Flora & Fauna

One of the most striking corydoras, adolfo's corydoras has a vivid orange patch behind the head on a white body with a bold black stripe. It requires softer, more acidic water than many corydoras and is a prized species among collectors.

The African butterflyfish is a surface-dwelling predator with large, wing-like pectoral fins. It floats motionlessly at the surface waiting to ambush insects and small fish. It requires a tightly covered tank as it can jump considerable distances.

Bolbitis heudelotii (African Water Fern) is a large, impressive aquatic fern from African rivers with deeply pinnate, translucent dark-green fronds that can reach 40–50 cm. Like Java Fern, the rhizome must be attached to hardscape and not buried. It thrives in moderate flow and benefits from soft water; hard, alkaline water stunts growth. Its bold, architectural texture makes it a dramatic midground to background accent plant.

Beautiful dark green fern that attaches to wood and rock. Grows slowly but forms lush, textured midground or background. Prefers moderate flow and no direct substrate planting.

Apistogramma agassizii is one of the most widespread and variable apistogramma species across the Amazon basin, with geographic colour forms ranging from blue-tailed to fire red. Males display spectacular iridescent blue-green flanks and the distinctive pointed caudal fin characteristic of the species. They are slightly more demanding about water softness than A. cacatuoides but reward careful husbandry with outstanding colour.

Compact form of the popular Alternanthera reineckii — shorter internodes make it far easier to maintain. Deep red leaves create stunning contrast against green plants. Widely used in Dutch and Nature-style scapes.

Delicate, jointed branching coralline algae with alternating calcified segments and flexible joints — looks like tiny white-pink antlers. Forms low tufts on rockwork. A living indicator of good calcium and alkalinity levels. Grazed by urchins but otherwise grows without intervention in a mature reef.

A rare variegated cultivar producing ghostly white to cream-coloured new leaves that slowly green up with age. The contrast between the white young growth and mature green leaves is striking. It is slower and slightly more demanding than green Anubias — it needs healthy roots and water but still tolerates low light. Avoid strong fertiliser, which can cause leaves to revert to solid green. A centrepiece plant for collectors and dedicated scapers.

A compact, small-leafed Hygrophila with needle-like leaves that can take on striking red and pink hues under strong lighting. Ideal for the midground in Iwagumi and Nature Aquarium layouts where space is at a premium. One of the more colourful members of the genus.

Famous for shooting precisely aimed jets of water to knock insects off overhanging vegetation. Requires a brackish tank with at least 12 inches of air space above the water. Fascinating behaviour.

Bamboo shrimp (wood shrimp) are large, striking filter-feeding shrimp that fan tiny food particles from the water current. They require good water flow and consistent, fine suspended food (like powdered spirulina). Do not keep with aggressive tankmates.

Delicate branching SPS with thin, pointed branches arranged like a bird's nest. One of the fastest-growing SPS corals — ideal for fragging. Available in pink, purple, green, and yellow morphs.

A dark variety produced by the dark gene, expressing as a near-black body with intricate lace-like patterning on the fins. Striking against light-coloured substrates and green plants. Bred from the silver base morph with additional dark gene copies for deeper colouration.

Striking royal blue fish with a yellow tail. Active swimmer requiring large tanks. Prone to ich, so quarantine is recommended.

Deep blue tiger shrimp with dark stripes. Requires the same soft, acidic water as other Caridina. The royal blue coloration is highly prized among shrimp keepers.

Annual killifish with extraordinary colours — electric blue body with vivid red markings. Short-lived (under 1 year) but spectacular. Eggs are buried in peat and dry-stored.

Popular carpet plant forming a dense lawn of short, narrow blades. Grows slowly without CO2 but rewards patience. Spreads via runners — plant individual blades 1cm apart for the fastest carpet.

Bubble coral is a distinctive LPS coral whose fleshy, bubble-like vesicles inflate during the day to maximise light capture and deflate at night to reveal feeding tentacles. It is a vigorous feeder and responds well to regular target feeding. Its delicate inflated tissue can be punctured by sharp rockwork, so placement must be considered carefully.

Bucephalandra Brownie Ghost is among the most coveted collector buce varieties, producing small, dark leaves with a striking purple-silver sheen that shifts with viewing angle. It is rarer and commands higher prices than common buce varieties, and is slightly more sensitive to water quality and flow. CO2 injection and soft, slightly acidic water bring out the full iridescent coloration.

Tiny, striking goby with bold black-and-yellow bands. Prefers slightly brackish water. Bottom-dwelling and territorial — needs caves and live/frozen food as it rarely accepts dry food.

Caridina babaulti is a colourful Indian dwarf shrimp available in green, blue, yellow, and striped colour forms, all sharing the same species identity. It occupies an interesting middle ground between the hardy Neocaridina and the demanding Caridina cantonensis, preferring moderately soft, slightly acidic water but tolerating a broader range than bee shrimp. Active and personable, it is an excellent choice for intermediate shrimp keepers wanting more colour variety.

Encrusting LPS coral with eye patterns in vivid colour combinations. Moderately aggressive. Grows flat plates over rock. One of the most collectible coral genres.

Not a true alga but a charophyte — an evolutionary stepping stone between algae and land plants. Whorled branches on brittle stems; produces a distinctive musky smell when crushed. Tolerates very hard, alkaline water that many plants cannot. Often kept deliberately in biotope setups for its unique look.

One of the smallest aquarium fish, the chili rasbora glows brilliant red-orange in mature blackwater nano tanks. Best kept in groups of 15 or more to encourage confident schooling behaviour. Not suitable with large or boisterous tankmates.

Clown loaches are sociable, active fish with bold orange and black banding. They grow large over time and need spacious tanks with plenty of hiding spots. They are excellent snail hunters and enjoy digging in soft substrate.

Apistogramma cacatuoides is one of the most popular dwarf cichlids, named for the male's elaborate dorsal fin with extended first rays that resemble a cockatoo's crest. Males come in a variety of colour forms (double red, orange flash, triple red) but all share the bold territorial personality typical of apistogrammas. They breed readily in caves and the female alone guards the fry with fierce dedication.

Spongy, dark green dichotomously branched macroalgae with a velvety, foam-like texture. Attaches to rock and can grow quite large. In temperate reef tanks it is a natural part of the fauna; in tropical tanks it can become invasive. Slugs (nudibranchs) and sea hares may graze it.

Bolbitis is a slow-growing African water fern with elegant, translucent dark green fronds. It attaches to rocks and wood like java fern and anubias, and thrives in moderate flow. CO2 and good lighting significantly improve its growth rate.

Arguably the most beautiful pencilfish — males blaze vivid red with iridescent blue and white accents. A staple of Amano-style planted tanks. Needs soft, acidic water and live food to colour up.

Calcified encrusting algae that paints live rock, glass, and equipment in shades of pink, purple, and white — the hallmark of a mature, healthy reef. Requires stable calcium (400–450 ppm) and alkalinity (8–9 dKH). Does not need dedicated lighting but benefits from reef-level light. Spreads naturally from live rock and purchased plugs.

Corydoras Duplicareus is a striking species closely resembling C. adolfoi, sharing its orange dorsal blotch and black stripe through the eye, but distinguishable by a broader black flank stripe extending further toward the tail. It originates from the upper Rio Negro system in Brazil and appreciates soft, acidic, warm blackwater conditions. A sought-after species that commands higher prices than common cory varieties.

A highly sought-after Cryptocoryne among collectors, prized for its dramatically patterned leaves featuring brown-green to dark olive surfaces with reddish-brown splotches, spots, and a heavily bullate texture. Multiple forms exist — some have narrow leaves, others broader. Slower and more delicate than common Crypts, it rewards patient keepers with unique, jewel-like foliage. Best maintained in stable, soft, slightly acidic water with minimal disturbance.

Cryptocoryne Spiralis produces unusually long, slender leaves with a finely serrated or slightly twisted edge, giving it a distinctive spiral character unlike most other crypts. Leaves can reach 30–50 cm, placing it firmly in background territory. It prefers softer, slightly acidic water and benefits from CO2 supplementation to sustain its taller, more demanding growth habit.

A large, majestic Cryptocoryne species with broad, heavily bullate (bumpy-textured) leaves in shades of brown-green with reddish undersides. One of the biggest Crypts available, capable of reaching 50–60 cm in ideal conditions. Best suited to large tanks where it serves as a dramatic centrepiece or bold background plant. Slower to establish than smaller species but extremely long-lived and rewarding.

Cyperus helferi is the only fully aquatic sedge used in aquascaping. Its long, gracefully arching bright green leaves create a unique grass-like texture that moves beautifully in current. It requires CO2 and fertilisation to grow well submerged.

Pogostemon helferi (Downoi or Little Star) is a distinctive, star-shaped rosette plant from Thailand with deeply ruffled, wavy-edged bright-green leaves radiating from a central crown. It grows low (5–8 cm) and is one of the few compact foreground rosette plants with real textural interest. It requires medium to high light and benefits from CO2 and soft, slightly acidic water. Popular in detailed Iwagumi and Nature Aquarium aquascapes.