Flora & Fauna

Massive, spectacular pleco with white spots on a jet-black body. One of the largest plecos available, reaching 30+ inches. A monster fish for public-aquarium-scale tanks only.

The largest and most majestic of the Pterophyllum species. Wild altums can reach 50 cm fin-to-fin and require very tall tanks (24 in+ depth). More demanding than P. scalare — needs soft, acidic blackwater conditions and is sensitive to water quality. Best kept in species-only or large blackwater scapes. Wild-caught specimens are more challenging than tank-bred.

Jet-black fish with two white bands on its tail. Generates a weak electric field to navigate and communicate. Nocturnal, shy, and sensitive to water quality. Grows large.

Exquisite micro-cichlid with a chequered body pattern and lyre-shaped tail on males. Requires very soft, acidic blackwater conditions. Peaceful but demanding — rewarding for experienced aquascapers.

Stunning deep blue mbuna with pale blue stripes. Extremely aggressive despite its small size — requires a large colony (12+) to disperse aggression. Not for beginners.

Majestic large angelfish with electric blue-and-yellow horizontal stripes. Juveniles are black with white rings. Not reef-safe. Requires expert care and very large tanks.

The German blue ram is a strikingly coloured dwarf cichlid demanding pristine water quality and warm, soft, acidic conditions. It forms monogamous pairs and will defend a small territory during breeding. Sensitive to poor water quality and temperature fluctuations, making regular water changes critical.

Gold nugget plecos are stunning loricariids with a dark body covered in bright yellow spots and yellow-tipped fins. They are territorial and require warm, oxygen-rich, fast-flowing water with driftwood. They are algae scrapers that also need protein in their diet.

The smallest and rarest Pterophyllum species. Distinguishable from P. scalare by its more elongated body, a distinctive black spot on the dorsal base, and an absence of the pre-dorsal notch. Rarely available in the trade and best kept by experienced keepers. Requires soft, acidic conditions similar to the altum.

Extraordinary amphibious goby that spends most of its time out of water, breathing through moist skin and skipping across mud. Requires a paludarium (half water, half land) setup.

Powerful, predatory cichlid with stunning gold and green patterning. Grows large and requires a big tank. Will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth.

One of the most beautiful tangs with a powder-blue body, yellow dorsal fin and black mask. Prone to ich and disease — best for experienced reef keepers.

Lake Tanganyika herbivore with dozens of stunning colour morphs by location. Requires a strict plant-based diet — meaty food causes deadly bloat. Best kept in large colonies of one morph.

Remarkable camouflage artist that looks exactly like a twig or dead stick. Grazes algae and biofilm off surfaces. Sensitive to water quality — requires pristine, well-oxygenated water.

The zebra pleco is one of the most sought-after pleco species, with bold black and white striping. It is a carnivorous cave-dweller from the Xingu River, which is threatened in the wild. It requires warm, well-oxygenated water and protein-rich foods.