Flora & Fauna

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.

Fast-growing macroalgae with flat, oval blades on creeping runners. Excellent nutrient export and refugium algae. Can go 'sexual' under stress — turning milky white and releasing gametes, causing a tank crash. Keep under 24h light or harvest regularly to prevent this. Widely available and very effective.

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.

Small, elongated shell snail that works the sand bed, glass, and rocks. Excellent algae grazer and detritivore. Reproduces readily and stays small.

The most popular refugium algae in the reef hobby — tumbling masses of stiff, wire-like bright green strands. Grows rapidly, exporting nitrates and phosphates as it's harvested. Provides a habitat for copepods and amphipods that migrate into the display tank as live food. Extremely hardy.

Encrusting LPS coral with eye patterns in vivid colour combinations. Moderately aggressive. Grows flat plates over rock. One of the most collectible coral genres.

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.

Bold red-and-white shrimp that sets up cleaning stations on reefs, removing parasites from fish. Reef-safe, peaceful, and fascinating to observe.

Delicate, daisy-like polyps arranged in a mat — each has eight feathery tentacles. Green, white, or brown morphs with attractive pink stems. Spreads readily over rock and creates a lush carpet effect. Great flow indicator coral.

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.

Spongy, dark green dichotomously branched macroalgae with a velvety, foam-like texture. Attaches to rock and can grow quite large. In temperate reef tanks it is a natural part of the fauna; in tropical tanks it can become invasive. Slugs (nudibranchs) and sea hares may graze it.

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.

Fast-growing soft coral with branching, finger-like lobes covered in feathery polyps. Sways gracefully in the current and grows rapidly — ideal for new reef tanks needing quick visual impact. Releases chemicals that may irritate nearby corals.

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.

Bolbitis is a slow-growing African water fern with elegant, translucent dark green fronds. It attaches to rocks and wood like java fern and anubias, and thrives in moderate flow. CO2 and good lighting significantly improve its growth rate.

The Congo tetra is a large, spectacular African tetra. Males develop long flowing fins with a central extension and display an iridescent sheen of blue, gold, and orange across the flanks. A schooling fish that looks magnificent in large planted tanks.

Black-and-white barred cichlid named for its prison uniform. Extraordinarily hardy and easy to breed — almost too easy. Fierce parents that will defend fry against much larger fish.

Striking red-and-white banded shrimp with long white antennae. Acts as a cleaner shrimp on wild reefs. Keep only one pair — males fight.

Deep blue body with orange-yellow sides and purple highlights. Hardiest of the dwarf angels. Generally reef-safe but may nip soft corals.

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.

Calcified encrusting algae that paints live rock, glass, and equipment in shades of pink, purple, and white — the hallmark of a mature, healthy reef. Requires stable calcium (400–450 ppm) and alkalinity (8–9 dKH). Does not need dedicated lighting but benefits from reef-level light. Spreads naturally from live rock and purchased plugs.

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 most beginner-friendly red plants. Green on top, red underneath — intensity increases with light. Extremely adaptable and fast-growing. Perfect for adding a pop of colour to any planted layout.