Epipremnum Pinnatum
Epipremnum pinnatum
Also known as Dragon Tail, Centipede Tongavine
Plantae›Tracheophyta›Liliopsida›Alismatales›Araceae
Epipremnum pinnatum is a climbing aroid from tropical Asia, northern Australia and the western Pacific, a separate species from the common pothos. In an aquarium it is grown emersed, with its roots in the tank water drawing out nitrate and its leaves in the air. Cebu Blue, with narrow silvery-blue leaves, is the best known of its forms.
Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air: a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.
Leaves and sap contain calcium oxalate — toxic and mouth-irritating if eaten, so keep the foliage away from plant-grazing fish like goldfish or cichlids; the submerged roots are inert and safe.
Where it's from
Native to Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia and 32 more
Recorded as introduced in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras and 3 more places
At a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Growth
- Fast
- Placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
- Temp
- 64–82°F
- 18–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- GH
- 36–357 ppm
- 2–20 dGH
Tanks growing this
Growing in 2 tanksBy variety. 1 tank shared publicly; 1 more kept privately.
Cebu Blue Pothos1 tank · all private
Kept only in private tanks so far.
Cebu Blue Pothos pageMarble Epipremnum Pinnatum1 tank
Compatible livestock
See all 4Classic pairing — pothos roots shade the surface and export the nitrate a betta's waste produces.
Shrimp graze biofilm off the submerged root mass and love the cover it provides.
Peaceful schoolers that benefit from the cleaner water without disturbing the roots.
Algae grazer that pairs well in the low-maintenance tanks pothos suits.
Member photos
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Common diseases 2Root / crown rot, Yellowing leaves
Root / crown rot
Mushy, blackened, or foul-smelling roots or lower stem; drooping, yellowing foliage — almost always from submerging the leaves or crown.
Keep only the roots underwater and the foliage in the air. Trim away rotted tissue with clean scissors, improve surface circulation/oxygen, and let the plant re-establish.
Yellowing leaves
Pale or yellowing foliage, slow or leggy growth.
Give brighter indirect light and dose a little liquid plant fertilizer. In a lightly stocked tank the water may lack nutrients for vigorous emersed growth.
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.
The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it. Native range: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) (CC BY 4.0).
At a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Growth
- Fast
- Placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
- Temp
- 64–82°F18–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- GH
- 36–357 ppm2–20 dGH
Keepers’ experiences
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