Flora & Fauna

A small, attractively marked corydoras covered in small dark spots over a pale body. C. polystictus is a peaceful, undemanding species that adapts well to a range of water conditions. It is an active forager and looks charming in a planted aquarium with a dark sand substrate that shows off its spotted pattern.

Violet to deep purple Neocaridina — one of the newer and rarer colour morphs. Striking against light sand or bright green moss. Colour intensity varies with diet and water quality.

One of the smallest corydoras species, pygmy corydoras are unusual in that they often swim in the midwater rather than staying on the bottom. They form tight shoals and look stunning in large groups in nano and planted aquariums.

Tiny orange-red rasbora with distinctive black spots. Often confused with Boraras brigittae but slightly larger and more orange. Perfect for blackwater nano scapes. Peaceful and undemanding.

Ramshorn snails are named for their distinctive flat, coiled shell. They are efficient algae eaters and detritivores in planted tanks. While they can reproduce rapidly, populations are easily managed by removing egg clusters or reducing feeding. Some aquarists deliberately cultivate them as a food source for puffers.

Striking nerite with vivid red-orange shell bearing black racing stripes. Among the most attractive freshwater snails. Vigorous algae grazer. Cannot breed in freshwater, keeping populations controlled.

A floating liverwort made famous by Takashi Amano, who pioneered the technique of tying Riccia to rocks and driftwood using hairnets to create lush, bright green carpet-like surfaces. Left floating, it forms a thick mat at the water surface that provides excellent cover for fry and shrimp. When submerged and attached, it releases oxygen bubbles in a process called pearling, creating a spectacular visual effect. It is not a true moss but behaves similarly and is essential in the competition aquascaping world.

Rili Shrimp are a selectively bred Neocaridina davidi morph characterised by a two-tone pattern — a coloured head and tail section (typically red, orange, or blue) separated by a transparent or translucent mid-body section. This 'broken' coloration pattern is unique among neocaridina morphs and makes them visually striking in planted tanks. Care and breeding requirements are identical to standard red cherry shrimp.

A stunning variegated cultivar of H. polysperma with white to pink venation against a light green or pinkish leaf. The coloration intensifies under bright light. Despite its exotic appearance it is just as easy as the parent species and grows quickly. Invasive in outdoor ponds in some US states.

Rosy barbs are large, hardy barbs with males turning a vivid pink-red during breeding. They are cold-tolerant, active, and peaceful in larger groups, though they may nip fins of long-finned fish. An excellent choice for cooler community aquariums.

The rosy tetra has a lovely soft pink to rosy body with a black and white dorsal fin and red-tipped fins that intensify with maturity and condition. Males develop a tall, flag-like dorsal fin. It is an elegant, peaceful fish that is slightly rarer in the hobby than it deserves to be, and looks beautiful in soft-water planted tanks.

Rotala Indica is an easy-going stem plant with small, oval leaves that display a pleasing pink to light-red coloration on their undersides even under moderate light — making it one of the few rotala species that beginners can achieve colour from without high-intensity lighting. It grows upright with a delicate, feathery texture and is often used as a softer alternative to R. rotundifolia in low-tech setups.

A delicate stem plant with small, narrow leaves that form feathery, bright green whorls. Under high light and CO2 it develops a slight pinkish tint at the growing tips. It grows vigorously and is a great mid-to-background filler, tolerating a wide range of conditions better than most Rotala species.

Rotala sp. 'Green' is a popular, fast-growing, bright green stem plant with small, oval leaves. Unlike the pinkish tones of R. rotundifolia, it stays consistently lime-green even under high light, providing excellent contrast with red-leaved plants. Undemanding and fast, it is a reliable background filler for any planted tank.

Compact stem plant with small, rounded bright-green leaves. Forms a bushy, dense growth habit that holds shape well without constant trimming. Excellent for filling midground gaps in planted aquascapes.

One of the three 'dwarf' corydoras species, C. habrosus reaches just 3 cm and has a distinctive row of dark blotches along its flanks. It is more active in the midwater than most corydoras and is ideal for nano planted tanks. Groups of 10+ will show confident, exploratory behaviour and make excellent companions for small shrimp.

Salvinia is a fast-growing floating fern that creates dense surface cover. Its tiny textured leaves repel water, forming a green carpet on the surface. Excellent for nutrient export and providing shade for light-sensitive plants and fish below.

Schwartzi corydoras has a distinctive pattern of dark spots and a prominent black stripe through the eye. It is an active, peaceful schooling fish that spends most of its time foraging along the bottom. Well suited to soft, acidic planted tanks.

Serpae tetras are vivid red fish with a distinctive black comma-shaped shoulder mark. They are hardy and bold, but known to be fin-nippers especially in small groups — keep 10 or more to redirect aggression within the school.

Large, deep-bodied cichlid with a friendly temperament for its size. Comes in green, gold, and red colour variants. Often bonds strongly with its keeper and will hand-feed.

Tiny Tanganyikan cichlid that lives inside empty snail shells. Males are larger and guard a harem of shell-dwelling females. Perfect for a dedicated shell-dweller nano tank.

The Siamese Algae Eater is one of the few fish that will actively consume black beard algae (BBA), making it highly sought after by planted tank hobbyists. It is a streamlined, active fish with a distinctive black horizontal stripe from snout to tail. Unlike the similar-looking Flying Fox, it is a true algae specialist rather than just a grazer. Best kept singly or in groups; young fish are more active algae eaters than adults.

A compact, narrow-leafed variant of H. corymbosa popular in Dutch-style planted tanks. The smaller leaf size makes it easier to fit into midground positions. Very tolerant and undemanding.

Large, disc-shaped silver fish that schools impressively in groups. Voracious herbivore — will demolish live plants. Best kept with hardy tankmates in a spacious aquarium.

The silvertip tetra gets its name from the bright white or silver tips on every fin, which flash attractively as the fish moves. Males have a warm orange-copper body colouration while females are more silvery. It is a very active, somewhat nippy species that is best kept in large schools of 10 or more to distribute any fin-nipping behaviour.

Similis corydoras is a small, attractively spotted species with a distinctive dark spot at the base of the tail fin. Peaceful and active, it mixes well with other calm community fish and is hardier than many of its relatives.

Singapore Moss is a fine-leaved aquatic moss with a slightly more organised, fan-like branching structure than Java Moss. It grows into dense mounds on hardscape and creates effective moss walls on mesh. Fast-growing and undemanding, it is a popular beginner moss for aquascaping and a favourite refuge for shrimp and fry.

The skunk corydoras has a distinctive arched black stripe running from snout to tail over a pale body, resembling a skunk's marking. It is a peaceful, active bottom-dweller that does well in soft, slightly acidic water with fine sand substrate.

Small, peaceful cichlid with iridescent blue-green scaling and an expression resembling a smile. One of the best cichlids for planted community tanks — rarely aggressive and plant-safe.

Snowball shrimp are prized for their opaque white coloration and the pearlescent white egg clusters that females carry, which inspired their common name. Like other neocaridina variants they are adaptable and breed freely in established planted tanks. They add a clean, high-contrast element to darker aquascape substrates.

Soft Hornwort is the more delicate relative of the common Hornwort (C. demersum) with even finer, softer leaves. It floats freely in the water column, requiring no substrate or roots. Grows rapidly and absorbs ammonia and nutrients aggressively. Excellent for cycling tanks, fry tanks, and shrimp tanks where it provides cover and nutrient absorption.

The Sparkling Gourami (Pygmy Gourami) is a tiny, jewel-like labyrinth fish barely 4 cm long whose body glitters with iridescent blue-green spots. It produces a distinctive chirping or croaking sound during spawning, which is audible outside the aquarium. Its diminutive size makes it perfect for nano tanks with fine-leaved plants; it should not be housed with boisterous or much larger tankmates.

Spiky Moss forms distinctively pointed, spiky tufts that radiate outward from attachment points, giving it a starburst appearance. It grows readily on rock, wood, or mesh and is easier to shape than Java Moss due to its tidier, more structured growth habit. Popular in Nature Aquarium styling.

Bright green filamentous algae with distinctive spiral chloroplasts. In small amounts it's a natural part of the ecosystem and a food source for many invertebrates. Can quickly overtake a tank if nutrients or CO₂ are out of balance. Best controlled by reducing phosphates and manual removal.

The splendid rainbowfish is a large, hardy, and adaptable species that comes in several regional colour forms varying from blue-green to reddish-orange. Males develop a deep body profile and bold colouration. It is a robust, undemanding fish that tolerates a wide range of water conditions, making it popular with beginner rainbowfish keepers.

Tiny blue-eyed rainbowfish with yellow fins spotted with black. Gorgeous in groups in a heavily planted nano tank. Males display with raised fins in bright iridescent colours.