Flora & Fauna

Mosquitofish are exceptionally hardy, adaptable livebearers that have been deliberately introduced worldwide for mosquito larvae control. They consume prodigious quantities of surface larvae and can survive conditions — extreme heat, cold, salinity, low oxygen — lethal to most aquarium fish. Note that they are aggressive fin nippers and should not be housed with fancy-finned fish; they are best suited to utility or outdoor pond use rather than display aquariums.

Mystery snails are large, attractive freshwater snails that come in a range of shell colours from gold to blue-grey. They are peaceful algae grazers and scavengers that will clean up uneaten food and detritus. They have a trap door (operculum) that allows them to seal the shell, surviving brief periods out of water.

Narrow, willowy leaves give this variant a graceful, feathery appearance unlike its broad-leafed relatives. Great for creating visual contrast alongside wider-leaved plants. Just as hardy as the parent species.

Needle Leaf Java Fern produces extremely narrow, grass-like fronds that are distinctly different from standard Java Fern. The slender leaves create a delicate, airy texture that contrasts beautifully with broad-leaved plants. It shares the same hardy, low-light, epiphytic growth habit of regular Java Fern — easy to grow attached to rock or wood.

The neon rainbowfish is the smallest and most popular of the Melanotaenia rainbowfish. Males display vivid neon-blue bodies with striking red fins. A large school in a planted tank is a spectacular sight. Peaceful and easy to breed.

One of the most popular aquarium fish, the neon tetra is recognised by its vivid iridescent blue stripe and red tail. It thrives in schools of six or more in soft, slightly acidic water with dense planting. Peaceful and hardy once acclimated, making it ideal for community tanks.

Incredibly vivid lime-yellow nano fish with neon intensity that rivals neon tetras. Peaceful, active schooler. Looks stunning in large groups in a Nature-style aquascape. One of the best nano fish available.

Nerite snails are among the best algae-eating invertebrates available, consuming green spot algae, diatoms, and film algae from glass, rocks, and plant leaves. They cannot reproduce in freshwater, so populations remain controlled. They may attempt to escape, so a tight-fitting lid is advisable.

Tiny schooling fish with luminous iridescent blue eyes that catch the light beautifully. Excellent for nano planted tanks. Peaceful and undemanding. Looks spectacular in groups of 20+.

Taiwan Nymphoides produces attractive round-to-heart-shaped leaves with reddish-brown mottling on the underside. It spreads by runners and can be kept compact with regular trimming. Unlike surface-growing Nymphoides, it stays submerged in good lighting. A distinctive mid-ground to background plant with a bold, pond-like aesthetic.

Unique plant with long, thin tentacle-like leaves arranged in whorls. Fast-growing, forgiving, and adaptable. Excellent hiding place for fry and shrimp.

Males develop a striking iridescent red flame along the flanks. Hardy and adaptable — one of the most underrated aquascaping barbs. Groups create a stunning display of colour in midwater.

A lesser-known species with elegant, slightly wavy narrow leaves. Grows quickly in good conditions and provides dense cover for fish and invertebrates. The emersed form produces small fragrant flowers, giving the species its name.

Small, olive-coloured nerite with a smooth shell. Excellent algae grazer that won't eat healthy plants. Does not reproduce in freshwater. A reliable and undemanding member of any planted tank clean-up crew.

Orange Rili Shrimp display the characteristic Rili pattern — bright orange pigmentation on the head, carapace, and tail sections, with a clear transparent mid-section revealing the internal organs. This two-tone broken pattern is unique and visually distinctive against green plants and dark substrates. They are as easy to keep and breed as any other Neocaridina davidi colour morph and are a lively, active addition to planted nano tanks.

Vivid orange Neocaridina that stands out brilliantly against green plants. One of the most popular shrimp for planted tanks. Hardy and prolific — an excellent beginner Neocaridina colour variant.

Oscars are large, bold cichlids known for their personality and intelligence. They recognise their owners and can be hand-fed, but they are destructive tank inhabitants that will uproot plants and rearrange décor. They need very large tanks with robust filtration.

Echinodorus Ozelot is a hybrid cultivar renowned for its striking green leaves adorned with irregular dark-brown to red spots, resembling the coat of an ocelot. It is a vigorous, moderately sized sword plant reaching 25–40 cm that makes an eye-catching focal specimen in the midground or background. New leaves often emerge with a reddish tint before maturing to spotted green.

The Pacific blue eye is a small, hardy Australian native with striking yellow fins tipped in black and white, and the characteristic brilliant blue eyes of the genus. It is more adaptable than many pseudomugil, tolerating a range of salinities from fresh to brackish. An ideal nano fish for those wanting an unusual Australian species.

The deepest red Neocaridina available — body and legs are entirely opaque fire red with no clear patches. Top grade of the red cherry lineage. Striking against any substrate colour.

Named for their black-and-white colouration reminiscent of giant pandas, panda corydoras are a popular and peaceful bottom-dwelling catfish. They are active during the day and thrive in groups of 6 or more over fine sand substrate.

Small, hardy tetra with a clean silver body and distinctive black patches on the eye and tail base. Peaceful schooling fish suitable for community tanks and beginners.

One of the first tropical fish kept in Europe — records date to the 1860s. Stunning blue-and-red banding with flowing fins. Tolerates cold water well. Aggressive toward other males.

Parkinson's rainbowfish is a large, spectacular species with males displaying a golden-yellow to orange anterior transitioning into a blue-grey posterior, with vivid yellow fins edged in black. One of the most colourful and striking of all rainbowfish. It is a hardy, active species best kept in a long, spacious aquarium.

Parrot's Feather is a fast-growing, feathery stem plant with blue-green whorled leaves. It grows both submerged and emersed. Excellent for ponds and unheated tanks. Grows vigorously without CO2, absorbing nutrients rapidly and helping suppress algae. In warm tanks it may require pruning weekly to keep it manageable.

World's smallest puffer fish at just 1 inch. Full of personality and intelligence. Fin nipper — best kept in a species-only tank or with fast, short-finned tankmates.

Gem-like small fish with iridescent blue, red, and yellow markings and an eyespot on the tail. One of the most beautiful small freshwater fish. Easy to breed in caves.

Peacock Moss derives its name from the fan-like, layered fronds that resemble peacock feathers. It grows as dense, overlapping layers of triangular, feathery growth. One of the most attractive aquatic mosses for detail work on rock and wood in aquascaping. Hardy and adaptable, doing well in a wide range of conditions.

Pearl danios have an iridescent, pearlescent sheen with subtle pink-orange highlights along the flanks. They are extremely hardy, cold-tolerant, and make excellent dither fish for livebearers and other community species. Fast and peaceful.

The pearl gourami is one of the most elegant community fish, adorned with a pearlescent spotted pattern and a dark lateral stripe. It is a labyrinth fish that breathes surface air, so a tight-fitting lid is recommended. Males can be mildly aggressive toward each other, but generally coexist peacefully in larger tanks.

A flat, ribbon-like liverwort with a deep green, glossy surface that forms dense, spreading sheets on hardscape or the substrate. It is not a true moss but is widely sold and used as one. Particularly popular in shrimp and nano tanks — the flat, broad fronds create excellent grazing and hiding surfaces for dwarf shrimp. Grows slowly and does not need attachment, but its dense structure means it can smother smaller plants if left unchecked.

The penguin tetra is immediately recognised by its bold black stripe that runs down the lower body and into the lower caudal lobe — and by the unique way it holds its body at a nose-up angle while swimming. This head-up posture gives schools a distinctive, elegant appearance. A hardy, peaceful fish that suits most community setups.

Peppered corydoras are popular bottom-dwelling catfish that sift through substrate in search of food. They are highly social and should be kept in groups of at least six. Fine sand substrate is essential to protect their sensitive barbels from abrasion.

Active, silver catfish with black spots and long barbels. Schools in the wild so keep in groups of 3+. A mid-water swimmer unlike most catfish. Will eat small fish that fit in its mouth.

The Plakat (from the Thai word for fighting fish) retains the shorter, rounder fin shape of wild Betta splendens, close to the original form before centuries of selective breeding. It is a more active, stronger swimmer than long-finned varieties and is less prone to fin damage and disease. Plakats are popular in Thailand, where fighting fish culture originated, and make excellent display fish in planted tanks.

Platies are cheerful, colourful livebearers available in a wide range of colour morphs. They are very beginner-friendly and tolerant of a broad range of water conditions, preferring slightly hard, alkaline water. Females give birth to live fry roughly every 28 days, so population management may be necessary.