Shoal & Stem

Species Catalogue

384 species matching your filters — care guides, community photos, water parameters, and tank-mate compatibility.

plant
beginner

African Crinum

Crinum calamistratum

plantfreshwater

Striking background plant with long, narrow, wavy green leaves. Grows from a large bulb and can reach impressive heights. Very tolerant and long-lived. Low maintenance.

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beginner

African Tiger Lotus

Nymphaea zenkeri

plantfreshwater

Stunning lily with red-spotted leaves. Grows from a bulb and alternates between broad, flat pads and long petioles reaching the surface. Remove surface leaves to keep it compact.

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intermediate

African Water Fern

Bolbitis heudelotii

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Bolbitis heudelotii (African Water Fern) is a large, impressive aquatic fern from African rivers with deeply pinnate, translucent dark-green fronds that can reach 40–50 cm. Like Java Fern, the rhizome must be attached to hardscape and not buried. It thrives in moderate flow and benefits from soft water; hard, alkaline water stunts growth. Its bold, architectural texture makes it a dramatic midground to background accent plant.

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Mmedium

Alternanthera Lilacina

Alternanthera lilacina

plantfreshwater

Alternanthera lilacina is a vibrant stem plant prized for its striking purple-to-lilac coloration on the undersides of its leaves, which intensifies under high light. It features narrow, lance-shaped leaves and a compact growth habit, making it ideal for creating colorful midground focal points in planted aquariums.

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intermediate

Alternanthera Reineckii

Alternanthera reineckii

plantfreshwater

A vibrant stem plant from South America prized for its deep red to purple undersides. It requires moderate to high light and CO2 injection to maintain its color and healthy growth. Often used as a midground accent plant in planted tanks.

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intermediate

Alternanthera Reineckii Mini

Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini'

plantfreshwater

Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' is a compact cultivar of the classic red stem plant, producing smaller leaves and a more restrained growth habit that makes it more useful in nano tanks and detailed midground positions than the standard form. Its leaves display striking magenta-red to deep purple-red coloration on the undersides, creating vivid contrast against green plants. Iron supplementation and CO2 are key to maintaining intense colour.

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Hhard

Alternanthera Reineckii Pink

Alternanthera reineckii Pink

plantfreshwater

Alternanthera reineckii Pink is a vibrant stem plant prized for its striking pink to red coloration on the undersides of its leaves, which intensifies under high light. This medium-sized plant features narrow, lance-shaped leaves and a bushy growth habit, making it ideal for creating colorful midground focal points in planted aquariums.

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Hhard

Alternanthera Reineckii Purple

Alternanthera reineckii Purple

plantfreshwater

Alternanthera reineckii Purple is a vibrant stem plant prized for its deep purple to reddish coloration on the undersides of its narrow, lance-shaped leaves. This mid-ground plant exhibits striking color intensity under high lighting and CO2 supplementation, making it a popular choice for aquascapers seeking dramatic visual contrast. Its compact growth habit and vivid hues make it ideal for creating focal points in planted aquariums.

plant
intermediate

Alternanthera Reineckii Rosanervig

Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig'

plantfreshwater

Rosanervig is a striking cultivar of Alternanthera with green upper leaf surfaces crossed by vivid pink-white veining, while the undersides remain deep red-pink. The contrasting vein pattern is unique in the aquatic plant world and makes it a focal accent in Dutch and Nature Aquarium layouts. Requires good light and CO2 for the best colour expression.

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beginner

Amazon Frogbit

Limnobium laevigatum

plantfreshwater

Amazon frogbit is a floating plant with round, slightly spongy leaves that provide excellent surface cover and diffuse lighting. Its dangling white roots absorb excess nutrients and provide refuge for fry and small shrimp. It grows rapidly in good light.

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beginner

Amazon Sword

Echinodorus grisebachii

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The amazon sword is a staple background plant in community aquariums, producing broad lanceolate leaves that provide shelter for fish. It is a heavy feeder that benefits greatly from root tab fertilisers. Given adequate nutrients and moderate light, it will grow large and produce runner plantlets.

plant
intermediate

Ammannia Gracilis

Ammannia gracilis

plantfreshwater

A beautiful stem plant that produces elongated, lance-shaped leaves with an olive-green to reddish-pink coloration. Under intense light and CO2 supplementation the leaves turn a rich red-orange, creating striking contrast with green plants. A staple in competition Dutch aquascapes.

plant
advanced

Ammannia Pedicellata

Ammannia pedicellata

plantfreshwater

Delicate golden-orange stem plant with narrow leaves. Distinctive warm colour. Needs good nutrition and CO2 to maintain colouration.

plant
intermediate

Ammannia Senegalensis

Ammannia senegalensis

plantfreshwater

Robust Ammannia with olive-green to reddish leaves. Easier than most Ammannia species. Good stepping stone to harder red plants.

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beginner

Anchor Moss

Taxiphyllum sp. 'Anchor'

plantfreshwater

Dark green moss with downward-curving fronds that anchor themselves to surfaces. Less unruly than Java Moss. Good for aquascaping.

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beginner

Anubias Barteri

Anubias barteri

plantfreshwater

Anubias barteri is a robust, slow-growing plant with dark-green, waxy leaves that are resistant to herbivorous fish. Like java fern, the rhizome must not be buried. It thrives under low light, though algae can colonise the leaves in high-light environments; shading by taller plants helps.

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beginner

Anubias Broad Leaf

Anubias barteri var. barteri

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The standard Anubias barteri with medium-large heart-shaped leaves. The quintessential beginner-proof aquarium plant.

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beginner

Anubias Coffeefolia

Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia

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Anubias Coffeefolia features deeply corrugated, dark-green leaves with a pronounced bullate (puckered) texture that gives them the appearance of coffee leaves — hence the name. The new leaves often emerge with a reddish-bronze tint before darkening to deep green, adding colour interest even at low light levels. Its compact, low-spreading habit suits midground placement in low-tech planted tanks.

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beginner

Anubias Congensis

Anubias afzelii

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Anubias Congensis (often sold as Anubias lanceolata) produces elongated, lance-shaped leaves on tall petioles, reaching 30–40 cm in height and making it one of the larger anubias suitable for midground to background use. Its upright, narrow leaf profile creates vertical interest against broader-leafed plants. Like all anubias, the rhizome must remain exposed and anchored to wood or rock.

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Eeasy

Anubias Frazeri

Anubias frazeri

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Anubias frazeri is a compact, slow-growing rhizome plant featuring deeply lobed, arrow-shaped leaves with a distinctive dark green coloration. It is slightly smaller than Anubias barteri but larger than Anubias nana, making it an excellent choice for midground placement in aquascapes. Like all Anubias species, it is extremely hardy and requires minimal care.

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beginner

Anubias Gigantea

Anubias gigantea

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Anubias Gigantea is the largest species in the anubias genus, with broad, leathery leaves that can exceed 20 cm in length and reach 60–80 cm in total height in mature specimens. It makes a dramatic focal-point background plant in large aquariums and is equally at home emersed in paludariums. Despite its impressive size it shares the same forgiving, low-maintenance care profile as all anubias.

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beginner

Anubias Glabra

Anubias barteri var. glabra

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Narrow, elongated Anubias with pointed leaves. Grows taller than common Anubias varieties. Extremely hardy epiphyte.

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beginner

Anubias Golden

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Golden'

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Rare yellow-green variant of Anubias Nana. New leaves emerge bright golden-yellow before darkening. Unique colour for a low-light plant.

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beginner

Anubias Gracilis

Anubias gracilis

plantfreshwater

A distinctive species with arrowhead-shaped, triangular leaves held on long, elegant petioles above the rhizome. The leaf shape sets it apart from other Anubias species and gives the scape a more dynamic, textured look. Grows taller than A. nana but slower than A. barteri. Ideal for attaching to large pieces of driftwood or elevated rock structures.

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beginner

Anubias Hastifolia

Anubias hastifolia

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Anubias hastifolia is one of the tallest anubias species, with long, spear-shaped leaves that make a dramatic background plant. Like all anubias it attaches to hardscape and is extremely tolerant of low light and neglect. Slow-growing and long-lived.

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beginner

Anubias Lanceolata

Anubias barteri var. lanceolata

plantfreshwater

One of the larger Anubias varieties, featuring long lance-shaped leaves with prominent veining and a rich dark green colour. It grows on a thick rhizome and reaches 20–40 cm tall, making it a striking background or tall midground plant in larger tanks. Like all Anubias, it is extremely hardy, grows slowly, and must never be buried — attach it to rock or driftwood with thread or glue.

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beginner

Anubias Mini Coin

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Mini Coin'

plantfreshwater

Anubias Mini Coin is a rare cultivar distinguished by its nearly circular, coin-shaped leaves on short petioles, giving it a distinctly rounded aesthetic not found in other anubias varieties. It is highly sought after by collectors and commands a premium price. Care requirements are identical to Anubias Nana Petite, and it performs best as a focal point on a small piece of hardscape.

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beginner

Anubias Nana

Anubias barteri var. nana

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Anubias Nana is the classic dwarf variety of Anubias barteri, producing compact rosettes of small, dark-green ovate leaves on a slow-creeping rhizome. Its diminutive size makes it one of the most popular choices for nano tanks and foreground planting on hardscape. Like all anubias it must be attached to wood or rock — burying the rhizome causes rot.

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beginner

Anubias Nana Bonsai

Anubias barteri var. nana

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An ultra-compact cultivar of A. nana with smaller leaves and shorter internodal spacing, creating a dense, bushy mound on the rhizome. The 'Bonsai' name refers to its miniaturised, tree-like appearance when grown on a small piece of driftwood or stone. Perfect for nano tanks and desktop aquariums. Care is identical to A. nana — extremely forgiving.

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Eeasy

Anubias Nana Golden

Anubias barteri var. nana Golden

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Anubias Nana Golden is a compact, slow-growing rhizome plant prized for its distinctive golden-yellow foliage that intensifies under moderate lighting. This dwarf variety features small, heart-shaped leaves and is ideal for creating focal points in foreground to midground aquascapes. Its hardy nature and low maintenance requirements make it perfect for beginners and experienced aquarists alike.

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beginner

Anubias Nana Petite

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite'

plantfreshwater

Anubias Nana Petite is a cultivar even smaller than standard Nana, with leaves rarely exceeding 1.5 cm — making it the go-to foreground and carpeting anubias in nano aquascapes. Its slow growth means algae build-up on leaves is its biggest challenge; moderate flow and controlled nutrients help keep leaves clean. Exceptionally popular in Japanese Nature Aquarium style layouts.

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Eeasy

Anubias Nana Pinto

Anubias barteri var. nana Pinto

plantfreshwater

Anubias Nana Pinto is a compact dwarf variety of Anubias barteri featuring distinctive variegated foliage with white, cream, and green patterning on its leaves. This slow-growing epiphytic plant reaches only 2-4 inches tall, making it ideal for small aquariums and foreground hardscape placement. Like all Anubias, it is extremely hardy and requires minimal care, thriving in low to medium light without CO2 supplementation.

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beginner

Anubias Nana Round Leaf

Anubias barteri var. nana

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A cultivar of A. nana with noticeably rounder, broader leaves and very short petioles, giving it a compact, dome-like silhouette. The rounded leaf shape is more pronounced than the standard nana and looks especially attractive when grouped. A popular choice for mid-foreground planting on rocks or driftwood in both small and large tanks.

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beginner

Anubias Nangi

Anubias barteri 'Nangi'

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Compact hybrid Anubias (nana × gilletii) with narrow, pointed leaves. Great midground epiphyte for smaller tanks.

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beginner

Anubias Pangolino

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Pangolino'

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One of the tiniest Anubias varieties — even smaller than Petite. Leaves only 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in). Perfect for nano aquascapes and detail work.

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intermediate

Anubias Snow White

Anubias barteri var. nana

plantfreshwater

A rare variegated cultivar producing ghostly white to cream-coloured new leaves that slowly green up with age. The contrast between the white young growth and mature green leaves is striking. It is slower and slightly more demanding than green Anubias — it needs healthy roots and water but still tolerates low light. Avoid strong fertiliser, which can cause leaves to revert to solid green. A centrepiece plant for collectors and dedicated scapers.