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Bucephalandra Crocodile - Superior Shrimp & Aquatics

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Bucephalandra Crocodile

Bucephalandra Crocodile

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Amount: Rhizome

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Description
Bucephalandra 'Crocodile' – Superior Shrimp & Aquatics
Aquatic Plants

Bucephalandra 'Crocodile'

Bold, heavily textured leaves with a distinctly ridged, reptilian surface — the most tactile and structurally dramatic Buce in the catalog.

Heavily Ridged Leaf Texture Deep Green with Blue-Green Sheen Rhizome — Do Not Bury Low to Medium Light No CO₂ Required Shrimp & Fry Safe

Bucephalandra 'Crocodile' is named for the most immediately obvious thing about it — a deeply ridged, bumpy leaf surface that resembles the scaled texture of crocodilian skin more closely than any other aquatic plant in the hobby. The leaves are broad and dark green with a blue-green iridescent sheen, but it is the three-dimensional surface texture that defines this cultivar and distinguishes it instantly from every other Buce. Where 'Silver Powder' draws attention through patterning, 'Artemis' through iridescent color, and 'Venus' through elegant form, 'Crocodile' earns its place through sheer physical character — a plant whose leaves you notice because of how they look under light from multiple angles simultaneously. Like all Buce, it is a slow-growing rhizome epiphyte from Borneo that attaches to driftwood and stone, requires no CO₂ or substrate, and is fully safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and fry.

Not Required CO₂
72–82°F Temperature
Low–Med Lighting
What to Expect

Growth & Behavior Over Time

Heavily ridged, three-dimensional leaf surface — the defining characteristic of 'Crocodile' is a deeply textured leaf surface covered in raised ridges and irregular bumps that give each leaf a distinctly three-dimensional quality. The texture is most pronounced on mature leaves and catches light from every angle, creating shadow and depth across the leaf surface that smooth or lightly textured plants simply cannot replicate. Deep green base with a blue-green iridescent sheen — beneath the texture, the leaf color is a rich, deep green with a blue-green iridescent overlay that becomes visible under direct light. The combination of the physical texture and the iridescence means the plant's appearance changes noticeably depending on light angle and intensity — a quality that rewards close observation over time. Texture increases biofilm accumulation significantly — the ridged, three-dimensional leaf surface traps and accumulates biofilm far more extensively than flat or lightly textured leaves. Shrimp and snails graze the leaf surface actively and thoroughly, working into the ridges and depressions in a way that is particularly visible and engaging to watch on a plant with this much surface relief. Slow rhizome growth that stays compact — 'Crocodile' grows deliberately, adding leaves over weeks and expanding its rhizome gradually. The compact habit and relatively broad individual leaves mean a mature plant builds a visually impactful specimen from a modest number of leaves — each leaf carries enough visual weight to hold its own in the layout. Initial melting after introduction is common and temporary — Bucephalandra frequently shed older leaves when moved to a new tank. New growth from the rhizome tip confirms recovery is underway. Leave the plant undisturbed and maintain stable water parameters through the adjustment period — typically two to four weeks before new leaves appear. Attaches progressively to hardscape surfaces — anchoring roots develop along the rhizome over several weeks, gripping driftwood and porous rock surfaces naturally. Thread or super glue gel at placement holds the position while roots establish and the attachment becomes self-sustaining.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1 Never bury the rhizome — the horizontal stem connecting roots and leaves must remain fully above the substrate at all times. Burial, even partial, causes rot that spreads through the plant rapidly. Attach to hardscape or rest on the substrate surface with the rhizome fully exposed.
2 Attach to driftwood or stone and position for maximum texture visibility — secure the rhizome to driftwood or porous rock with thread or a small amount of super glue gel. Position the plant so the ridged leaf surface faces outward and receives light at an angle — side lighting in particular emphasizes the three-dimensional texture and brings out the full visual character of this cultivar.
3 Place in low to medium light — 'Crocodile' is shade-tolerant but the blue-green iridescence and leaf texture are most clearly visible under medium lighting. Avoid high-intensity positions that encourage algae on the slow-developing leaves before the plant has established fully.
4 Dose liquid fertilizer consistently — as an epiphyte, 'Crocodile' draws all nutrition through its leaves from the water column. A balanced liquid fertilizer routine covering macros and micros supports healthy new growth and maintains the depth and richness of the blue-green sheen on established leaves over time.
💡 Bonus Tip

'Crocodile' responds exceptionally well to angled or side lighting — positioning a light source so it rakes across the leaf surface at a low angle rather than illuminating directly from above brings out the depth of the ridged texture in a way that overhead lighting misses entirely. If you have any flexibility in your lighting placement or angle, 'Crocodile' is the Buce that rewards that investment most visibly.

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Browse more aquatic plants

Pair 'Crocodile' with 'Venus', 'Artemis', or 'Silver Powder' on the same hardscape for a complete collector-grade Buce arrangement. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.

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    Bucephalandra Crocodile
    $10.00
    $10.00
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