Flora & Fauna

World's smallest puffer fish at just 1 inch. Full of personality and intelligence. Fin nipper — best kept in a species-only tank or with fast, short-finned tankmates.

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.

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.

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.

Gem-like small fish with iridescent blue, red, and yellow markings and an eyespot on the tail. One of the most beautiful small freshwater fish. Easy to breed in caves.

Peacock Moss derives its name from the fan-like, layered fronds that resemble peacock feathers. It grows as dense, overlapping layers of triangular, feathery growth. One of the most attractive aquatic mosses for detail work on rock and wood in aquascaping. Hardy and adaptable, doing well in a wide range of conditions.

Pearl danios have an iridescent, pearlescent sheen with subtle pink-orange highlights along the flanks. They are extremely hardy, cold-tolerant, and make excellent dither fish for livebearers and other community species. Fast and peaceful.

The pearl gourami is one of the most elegant community fish, adorned with a pearlescent spotted pattern and a dark lateral stripe. It is a labyrinth fish that breathes surface air, so a tight-fitting lid is recommended. Males can be mildly aggressive toward each other, but generally coexist peacefully in larger tanks.

A popular stem plant producing tiny, round, bright green leaves in whorls of three to four, creating a fine-textured, dense appearance. It can be grown as a mid-ground bush or as a foreground carpet with regular trimming. Easier to maintain than HC Cuba but provides a similar compact, fine-leaved look.

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.

A flat, ribbon-like liverwort with a deep green, glossy surface that forms dense, spreading sheets on hardscape or the substrate. It is not a true moss but is widely sold and used as one. Particularly popular in shrimp and nano tanks — the flat, broad fronds create excellent grazing and hiding surfaces for dwarf shrimp. Grows slowly and does not need attachment, but its dense structure means it can smother smaller plants if left unchecked.

The penguin tetra is immediately recognised by its bold black stripe that runs down the lower body and into the lower caudal lobe — and by the unique way it holds its body at a nose-up angle while swimming. This head-up posture gives schools a distinctive, elegant appearance. A hardy, peaceful fish that suits most community setups.

Peppered corydoras are popular bottom-dwelling catfish that sift through substrate in search of food. They are highly social and should be kept in groups of at least six. Fine sand substrate is essential to protect their sensitive barbels from abrasion.

A rare and highly distinctive stem plant with tiny, deeply lobed, reddish leaves that give it the appearance of a miniature oak tree underwater. Extremely sought-after in high-tech planted tanks. Requires strong light, CO2, and micronutrient-rich fertilisation to display its best colouration.

A flat, feather-like aquatic moss with a unique branching structure that differentiates it from round-leaved mosses like Java Moss. It attaches readily to rock and wood and grows as a distinctive carpet of interlocking fronds. Slower growing than Java Moss, it produces a tidier, more formal appearance and is popular in Nature Aquarium and Iwagumi layouts.

Active, silver catfish with black spots and long barbels. Schools in the wild so keep in groups of 3+. A mid-water swimmer unlike most catfish. Will eat small fish that fit in its mouth.

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.

Pinto shrimp are highly prized Taiwan bee variants with bold black and white patterning in distinctive stripe, skunk, or spotted configurations. They are among the most valuable freshwater shrimp in the hobby and require immaculate water quality.

The Plakat (from the Thai word for fighting fish) retains the shorter, rounder fin shape of wild Betta splendens, close to the original form before centuries of selective breeding. It is a more active, stronger swimmer than long-finned varieties and is less prone to fin damage and disease. Plakats are popular in Thailand, where fighting fish culture originated, and make excellent display fish in planted tanks.

Platies are cheerful, colourful livebearers available in a wide range of colour morphs. They are very beginner-friendly and tolerant of a broad range of water conditions, preferring slightly hard, alkaline water. Females give birth to live fry roughly every 28 days, so population management may be necessary.

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.

Pogostemon Stellatus is a majestic background stem plant that produces whorls of up to eight narrow leaves per node, creating a star-burst pattern. Under intense light the leaves develop beautiful pinkish-purple tones. It grows tall and is best positioned in the background. Nutrient-hungry and demanding of CO2 but rewarding when conditions are right.

A small, attractively marked corydoras covered in small dark spots over a pale body. C. polystictus is a peaceful, undemanding species that adapts well to a range of water conditions. It is an active forager and looks charming in a planted aquarium with a dark sand substrate that shows off its spotted pattern.

An elegant Limnophila with longer, finely serrated leaves arranged in whorls. Under intense light the leaves turn vivid pink to purple, creating striking colour columns for Dutch and Nature Aquarium style. Requires CO2 and good fertilisation for the best colour expression but grows vigorously once established.

Narrow-leaved Ludwigia that turns deep maroon-purple under high light. One of the most intensely coloured aquatic plants available. Slow-growing but spectacular. Requires CO2 and strong light to stay compact.

Violet to deep purple Neocaridina — one of the newer and rarer colour morphs. Striking against light sand or bright green moss. Colour intensity varies with diet and water quality.

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.

One of the smallest corydoras species, pygmy corydoras are unusual in that they often swim in the midwater rather than staying on the bottom. They form tight shoals and look stunning in large groups in nano and planted aquariums.

Tiny orange-red rasbora with distinctive black spots. Often confused with Boraras brigittae but slightly larger and more orange. Perfect for blackwater nano scapes. Peaceful and undemanding.

Ramshorn snails are named for their distinctive flat, coiled shell. They are efficient algae eaters and detritivores in planted tanks. While they can reproduce rapidly, populations are easily managed by removing egg clusters or reducing feeding. Some aquarists deliberately cultivate them as a food source for puffers.

Feathery stem plant that turns vivid red under high light and good fertilisation. One of the best red background plants for Nature-style aquascapes. Needs CO2 and macro/micro nutrients to colour up.

The red neon blue eye is arguably one of the most striking nano fish in the hobby. Males are decorated with vivid orange-red fins edged in black and white, topped with the signature brilliant blue eyes of the genus. It became popular after viral aquascaping videos. Best kept in species or nano setups with very small, calm tankmates.

Striking nerite with vivid red-orange shell bearing black racing stripes. Among the most attractive freshwater snails. Vigorous algae grazer. Cannot breed in freshwater, keeping populations controlled.