Flora & Fauna

A tiny jewel of a fish, the spotted blue eye has vivid spotted fins and stunning iridescent blue eyes. Males display spectacular finnage with yellow and black markings during courtship. At just 3–4 cm it is ideal for nano tanks and looks magnificent in a heavily planted setup. It prefers soft, slightly acidic to neutral water.

Grey-green single strands that branch into antler-like forks — often tangled in plant leaves and filter intakes. Like BBA, it signals CO₂ problems. More responsive to spot-treatment with liquid carbon than BBA. Siamese Algae Eaters will consume it.

Green star polyps (GSP) are one of the most popular beginner corals, forming rapid-spreading mats of bright green polyps. They are extremely hardy, tolerating a wide range of conditions. Their fast growth can become invasive, so placement should be considered carefully.

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.

Sterbai corydoras are distinctive bottom-dwellers with a bold spotted pattern and bright orange pectoral fins. Unlike many corydoras they tolerate warmer water, making them suitable tankmates for discus and other warm-water species.

Fast-moving, flat-shelled snail that looks more like a slug. Reproduces readily in reef tanks, forming beneficial colonies that graze film algae and coralline. Fish generally ignore them; a great hitchhiker species.

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.

A stringy, long-stranded moss with thin, delicate shoots that grow in loose, flowing tangles — giving it a wild, natural look unlike the denser Christmas or Java moss. Often used to create shaggy, overgrown effects on driftwood or as a hiding place for fry and shrimp. Also used in Wabi-kusa style arrangements. Grows faster than many mosses and can be difficult to manage if left untrimmed but is very undemanding.

Armoured catfish with striking black-and-white stripes. Nocturnal and peaceful. Known to produce audible grunting sounds. Hardy and long-lived — can reach 20+ years.

Stylophora is a classic branching SPS coral with short, rounded branch tips. Commonly called cats paw coral, it is a good entry-level SPS and grows quickly under reef lighting. Available in pink, green, and purple colour morphs.

The Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp is arguably the most stunning freshwater shrimp — a brilliant red body adorned with white spots, from the ancient alkaline lakes of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is also the most demanding, requiring very warm water, elevated pH, and unique mineral composition mimicking its ancient lake habitat — parameters almost opposite to other Caridina species. It is intolerant of standard aquasoil buffering and must be housed in species-specific setups using Sulawesi mineral salts.

Stunning white shrimp with deep blue or red spots. Endemic to ancient Sulawesi lakes with unique water chemistry. Requires warm, alkaline, hard water — a true specialist shrimp.

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.

Spectacular non-photosynthetic coral with bright orange or yellow star-like polyps. Does not need light but requires target-fed mysis or brine shrimp every few days. Challenging but visually stunning — a showpiece coral.

Tiny nerite with extraordinary spiky protrusions on the shell resembling a crown or sun. Highly variable shell pattern — no two are identical. Excellent algae grazer. A novelty snail beloved by aquascapers.

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.

A robust, fast-growing species native to the Americas with broad, oval leaves and prominent veins. It adapts well to a wide range of water conditions and is commonly found in paludariums and low-tech setups. Produces beautiful purple flowers when grown emersed.

The Swordtail is named for the dramatically elongated lower caudal fin lobe of males, which can equal or exceed body length and is used in courtship displays. Available in numerous cultivated colour forms including red, orange, green, and black, it is a hardy and active community fish. Males can become aggressive toward each other, so limit the ratio of males per tank or keep a single dominant male.

Often mistaken for a moss, Süsswassertang (German for 'freshwater seaweed') is actually a fern prothallus — the juvenile phase of a fern. It produces small, bright green, tear-drop-shaped cells that cluster into irregular clumps or sheets. Grows slowly and does not need to be attached — it can float freely or be loosely placed on hardscape. Very popular in shrimp tanks and nano setups due to its low-maintenance nature and the intricate hiding spaces it creates for juvenile shrimp.

One of the most popular reef blennies — mottled tan with a characteristic black tail spot and expressive eyes. Grazes on algae and is generally reef-safe with corals. Full of personality.

Taiwan Moss is characterised by densely packed, small, round-tipped fronds that grow in a drooping or cascading habit, making it ideal for creating natural-looking hanging mosses on hardscape overhangs. Its fine texture creates a gentler, softer effect than Christmas Moss.

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

Larger turban-shaped snail with a heavily ridged shell. A workhorse algae grazer on rockwork and glass — handles tougher hair algae that smaller snails cannot manage. Peaceful and active.

One of the most popular and forgiving stem plants. Large, bright-green leaves grow in opposite pairs up a thick stem. Thrives in a wide range of conditions and grows fast, making it ideal for beginners and as a background filler.

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+.

Stunning apisto with brilliant iridescent blue and red markings. Males are notably elongated and display vivid colour during spawning. Peaceful for a cichlid and works well in planted community tanks.

Tiger barbs are energetic, striking fish with four vertical black stripes on a golden body. They are notorious fin-nippers when kept in small numbers, but large groups of 8 or more redirect aggression within the school and become safer community fish.

The Tiger Lotus is a bulb plant with striking, broadly ovate leaves that are green or red, patterned with dark maroon spots. Without pruning it quickly sends large lily pads to the surface; regular removal of floating leaves keeps the submerged growth dense and compact. A dramatic, high-impact focal plant for mid-tanks.

Bold black-and-yellow tiger-striped nerite shell. One of the most visually striking clean-up snails. Outstanding algae grazer, especially for green spot algae on glass. Won't reproduce in freshwater.