Flora & Fauna

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.

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.

Pale pink-orange with a single white dorsal stripe and cheek bar. One of the smallest and most peaceful clownfish — ideal for nano reef tanks alongside Magnificent Anemones.

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.

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.

Endearing and personable puffer with large eyes and a round body covered in spines. Will eat inverts — FOWLR only. Develops a real personality and recognises its keeper.

One of the most beautiful tangs with a powder-blue body, yellow dorsal fin and black mask. Prone to ich and disease — best for experienced reef keepers.

One of the most visually striking nano reef fish — white to yellow body fading into vivid purple-magenta. Peaceful and reef-safe; will jump, so a tight lid is essential.

Deep violet-purple with a bright yellow tail — one of the most desired tang species. A Red Sea endemic, now tank-raised. Aggressive toward other tangs so introduce with care.

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.

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.

Breathtakingly beautiful with alternating white-and-orange bars. Notoriously difficult to feed in captivity. Red Sea specimens generally adapt better than Pacific ones.

Striking loach with bold reticulated patterning and a flattened body adapted for fast-flowing streams. Needs high oxygen, strong flow, and cool water. A showstopper in a hillstream biotope.

Prehistoric-looking eel-like fish with a series of dorsal finlets. Peaceful with fish too large to swallow. Nocturnal. Can breathe air and will escape through any gap.

The Rosetail Betta is an extreme variation of the Halfmoon with excessive branching of fin rays that causes the tail to ruffle and overlap, resembling rose petals. While visually spectacular, the over-developed fins are heavy and fragile, making the fish a weaker swimmer and more susceptible to fin rot, tearing, and spinal curvature. Best kept in very clean, still water and considered a display specimen.

Rosy barbs are large, hardy barbs with males turning a vivid pink-red during breeding. They are cold-tolerant, active, and peaceful in larger groups, though they may nip fins of long-finned fish. An excellent choice for cooler community aquariums.

The rosy tetra has a lovely soft pink to rosy body with a black and white dorsal fin and red-tipped fins that intensify with maturity and condition. Males develop a tall, flag-like dorsal fin. It is an elegant, peaceful fish that is slightly rarer in the hobby than it deserves to be, and looks beautiful in soft-water planted tanks.

Arguably the most striking Caribbean reef fish — front half vivid purple, rear half bright yellow. Hardy, peaceful, and reef-safe. Tends to hang upside-down under ledges mimicking its cave habitat.

Royal plecos have striking dark striping on a grey-brown body and spoon-shaped teeth adapted for rasping wood. Driftwood is an essential part of their diet and tank décor. They grow large and require spacious tanks with powerful filtration.

Named for its distinctive red nose and black-and-white striped tail, the rummy nose tetra is a stunning schooling fish that forms tight, coordinated shoals. It is more sensitive to water quality than the neon tetra and requires soft, warm, acidic conditions to look and behave at its best. The intensity of the red colouration serves as a reliable water quality indicator.

One of the three 'dwarf' corydoras species, C. habrosus reaches just 3 cm and has a distinctive row of dark blotches along its flanks. It is more active in the midwater than most corydoras and is ideal for nano planted tanks. Groups of 10+ will show confident, exploratory behaviour and make excellent companions for small shrimp.

Vividly coloured medium cichlid with yellow and turquoise markings. Aggressive, especially when breeding. Hardy and tolerant of a range of water conditions.

Graceful, slender fish with a translucent body and vivid red snout and tail on males. Endemic to Inle Lake — prefers cooler, harder water than most aquascaping fish. Stunning in large groups.

Jewel of nano tanks — males are deep red with vivid blue-edged scales. Only 0.8 inches. Refuses dry food for most keepers; needs live or frozen micro prey. Worth every effort.

Schwartzi corydoras has a distinctive pattern of dark spots and a prominent black stripe through the eye. It is an active, peaceful schooling fish that spends most of its time foraging along the bottom. Well suited to soft, acidic planted tanks.

Slender, schooling dartfish with a distinctive forked tail and blue-grey body. Best kept in pairs or small groups; will share a burrow. Reef-safe and active in the mid-water column.

Elegant, understated tang ranging from brown to blue-grey with fine markings. Peaceful and hardy. Excellent algae grazer and reef-safe.

Ancient, armour-plated fish that walks along the bottom on its fins. Breathes air using a primitive lung. Peaceful with fish too large to swallow. Fascinating species.

Serpae tetras are vivid red fish with a distinctive black comma-shaped shoulder mark. They are hardy and bold, but known to be fin-nippers especially in small groups — keep 10 or more to redirect aggression within the school.

Large, deep-bodied cichlid with a friendly temperament for its size. Comes in green, gold, and red colour variants. Often bonds strongly with its keeper and will hand-feed.