Flora & Fauna

The bristlenose pleco is the most commonly kept plecostomus in the hobby thanks to its manageable adult size. Males develop characteristic bushy tentacles on the snout used in mate selection. An excellent algae grazer, it should also receive supplemental feeding with blanched vegetables and sinking wafers.

Echinodorus Bleheri, the Broad-Leaf Amazon Sword, is the quintessential large background plant of the freshwater aquarium. It produces broad, bright-green lanceolate leaves that can reach 50 cm, creating a dramatic focal point in larger tanks. It is a heavy root feeder and benefits greatly from nutrient-rich substrate or regular root tab fertilisation.

The bronze corydoras is one of the most widely kept bottom-dwellers in the hobby. Its metallic bronze-green flanks and peaceful temperament make it a staple of community tanks. Like all corydoras it requires fine sand to protect its sensitive barbels and prefers groups of six or more.

Betta macrostoma, the Brunei Beauty, is widely considered the most beautiful wild betta species — males display deep orange-red bodies, black-bordered fins, and a striking bicolour pattern. It is a large, powerful mouthbrooder endemic to cool, clear streams in Brunei and Sarawak and is critically endangered in the wild. Keeping it successfully demands expert-level water quality management, cool temperatures, and near-perfect breeding conditions.

A round-leaved Bucephalandra variety named for its broad, almost circular apple-green leaves with a softly ruffled margin. New growth often emerges with reddish or pinkish tones before settling to a bright green, adding seasonal colour variation. One of the more recognisable Buces due to its distinctive leaf shape. Works beautifully attached to smooth stones in a Nature aquarium layout.

Bucephalandra Brownie Ghost is among the most coveted collector buce varieties, producing small, dark leaves with a striking purple-silver sheen that shifts with viewing angle. It is rarer and commands higher prices than common buce varieties, and is slightly more sensitive to water quality and flow. CO2 injection and soft, slightly acidic water bring out the full iridescent coloration.

A sought-after Bucephalandra variety with small, elliptic leaves that shimmer between dark purple-green and metallic blue-green depending on lighting angle. Like all Bucephalandras it attaches to rock and driftwood and grows very slowly. Iridescent spots on the leaves catch light beautifully in high-spec setups.

One of the larger Bucephalandra varieties, producing broad, dark green to nearly black leaves with subtle blue-purple iridescence along the margins. The name reflects its size relative to most Buces. Its bold, wide leaves create strong contrast in a scape when positioned alongside finer-leaved plants. Attaches readily to driftwood and rock with superglue gel.

Bucephalandra Kedagang is one of the most popular buce varieties, featuring rounded to elliptic dark-green leaves with a distinctive blue-green iridescent shimmer visible under good lighting. Like all bucephalandra it is endemic to Borneo, growing on rocky stream beds, and must be attached to hardscape rather than buried in substrate. Growth is slow but it is surprisingly tolerant once established.

Bucephalandra Mini Catherine is a miniature buce cultivar with tiny, elongated leaves typically under 2 cm, making it ideal for nano aquascapes and detailed foreground hardscape work. Its leaves display a subtle dark-green to blue-green iridescence. Extremely slow growing, a single plant can take many months to form a small cluster, which only adds to its collector appeal.

One of the first formally described Bucephalandra species, with elongated, slightly undulating dark green to brownish-green leaves that display a purple-blue iridescence in good light. A classic in the Buce world and widely considered a reference variety. Slightly larger than many hobbyist Buces and forms attractive clumps over time. Excellent for attaching to larger driftwood branches.

The smallest Bucephalandra species, producing tiny lance-shaped leaves 1–3 cm long with an intense metallic blue iridescence. It creeps slowly along rock surfaces and is ideal for detailed foreground work in nano tanks. The compact growth and iridescent leaves make it one of the most visually interesting foreground plants available. Does well in low-tech setups once acclimated.

One of the most popular Bucephalandra varieties, known for its oval to elliptical dark green leaves with a striking blue-green iridescent shimmer when light catches the leaf surface. Slower growing than many stem plants but extremely durable once established. Like all Buces, it must be attached to hardscape — burying the rhizome will cause rot. A must-have for collectors of rare epiphytes.

Wavy Green is one of the more distinctive Bucephalandra varieties, with small to medium leaves that have notably undulated, wavy margins. The bright green foliage with subtle white iridescent spotting makes it a prized accent plant attached to hardscape. Extremely hardy and forgiving once established.

Tough, active tetra with red-tipped fins. Tolerates cooler water down to 18°C. Known to nip fins and eat plants. Best in a species tank or with similarly robust fish.

Cabomba is a feathery, fan-like stem plant that creates a delicate texture in the background. It grows quickly under moderate to high light and provides excellent cover for small fish and fry. Best suited to tanks without very strong flow.

Elegant killifish with a lyretail caudal fin in shades of orange, red, and yellow. One of the gentlest killifish — works well in community tanks with small peaceful fish.

Dark grey-to-black rili pattern with a transparent midsection. The monochrome equivalent of the popular red and orange rili variants. Intriguing patterning and fully Neocaridina-hardy.

Often confused with the neon tetra, the cardinal tetra has a longer red stripe extending the full length of the body. It prefers soft, acidic blackwater conditions and looks stunning in large schools against dark substrate and dense planting.

Caridina babaulti is a colourful Indian dwarf shrimp available in green, blue, yellow, and striped colour forms, all sharing the same species identity. It occupies an interesting middle ground between the hardy Neocaridina and the demanding Caridina cantonensis, preferring moderately soft, slightly acidic water but tolerating a broader range than bee shrimp. Active and personable, it is an excellent choice for intermediate shrimp keepers wanting more colour variety.

The celebes rainbowfish is a slender, elegant species with a translucent yellowish body, vivid blue-yellow finnage and elongated fin rays giving it a delicate, almost lacy appearance. It is an older hobby fish with a devoted following. It prefers moderately hard water and calm, well-oxygenated tanks with dense planting.

Discovered in Myanmar in 2006, the celestial pearl danio features a dark body scattered with gold spots and vivid red-orange fins. It prefers densely planted tanks with subdued lighting and thrives in groups where males display to one another.

Not a true alga but a charophyte — an evolutionary stepping stone between algae and land plants. Whorled branches on brittle stems; produces a distinctive musky smell when crushed. Tolerates very hard, alkaline water that many plants cannot. Often kept deliberately in biotope setups for its unique look.

Exquisite micro-cichlid with a chequered body pattern and lyre-shaped tail on males. Requires very soft, acidic blackwater conditions. Peaceful but demanding — rewarding for experienced aquascapers.

Male cherry barbs turn a vivid deep red when breeding-conditioned, making them one of the most colourful small barbs available. Unlike many barbs they are peaceful and non-nippy, suiting them to community planted tanks with other peaceful species.

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.

Chocolate shrimp are a deep brown-maroon Neocaridina morph with a rich, earthy colouration that contrasts beautifully with green plants and light substrate. Hardy and prolific, they are managed identically to other Neocaridina colour morphs.

Christmas Moss is named for the overlapping, triangular frond arrangement of its branches that closely resembles the silhouette of a Christmas tree — each stem droops with layered side branches in a distinctive tiered pattern. It attaches readily to hardscape and creates elegant draping textures on driftwood. It grows slightly slower than Java Moss and benefits from moderate light and CO2 for the best dense, lush growth.

Tiny surface-dwelling killifish with bold black-and-white horizontal bands and a vivid blue-tipped tail. Perfect for nano tanks. Surface skimmer that catches small live food.

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.

The Clown Pleco is a small, attractively patterned plecostomus with bold yellow-and-black tiger-stripe markings on a compact 8–10 cm body, making it one of the most manageable pleco species for community tanks. Unlike most plecos it is primarily a wood eater (xylivore) and must have driftwood available to gnaw on. It is a cavity dweller that benefits from PVC pipes or hollow wood to use as territory.

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.

The Colombian tetra, also known as the red and blue Colombian tetra, is a larger, striking tetra with brilliant blue iridescence on the upper body contrasting with vivid red fins. Males are larger and more intensely coloured. It is a boisterous species that may nip at long-finned tankmates, so it is best kept in large schools to diffuse aggression.

The common goldfish is one of the oldest domesticated fish, kept for over a thousand years. Hardy, cold-tolerant, and long-lived, it is best kept in ponds or large aquariums as it grows substantially. Single-tailed goldfish are active and fast.

The common pleco is one of the most recognisable aquarium fish, widely sold for algae control. It grows very large and requires a spacious tank as an adult. Despite its popularity it is often impulse-bought for tanks far too small to sustain it long-term.