Flora & Fauna

The otocinclus, or 'oto cat', is a diminutive algae-eating catfish prized for keeping plant leaves spotless without disturbing the aquascape. It requires a mature, well-established tank with existing algae film as a primary food source. Keep in groups of five or more as they are social fish that suffer in isolation.

Betta imbellis is aptly named — unlike the highly aggressive Betta splendens, this species is notably peaceful toward conspecifics and can sometimes be kept in pairs or even small groups in heavily planted, well-structured tanks. Males display subtle but attractive blue-green iridescent scales and red fin edging. It prefers very soft, peat-filtered water replicating its native blackwater rice paddy habitat in Malaysia.

Peacock cichlids are among the most colourful freshwater fish, with males displaying brilliant blues, yellows, and reds. They are relatively peaceful for cichlids and suited to species tanks or Malawi community setups with similar temperament fish.

A captive-bred variety expressing the pearlscale gene, which causes each scale to have a raised, pearlescent centre giving the fish a textured, almost jewelled appearance. Often combined with other colour genes (gold, marble, koi) to produce striking show specimens.

Beautiful stem plant with coppery-pink to deep red leaves under strong light. Relatively easy to grow compared to other red stem plants. An excellent alternative to Alternanthera for reliable red colour.

Pogostemon erectus is a striking stem plant with needle-like whorled leaves arranged in perfect spirals around each stem. It creates a distinctive, almost Christmas-tree silhouette. It requires CO2 and good nutrients to maintain its compact, fine-textured form.

Echinodorus Tenellus, the Pygmy Chain Sword, is a dwarf sword plant that forms a low, grass-like foreground carpet via prolific runners. Its narrow, strap-like leaves rarely exceed 10 cm, making it one of the few true sword plants suitable for foreground use. Under good lighting and CO2 it spreads rapidly; without CO2 growth is slower but still achievable.

The red tiger lotus produces large, dramatic maroon-red leaves with speckled patterns. Without high light and CO2 it will send leaves to the surface; regular trimming of surface leaves encourages bushy underwater growth. An impressive centrepiece plant for larger tanks.

Striking loach with bold reticulated patterning and a flattened body adapted for fast-flowing streams. Needs high oxygen, strong flow, and cool water. A showstopper in a hillstream biotope.

Thin, cotton-like green threads that form loose, easily detached clumps — often confused with hair algae but coarser and more tangled. Tends to form clumps rather than sheets. Usually caused by excess ammonia or organics in new tanks. Amano shrimp and Florida Flagfish handle it well.

Limnophila aromatica is a stunning stem plant with leaves that shift from green to vibrant purple-red under high light and good iron supplementation. Used extensively in Dutch-style aquascaping, it provides brilliant colour contrast in the background.

Beautiful foreground or midground plant with distinctive clover-like leaves. Grows in a compact mound. Prefers slightly cooler water and good flow. One of the most unique-looking aquascaping plants.

Prehistoric-looking eel-like fish with a series of dorsal finlets. Peaceful with fish too large to swallow. Nocturnal. Can breathe air and will escape through any gap.

Rotala H'ra is a popular cultivar producing small, narrow leaves that shift from green at their bases to vivid orange-red at the tips under high light, creating a stunning gradient effect in background plantings. It is less demanding than R. macrandra but rewards CO2 injection and iron dosing with exceptional coloration. Its fine texture and warm orange tones make it one of the most sought-after rotala varieties in competitive aquascaping.

Rotala rotundifolia is a classic stem plant for the background and upper midground of aquascapes, producing pink to reddish tones under high light and elevated CO2. Regular pruning encourages bushy side-shoot growth. Under low light the stems grow leggy and remain green.

A compact Rotala with narrow, lance-shaped leaves that turn a warm orange-red under good light and CO₂. Slower and more compact than R. rotundifolia, making it easier to maintain as a neat midground or background plant without constant trimming. The red-orange colouration develops even at moderate light levels with CO₂, making it more accessible than demanding species like R. macrandra. A versatile choice for adding red tones to mid-sized scapes.

Royal plecos have striking dark striping on a grey-brown body and spoon-shaped teeth adapted for rasping wood. Driftwood is an essential part of their diet and tank décor. They grow large and require spacious tanks with powerful filtration.

Named for its distinctive red nose and black-and-white striped tail, the rummy nose tetra is a stunning schooling fish that forms tight, coordinated shoals. It is more sensitive to water quality than the neon tetra and requires soft, warm, acidic conditions to look and behave at its best. The intensity of the red colouration serves as a reliable water quality indicator.

Vividly coloured medium cichlid with yellow and turquoise markings. Aggressive, especially when breeding. Hardy and tolerant of a range of water conditions.

Graceful, slender fish with a translucent body and vivid red snout and tail on males. Endemic to Inle Lake — prefers cooler, harder water than most aquascaping fish. Stunning in large groups.

Jewel of nano tanks — males are deep red with vivid blue-edged scales. Only 0.8 inches. Refuses dry food for most keepers; needs live or frozen micro prey. Worth every effort.

Ancient, armour-plated fish that walks along the bottom on its fins. Breathes air using a primitive lung. Peaceful with fish too large to swallow. Fascinating species.

The classic wild-type angelfish with a silver body and bold black vertical bars. Its triangular profile and long trailing fins make it a centrepiece fish. Prefers tall tanks with vertical driftwood or broad-leaf plants that mimic Amazonian floodplains. Semi-aggressive during spawning but generally peaceful with similarly sized tank mates.

Unique keel-shaped body adapted for surface dwelling. Can leap out of water to escape predators — a tight lid is essential. Prefers surface insects and small live food.

Betta channoides, the Snakehead Betta, is a mouthbrooding wild betta from East Kalimantan, Indonesia, named for the slightly flattened, elongated head profile reminiscent of snakehead fish. Males and females display striking orange-red coloration with dark scale edges. Like other mouthbrooders it is less belligerent than bubble-nesters, and well-conditioned pairs can coexist in adequately sized planted tanks.

Also known as stargrass, heteranthera zosterifolia has compact star-shaped leaf clusters around each stem, creating a distinctive texture unlike most aquarium plants. It branches freely when trimmed and creates lush, dense mid-background clusters under good lighting.

Distinctive for the sharp, spine-like stipules at each node that give it a starfish or thorny appearance. The leaves are narrow and light green. While not commonly seen in the trade, it creates a striking architectural element in natural-style aquascapes.

Staurogyne repens is a compact, low-growing stem plant with small, bright-green, slightly glossy leaves on creeping stems. Unlike most foreground carpet plants it tolerates moderate rather than high light, and does not require CO2 injection — though both improve density and lateral growth. It can be used as a carpeting plant in lower-tech setups or as a foreground bush, making it one of the most versatile and accessible 'carpet' plants for planted aquariums.

Betta albimarginata, the Strawberry Betta, is a small mouthbrooding wild betta from Borneo distinguished by its deep red body, white-edged fins, and the characteristic white lip border that gives it its species name. Males incubate eggs orally and are typically less aggressive than bubble-nesting bettas. They do best in densely planted species tanks or carefully managed community setups with non-nippy tankmates.

Compact, boldly marked loach with dark bands on a tan body. More territorial than other loaches — keep with fish that can hold their own. Active and entertaining to watch.

Large cichlid that sifts sand through its gills for food particles. Peaceful despite its size. Needs a deep sand bed and pristine water quality.

Striking livebearer with vivid red, black, and yellow patterning on males. More delicate than standard guppies and prefers brackish to soft freshwater conditions.

Orange-and-black banded Caridina shrimp. Requires softer, more acidic water than Neocaridina species. Striking coloration and increasingly popular in the hobby.

Very fine, dark green threads — slightly stiffer than Spirogyra and less silky. Wraps tightly around plant stems and mosses. Caused by low CO₂ and high light. Siamese Algae Eaters are one of the few fish that readily consume it.

The threadfin rainbowfish is a delicate, striking fish with males displaying long, flowing finnage tipped in vivid colour. It is a micro-predator that requires calm water and very small live or frozen foods. Best kept in species tanks or with the smallest, gentlest tankmates.

Elegant pencilfish with three distinct horizontal stripes and vivid red markings on the fins. Peaceful and slow-moving — ideal for low-flow planted tanks. Best in groups of 8+.