Plant comparison
Amazon Sword vs Red Tiger Lotus
How the Amazon Sword and Red Tiger Lotus compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which plant suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Amazon Sword vs Red Tiger Lotus
The Amazon Sword and the Red Tiger Lotus come up together a lot when people are choosing a plant, and they are close enough to weigh side by side. Both are happy somewhere around 22 to 28 °C and pH 6.5 to 7.5, so a single tank can suit either one. Neither is harder than the other to keep, so the choice comes down to look and stocking rather than skill. In a low-tech, low-light setup the Amazon Sword is the safer bet; the other really wants brighter light to look its best.
Group compatibility overview
Excellent fit
Every key parameter overlaps and no major conflicts surfaced.
Temperature
- Amazon Sword22–28 °C
- Red Tiger Lotus22–28 °C
pH
- Amazon Sword6.5–7.5
- Red Tiger Lotus5.5–7.5
Hardness
- Amazon Sword3–18 dGH
- Red Tiger Lotus2–15 dGH
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  PlantAmazon SwordEchinodorus grisebachii |  PlantRed Tiger LotusNymphaea zenkeri |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Plant | Plant |
| Origin | Brazil | West Africa (Cameroon) |
| Family | Alismataceae | Nymphaeaceae |
| Temperature | 22–28 °C | 22–28 °C |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 5.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 3–18 | 2–15 |
| Flow rate | Low to Medium | Low |
| Max height | 40–50 cm | 30–50 cm |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| Light | Low to Medium | Medium to High |
| CO₂ | Optional | Optional |
| Growth rate | Medium to Fast | Fast |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Amazon Sword and Red Tiger Lotus together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 22 to 28 °C and pH 6.5 to 7.5, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Amazon Sword or the Red Tiger Lotus?
They sit at the same care level, both beginner-friendly, so neither is the obvious beginner pick. The decision is really about the look you're after.
Do Amazon Sword and Red Tiger Lotus need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 22 to 28 °C and pH 6.5 to 7.5 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Amazon Sword and the Red Tiger Lotus?
Placement and light. The Amazon Sword works as background, the Red Tiger Lotus as midground, and their light needs differ, which is covered in the table.