Flora & Fauna

The Halfmoon Betta is one of the most recognisable and popular betta cultivars, characterised by the spectacular 180-degree spread of the caudal fin that forms a perfect half-circle when fully flared. Selective breeding has produced individuals with extraordinary fin size and vivid coloration in virtually every hue. The large fins require pristine water quality to prevent fin rot and tearing.

Red cherry shrimp are the most popular dwarf shrimp in the hobby, bred in a variety of red intensity grades from pale pink to deep 'painted fire red'. They are tireless algae and biofilm grazers that thrive in established planted tanks. A mature tank with mosses and fine-leaf plants provides ideal conditions for breeding.

Colourful LPS coral with large fleshy polyps available in virtually every colour combination. Aggressive — maintain space between it and neighbouring corals. Beginner-friendly.

Chunky, encrusting LPS with fleshy, colourful polyps in virtually every colour combination imaginable. Extremely hardy and popular among collectors. One of the best beginner LPS corals.

Acropora is the largest and most diverse genus of stony corals on earth, encompassing hundreds of species forming branching, table, and bushy morphologies in nearly every colour imaginable. They are the primary reef-building corals and are the benchmark for advanced reef aquariums — demanding pristine, stable water chemistry, very high light, moderate to high flow, and expert-level nutrient management. In well-maintained SPS tanks they reward with breathtaking growth and colouration.

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.

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 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.

Striking background plant with long, narrow, wavy green leaves. Grows from a large bulb and can reach impressive heights. Very tolerant and long-lived. Low maintenance.

Stunning lily with red-spotted leaves. Grows from a bulb and alternates between broad, flat pads and long petioles reaching the surface. Remove surface leaves to keep it compact.

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.

Rosanervig is a striking cultivar of Alternanthera with green upper leaf surfaces crossed by vivid pink-white veining, while the undersides remain deep red-pink. The contrasting vein pattern is unique in the aquatic plant world and makes it a focal accent in Dutch and Nature Aquarium layouts. Requires good light and CO2 for the best colour expression.

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.

Named after legendary aquascape artist Takashi Amano who popularised their use, amano shrimp are the most effective algae-eating invertebrates available to hobbyists. Their large size and robust constitution means they can handle moderate current and tankmate activity. They do not breed in freshwater, so populations must be replenished from wild-caught stock.

Amazon frogbit is a floating plant with round, slightly spongy leaves that provide excellent surface cover and diffuse lighting. Its dangling white roots absorb excess nutrients and provide refuge for fry and small shrimp. It grows rapidly in good light.

The only known all-female vertebrate species, reproducing by gynogenesis using sperm from other mollies as a trigger without genetic contribution. A true biological oddity.

The amazon sword is a staple background plant in community aquariums, producing broad lanceolate leaves that provide shelter for fish. It is a heavy feeder that benefits greatly from root tab fertilisers. Given adequate nutrients and moderate light, it will grow large and produce runner plantlets.

Sometimes called Ambulia, this fast-growing stem plant produces dense whorls of fine, feathery leaves that resemble a soft green bottle brush. One of the most forgiving stem plants — it grows without CO2 injection and tolerates a wide pH range, making it ideal for beginner planted tanks.

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.

Anubias barteri is a robust, slow-growing plant with dark-green, waxy leaves that are resistant to herbivorous fish. Like java fern, the rhizome must not be buried. It thrives under low light, though algae can colonise the leaves in high-light environments; shading by taller plants helps.

Anubias Coffeefolia features deeply corrugated, dark-green leaves with a pronounced bullate (puckered) texture that gives them the appearance of coffee leaves — hence the name. The new leaves often emerge with a reddish-bronze tint before darkening to deep green, adding colour interest even at low light levels. Its compact, low-spreading habit suits midground placement in low-tech planted tanks.

Anubias Congensis (often sold as Anubias lanceolata) produces elongated, lance-shaped leaves on tall petioles, reaching 30–40 cm in height and making it one of the larger anubias suitable for midground to background use. Its upright, narrow leaf profile creates vertical interest against broader-leafed plants. Like all anubias, the rhizome must remain exposed and anchored to wood or rock.

Anubias Gigantea is the largest species in the anubias genus, with broad, leathery leaves that can exceed 20 cm in length and reach 60–80 cm in total height in mature specimens. It makes a dramatic focal-point background plant in large aquariums and is equally at home emersed in paludariums. Despite its impressive size it shares the same forgiving, low-maintenance care profile as all anubias.

A distinctive species with arrowhead-shaped, triangular leaves held on long, elegant petioles above the rhizome. The leaf shape sets it apart from other Anubias species and gives the scape a more dynamic, textured look. Grows taller than A. nana but slower than A. barteri. Ideal for attaching to large pieces of driftwood or elevated rock structures.

Anubias hastifolia is one of the tallest anubias species, with long, spear-shaped leaves that make a dramatic background plant. Like all anubias it attaches to hardscape and is extremely tolerant of low light and neglect. Slow-growing and long-lived.

One of the larger Anubias varieties, featuring long lance-shaped leaves with prominent veining and a rich dark green colour. It grows on a thick rhizome and reaches 20–40 cm tall, making it a striking background or tall midground plant in larger tanks. Like all Anubias, it is extremely hardy, grows slowly, and must never be buried — attach it to rock or driftwood with thread or glue.

Anubias Mini Coin is a rare cultivar distinguished by its nearly circular, coin-shaped leaves on short petioles, giving it a distinctly rounded aesthetic not found in other anubias varieties. It is highly sought after by collectors and commands a premium price. Care requirements are identical to Anubias Nana Petite, and it performs best as a focal point on a small piece of hardscape.

Anubias Nana is the classic dwarf variety of Anubias barteri, producing compact rosettes of small, dark-green ovate leaves on a slow-creeping rhizome. Its diminutive size makes it one of the most popular choices for nano tanks and foreground planting on hardscape. Like all anubias it must be attached to wood or rock — burying the rhizome causes rot.

An ultra-compact cultivar of A. nana with smaller leaves and shorter internodal spacing, creating a dense, bushy mound on the rhizome. The 'Bonsai' name refers to its miniaturised, tree-like appearance when grown on a small piece of driftwood or stone. Perfect for nano tanks and desktop aquariums. Care is identical to A. nana — extremely forgiving.

Anubias Nana Petite is a cultivar even smaller than standard Nana, with leaves rarely exceeding 1.5 cm — making it the go-to foreground and carpeting anubias in nano aquascapes. Its slow growth means algae build-up on leaves is its biggest challenge; moderate flow and controlled nutrients help keep leaves clean. Exceptionally popular in Japanese Nature Aquarium style layouts.

A cultivar of A. nana with noticeably rounder, broader leaves and very short petioles, giving it a compact, dome-like silhouette. The rounded leaf shape is more pronounced than the standard nana and looks especially attractive when grouped. A popular choice for mid-foreground planting on rocks or driftwood in both small and large tanks.

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.

One of the most dramatic Aponogeton species, producing enormous leaves up to 60 cm long with distinctively hammered, dark green texture and strong midrib. A true specimen plant for large aquariums. It requires cooler periods to trigger dormancy and re-growth. Leaves arch gracefully, creating a bold backdrop in large layouts.