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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One of the smallest loaches, the dwarf chain loach has a distinctive chain-link pattern and an endearingly playful personality. Unlike most loaches it is comfortable in the upper water column and is often seen resting on plant leaves. A prized nano loach.

The world's smallest pufferfish, the dwarf puffer is a freshwater species with enormous personality. They are intelligent, curious, and aggressive hunters of snails and worms. Best kept in species-specific tanks or with fast, robust tankmates.

Named for the dot-dash pattern on its flanks, the exclamation point rasbora is a tiny, stunning micro-fish suited to nano planted tanks. It is best kept in large groups with other micro fish or shrimp and requires pristine, soft water.

Fancy goldfish encompass egg-shaped body varieties including Orandas, Ryukins, Telescopes, and Ranchus. Their rounded bodies and ornate finnage are the result of centuries of selective breeding. They are slower than single-tailed goldfish and should not be mixed with them.

Small, characterful puffer with a figure-eight pattern on its back. Prefers slightly brackish water. Personality-packed fish that recognises its keeper. Will eat snails and hard-shelled foods.

The firemouth cichlid is named for the vivid red-orange colouration on the throat and belly. It is a moderately aggressive Central American cichlid that pairs for breeding and defends territories. A stunning fish when in breeding colour.

Vivid red-orange dwarf angelfish with black vertical bars. One of the most popular dwarf angels. May nip at corals; monitor in reef tanks.

The frontosa is a majestic Lake Tanganyika cichlid with a distinctive nuchal hump and striking black-and-white vertical banding. It is a slow-moving predator that is surprisingly peaceful for its size in large colonies. A showpiece fish for large Tanganyika setups.

Furcata rainbowfish are small, jewel-like fish with males sporting vivid yellow fins edged in black. They are highly active swimmers and look spectacular in planted nano tanks with dense vegetation. They need very small foods and calm tankmates.

Completely transparent body reveals the skeleton and internal organs. Must be kept in schools of 6+, otherwise becomes stressed and stops eating. Stunning in a well-planted tank.

A captive-bred variety carrying the gold gene, producing a warm golden-yellow body with reduced or absent black barring. The gold colouration intensifies with good nutrition and water quality. A classic show-tank fish that pairs beautifully with dark substrates.

Vivid green-and-black spotted puffer. Requires brackish conditions as an adult. Highly intelligent and inquisitive — needs enrichment and varied diet including snails to wear down its ever-growing beak.

Green terror cichlids are large, dramatic fish with vivid turquoise-green scaling and orange-edged fins. Males develop a pronounced nuchal hump with age. Despite the name, they are manageable in species or large community cichlid setups.

Bold orange-and-white banded wrasse with vivid blue teeth. Impressive predator fish for FOWLR tanks. Australian specimens (red-orange) are more vibrant than Indo-Pacific.

The Hillstream Loach (Reticulated Hillstream Loach) is a spectacularly patterned torrent fish with a flattened body and enlarged pectoral fins adapted for clinging to rocks in fast-flowing streams. In the aquarium it requires strong water movement, high oxygenation, and cool temperatures mimicking its native Vietnamese mountain streams. It grazes periphyton (algae and biofilm) from hard surfaces and benefits from supplemental feeding with blanched vegetables and spirulina wafers.

Distinctive pencilfish that swims at a 45° upward angle with its head tilted toward the surface. Copper-red body with a bold black lateral stripe. Fascinating schooling behaviour in planted tanks.

Striking apisto with vivid yellow, red, and blue colouring on males. Highly variable in colour intensity depending on mood and water quality. A showpiece fish for any planted South American biotope.

A captive-bred colour morph with a bold red-orange, white, and black marbled pattern reminiscent of koi pond fish. Each individual is uniquely marked. Hardy and one of the most popular angelfish varieties in the hobby. Same care requirements as other P. scalare varieties.

The laser corydoras (orange laser or green laser depending on the variant) has a striking iridescent stripe running the length of the body. These undescribed species are highly sought after by corydoras enthusiasts and require soft, warm water.

Brilliant yellow Tanganyikan cichlid that lives in rocky crevices. Curious and bold but aggressive toward its own kind. Stunning in a rock-heavy Tanganyika biotope.

One of the most colourful reef fish — females orange-pink, males dazzling magenta-purple with elongated tail filaments. Best kept in a harem (one male, multiple females) with strong flow and frequent feeding.

A captive-bred variety with a swirling black-and-white marbled pattern caused by the marble gene. The pattern is unpredictable and no two fish look alike. One of the most widely kept angelfish morphs, well suited to planted scapes.

Smallest hatchetfish with intricate brown-and-gold marbled patterning. A delicate but fascinating surface fish. Needs a very tight-fitting lid as it can jump significant distances.