miserably. My tank is predominantly planted with cryptocorrinnes and they usually do well
These have settled in very well and are beginning to grow as desired
Would highly recommend the plants and Aqua Essentials

J
Jonathon H.
Review

Arrived in perfect condition and is doing well in tank.

J
Jonathan S.
Review

Crypt arrived in beautiful condition even with delays due to current situation. 5 stars just isn’t a high enough rating

C
Cat M.
Review

Underwhelming, a bit small, but they are still alive now so yay......

D
David D.
Review

Crypt melt is real!!! Planted two pots in my low light, non-CO2 tank and within days the leaves were melting and dying back right to the substrate. Two weeks later there is new green growth, the plants have recovered to the same size that they were when I received them (2inch max). These appear to be slow growing, so patience will be required. I've just added root tabs beneath these to aid new growth.

M
Marc L.
Review

Very pleased with this larger crypt.
Planted it at the back of the tank expecting the leaves to melt but this didn't happen and more new growth already.

m
mark l.
Review

Excellent plants and excellent quality as usual

T
Thomas A.R.
Review

Very healthy plants arrived as promise and well packaged. Nice plants gone well in my quarantine tank.

R
Roy W.
Review

Ordered 3 pots of this plant, unfortunately let down by courier and didn't arrive for over a week. Nonetheless, two pots were in excellent condition with very healthy plants. The other pot had completely rotted away, not just cryptocoryne melt, but the rootstock as well.

I
Ian F.
Review

Decent size plant compared to others I have bought previously in terms of number and height of leaves. However about 1/3 of the leaves were damaged and needed removing - leaving me with an average size plant, marginally better than what I can get locally. Yet to see how well it acclimitises...

S
Sam M.
Review

A fantastic Crypt for filling out a background in a tall tank once grown in, grows faster with Co2 and ferts. It was great condition and delivered quickly as aslways.

A
Andrew C.
Review

Loads of roots on it when it arrived, very healthy looking. Really good size.

A
Alan P.
Review

All the plants were healthy and various sizes and look great in my tank

K
Karl T.
Review

Plants arrived quickly and in a fantastic condition once again.

P
Paul V.
Review

healthy plants and a very good size as usual

M
Mervyn B.
Review

excellent quality plants very pleased would certainly use again

M
Mark T.
Review

well packed healthy and fast delivery thanks -

R
Robert A.R.
Review

Good quality plant but just a little disappointed that I only recieved three stems as I would expect more in a potted plant

T
Tomasz N.
Review

perfect condition could be little bigger size of leafs

F
Frank Y.
Review

Healthy looking plants, now settling well in the tank. Perhaps a tad less well grown in the pot than I am used to from AE.

Product FAQs

Helpful details before you buy.

What is 'crypt melt'?

When moved to a new environment, Cryptocoryne sometimes dissolve their leaves. This is normal — leave the rhizome in place and new leaves will regrow within a few weeks.

What makes balansae distinctive?

The leaves have a distinctive crinkled, hammered texture running their full length — unlike most Crypts which have smoother or simply wavy leaves.

Does it need CO2?

No — it grows without CO2. A nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs support the best growth.

How tall does it get?

30–50cm in good conditions — a proper background Crypt for medium to large aquariums.

How do I plant it?

Plant the roots in the substrate behind other plants. It spreads via runners and over time forms a substantial background stand.

Skip to product information
1 of 5

Cryptocoryne balansae

Tall narrow Crypt for background planting in low light

Ask a question
Easy care Low light CO2 not required Background plant
Regular price
£7.99
Regular price
Sale price
£7.99
  • In stock — 6 available

In-stock orders normally dispatch before 4pm, Monday–Friday. Delivery details

Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur
Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur
Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur
Cryptocoryne balansae Aquafleur

Complete your setup

Useful additions for your aquarium

Care essentials chosen for this plant

Healthier plants
Brighter results
Neutro T Aquarium Plant Fertiliser Recommended size
£10.99
Root nutrition Neutro TerraTabs - Root Tabs for Planted Aquariums

Long-lasting nutrition
for strong, healthy roots.

Recommended size
£9.99
Superfish Aquarium Plant Tweezers Recommended size
£4.99
Useful additions for planting day Carefully packed with your plants Specialist aquarium plant care
Bundle offers

About this plant

Cryptocoryne balansae is a tall, narrow-leaved Thai Cryptocoryne producing strap-like leaves with a distinctive crinkled, hammered surface texture that runs down the full length of each leaf. It can reach 30–50cm in height in good conditions, making it a background plant for medium and large aquariums. The narrow, textured leaves create a very different visual impression from the broader-leaved Crypts.

Low light, no CO2, and planted into the substrate. Root tabs in a nutrient-rich substrate encourage the best growth. Like all Crypts, it may experience temporary leaf melt after being moved — leave the rhizome in place and it will regrow. Once established it is vigorous and reliable.

Plant the roots into the substrate behind other plants. It spreads via runners and forms a dense background stand given time.

Preparing a potted plant

Gently remove the pot and growing wool, then follow the planting advice for this species.

Potted plant care guide
Delivery & live plant guarantee

Orders placed before 4pm Monday–Friday normally dispatch the same working day. Special-order items leave once all items are available.

Delivery options and charges · Returns and guarantees · Help with plants that arrived damaged

Customers praised these aquarium plants for arriving healthy and well-packaged. Many noted "excellent quality" and good growth, though some mentioned initial leaf loss during adjustment. A few shoppers found plants smaller than expected or received damaged leaves. Overall, customers appreciated the size and condition, with plants thriving in various tank setups.

  • Plants are well packed and on arrival the plants were healthy
  • Came as well grown healthy clump. Much better than some of the stumpy ones in the shops
  • Arrived in beautiful condition. 5 stars just isn't a high enough rating
  • 5 stars: 22 (76%)
  • 4 stars: 3 (10%)
  • 3 stars: 4 (14%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
T
Terry M. (Lincoln, GB)
Plants

Excellent service, plants are well packed and on arrival the plants were healthy will definitely be buying more 👍

F
Faye C.
Review

Came as well grown healthy clump. Much better than some of the stumpy ones in the shops.

J
Jerome D.
Review

Lovely plant, looks splendid in amongst the other plants in my aquarium, compliments the different leaf shapes, colours and sizes of the other plant species in my dutch style aquarium.

E
Ellen M.
Review

I have ordered these plants twice now. They arrive as a decent size and grow well. I haven’t had any issues with melting. Very impressed.

R
Raymond W.
Review

Beautiful healthy plants, doing well in my aquarium

E
Elara M.
Review

The plants have been in my aquarium for a few weeks now and are growing steadily.

R
Raymond W.
Review

Very fast delivery, the plants were very well packaged. Great quality healthy plants.

k
kevin m.
Review

Great service. Great plants as usual

T
Tarik M.
Review

Lost a few of the leaves as it was adjusting to being replanted but after a week, has started to flourish.

G
Glenn W.
Review

Quick delivery and plants well protected for transit
Needed these for the rear of the tank as they were described as growing up to 300mm or more. All previously attempts with Amazon swords had failed miserably. My tank is predominantly planted with cryptocorrinnes and they usually do well
These have settled in very well and are beginning to grow as desired
Would highly recommend the plants and Aqua Essentials

J
Jonathon H.
Review

Arrived in perfect condition and is doing well in tank.

J
Jonathan S.
Review

Crypt arrived in beautiful condition even with delays due to current situation. 5 stars just isn’t a high enough rating

C
Cat M.
Review

Underwhelming, a bit small, but they are still alive now so yay......

D
David D.
Review

Crypt melt is real!!! Planted two pots in my low light, non-CO2 tank and within days the leaves were melting and dying back right to the substrate. Two weeks later there is new green growth, the plants have recovered to the same size that they were when I received them (2inch max). These appear to be slow growing, so patience will be required. I've just added root tabs beneath these to aid new growth.

M
Marc L.
Review

Very pleased with this larger crypt.
Planted it at the back of the tank expecting the leaves to melt but this didn't happen and more new growth already.

m
mark l.
Review

Excellent plants and excellent quality as usual

T
Thomas A.R.
Review

Very healthy plants arrived as promise and well packaged. Nice plants gone well in my quarantine tank.

R
Roy W.
Review

Ordered 3 pots of this plant, unfortunately let down by courier and didn't arrive for over a week. Nonetheless, two pots were in excellent condition with very healthy plants. The other pot had completely rotted away, not just cryptocoryne melt, but the rootstock as well.

I
Ian F.
Review

Decent size plant compared to others I have bought previously in terms of number and height of leaves. However about 1/3 of the leaves were damaged and needed removing - leaving me with an average size plant, marginally better than what I can get locally. Yet to see how well it acclimitises...

S
Sam M.
Review

A fantastic Crypt for filling out a background in a tall tank once grown in, grows faster with Co2 and ferts. It was great condition and delivered quickly as aslways.

A
Andrew C.
Review

Loads of roots on it when it arrived, very healthy looking. Really good size.

A
Alan P.
Review

All the plants were healthy and various sizes and look great in my tank

K
Karl T.
Review

Plants arrived quickly and in a fantastic condition once again.

P
Paul V.
Review

healthy plants and a very good size as usual

M
Mervyn B.
Review

excellent quality plants very pleased would certainly use again

M
Mark T.
Review

well packed healthy and fast delivery thanks -

R
Robert A.R.
Review

Good quality plant but just a little disappointed that I only recieved three stems as I would expect more in a potted plant

T
Tomasz N.
Review

perfect condition could be little bigger size of leafs

F
Frank Y.
Review

Healthy looking plants, now settling well in the tank. Perhaps a tad less well grown in the pot than I am used to from AE.

Product FAQs

What is 'crypt melt'?

When moved to a new environment, Cryptocoryne sometimes dissolve their leaves. This is normal — leave the rhizome in place and new leaves will regrow within a few weeks.

What makes balansae distinctive?

The leaves have a distinctive crinkled, hammered texture running their full length — unlike most Crypts which have smoother or simply wavy leaves.

Does it need CO2?

No — it grows without CO2. A nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs support the best growth.

How tall does it get?

30–50cm in good conditions — a proper background Crypt for medium to large aquariums.

How do I plant it?

Plant the roots in the substrate behind other plants. It spreads via runners and over time forms a substantial background stand.