Flora & Fauna

Distinctive man-made hybrid cichlid with a prominent nuchal hump (kok). Extremely hardy but highly aggressive — must be kept alone. Develops a strong bond with its keeper.

Beautiful nano rainbowfish with a distinctive forked tail with yellow-and-black markings. Males display intensely to each other. Perfect for planted nano tanks.

The four-leaf clover aquatic fern produces charming four-lobed leaves that resemble tiny clover on short stalks. It can be grown as a compact foreground carpet in high-light CO2 tanks, or left to grow taller as a decorative mid-ground plant in low-tech setups. A unique texture plant that adds whimsy to any scape.

Short, fuzzy green tufts — typically 2–5 mm — that appear on the edges of plant leaves, hardscape, and equipment. One of the most common algae in newly planted tanks. Easily grazed by Amano shrimp, Otocinclus, and nerite snails. Caused by light excess or inconsistent CO₂ early in a tank's life. Usually resolves as the tank matures.

Galaxy Koi Bettas are among the most visually complex cultivars, displaying a mosaic of multi-coloured patches — white, orange, black, and metallic blue or green — resembling the marbled pattern of koi fish. The galaxy pattern refers to an additional iridescent metallic sheen overlaid on the koi marbling. Each fish is unique; no two Galaxy Koi Bettas look exactly the same.

One of the most popular and colourful killifish. Males display vivid blue-green with red spots. Hardy and readily available. Perfect introduction to the killifish hobby.

Ghost shrimp are nearly transparent freshwater shrimp often sold as feeder animals, though they make excellent, inexpensive nano tank inhabitants in their own right. They consume algae, debris, and uneaten food, contributing to tank cleanliness. However, they are sometimes aggressive toward smaller shrimp species.

Baby Tears or Pearl Grass, this cheerful stem plant produces tiny, round, bright green leaves and grows fast even without CO2. Ideal for mid-ground mounds or as a floating plant for shrimp tanks. Often confused with HC Cuba but its leaves are larger and it is far more tolerant of low-tech conditions.

A larger Bacopa species with distinctive clasping (amplexicaul) leaves that wrap around the stem at the base. The blue-violet flowers it produces above the waterline are among the most attractive of any aquarium plant. Submerged leaves are broad and light green, giving it a lush, robust appearance. Grows quickly and is very adaptable — excellent as an emersed pond margin plant or fully submerged background plant.

The giant danio lives up to its name among danios, reaching up to 10 cm. It is a fast, active schooling fish with vivid blue-yellow horizontal stripes. Peaceful with most community fish but may outcompete slow or small tankmates for food.

The largest labyrinth fish, reaching 24 inches. Despite its size, generally peaceful and even shy. Develops a real personality — will hand-feed and recognise its owner. A long-term commitment.

The tallest commonly kept Eleocharis species, producing stiff, dark green needle-like blades up to 30–50 cm tall. Creates a dramatic, grass-like background that mimics riparian meadows. Unlike dwarf hairgrasses, it does not form a dense carpet but instead grows as individual clumps. Very undemanding and one of the few Eleocharis that thrives without CO₂ injection. Excellent for paludarium setups or tall tanks where vertical structure is desired.

The Giant Ramshorn (Colombian Ramshorn) is a large, impressive snail with a distinctive flat, coiled shell striped in brown and cream — reaching up to 5 cm — distinguishing it from the smaller true ramshorn (Planorbarius). Unlike many ornamental snails it has a voracious appetite for aquatic plants and should not be kept in planted aquariums; it is best suited to fish-only or utilitarian setups where its algae and detritus grazing is beneficial. It reproduces readily in freshwater.

The glowlight tetra has a warm golden-orange iridescent stripe running the full body length, glowing like an ember in a planted tank. It is a peaceful, attractive schooling fish that pairs beautifully with dark substrates and dense planting.

Golden selective line of the Japanese ricefish. Suitable for ponds, outdoor tubs, and nano tanks. Extremely tough and easy to breed. Females carry egg clusters before releasing to plants.

Vivid golden-yellow form of the mystery snail. Active and personable — visually striking against dark substrates. Peaceful algae and detritus grazer. Lays eggs above the waterline so populations are easy to control.

The gold tetra has a distinctive golden-yellow sheen to the body caused by a parasitic infection the fish experiences in the wild — this actually produces the attractive gold iridescence that hobbyists prize. Tank-bred specimens often lack the intense gold but retain a pleasant iridescence. A peaceful, undemanding schooling fish.

Hardy, golden-bodied pencilfish with a bold red-and-black lateral stripe. The most adaptable pencilfish — tolerates a wider pH range than most. Great for beginner planted tanks.

Green jade shrimp are a selectively bred Neocaridina variety with an opaque mint-green colour. Like all Neocaridina they are hardy and tolerate a wider range of water conditions than Caridina. Their unique green colouration is particularly striking against dark substrate.

Opaque jade-green Neocaridina with excellent colour contrast in planted tanks. Rarer than the red and blue variants. As hardy and prolific as all other Neocaridina — a great addition to any shrimp collection.

Guppies are hardy, colourful livebearers that reproduce readily in captivity. Males display elaborate tails and body patterns to attract females. They adapt to a wide range of water conditions, though clean, well-filtered water is essential to prevent fin disease.

Known as Guppy Grass or Najas Grass, this fast-growing, fine-leaved plant is a superb filtration plant and spawning medium. It floats freely or can be weighted down. Its vigorous growth absorbs excess nutrients, helping combat algae. Very tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.

Marsilea Hirsuta is a low-maintenance carpet plant that produces small, clover-like leaves on short stems. It spreads via runners to form a lush, medium-height green carpet without requiring CO2 injection — making it one of the easiest carpet plants for low-tech tanks. Leaves grow taller without CO2 but stay compact with it.

The harlequin rasbora is recognised by the distinctive black triangular patch on its rear half set against a copper-orange body. Hardy, peaceful, and active in the midwater, it pairs beautifully with planted tanks.

The Honey Gourami is one of the most peaceful labyrinth fish in the hobby — males develop a rich golden-honey coloration with an orange-red throat and belly when in breeding condition. At 4–5 cm it fits comfortably in nano and small community tanks. Less prone to disease than the Dwarf Gourami and considerably more tolerant of soft, acidic water, making it an excellent alternative for low-tech planted setups.

The Horned Nerite is a small, striking nerite species notable for its ornate shell decorated with irregular blunt horn-like protrusions that vary in number, length, and arrangement between individuals — no two are quite alike. Like other nerites it is an excellent algae grazer and cannot reproduce in freshwater, so populations remain controlled. The unusual shell adds unique sculptural texture to planted tanks and nano aquariums.

Hornwort is one of the most adaptable aquatic plants available, surviving in a wide range of conditions from cold ponds to tropical tanks. It requires no substrate and can float or be anchored. It grows rapidly, absorbing nutrients, and provides excellent cover for fry.

Elongated loach with a distinctive long snout for sifting sand. Spends much of its time buried with just its eyes visible. Peaceful and an excellent sand-bed cleaner.

A compact variant of pennywort that produces small, neatly round, bright green leaves on short stems. Unlike the faster-growing H. tripartita, it has a more controlled growth habit and can be used as a delicate foreground or mid-ground filler. It adapts readily to CO2 and non-CO2 tanks alike.

A robust cultivar with unusually wide, wavy-edged leaves that give a bold, architectural presence in the background. The large leaf surface collects bubbles during pearling, making it a favourite for photography. Very easy to grow and tolerant of low-tech conditions.

A variegated cultivar with creamy white, pink, and green patterning on the leaves — the colours intensify under stronger light. A favourite in Dutch and community planted tanks for adding colour without the difficulty of true red plants. Stays compact and bushy with regular trimming.

A narrow-leaved Hygrophila with long, willowy green leaves held in whorls along upright stems. Grows faster than most Hygrophila species and provides a graceful, flowing texture in the background. The fine leaf texture contrasts well with broad-leaved plants like Anubias or Cryptocoryne. Easy to grow in most conditions — one of the few Hygrophilas that maintains its narrow, elegant leaf form even in low tech.

A cultivar of the Temple Plant with shorter internodal spacing, producing a denser, bushier plant than the standard species. Large, bright green leaves are held close to the stem, giving it a robust, architectural look in the midground or background. One of the easiest stem plants to grow — thrives in low-tech tanks and is very forgiving of neglect. A great beginner plant that still looks impressive in mature scapes.

A compact, attractive cultivar of Hygrophila siamensis with narrower, slightly undulated leaves that are bright green on top and pale on the underside. Very hardy and fast growing, it works well as a mid-background filler and helps suppress algae through nutrient uptake. Trims well and stays bushy.

The quintessential beginner stem plant — grows rapidly in almost any conditions without CO2. Under high light the leaves take on a pink hue. Excellent as a background filler or for fishrooms and breeding tanks.

Solid white-cream form of the mystery snail — looks like a tiny porcelain ornament. One of the most elegant snail colour forms. Effective detritus cleaner that adds a clean aesthetic to planted tanks.