Species Profiles
2742 articles- Frontosa (Cyphotilapia frontosa) Care GuideA majestic deep-water cichlid from Lake Tanganyika with bold black and white vertical bars and a distinctive nuchal hump in mature males. A
- Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara nyassae) Care GuideOne of the most colorful African cichlids, named for the dazzling peacock-like display of blues, reds, and yellows in males. Native to Lake
- Texas Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) Care GuideThe only cichlid species native to the United States, featuring a dark body covered with iridescent blue-green spangles. Can be highly aggre
- Blood Parrot Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus × Paraneetroplus synspilus) Care GuideA hybrid cichlid with a distinctive rounded body, beak-like mouth, and bright orange-red coloration. Cannot fully close its mouth due to gen
- Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) Care GuideOne of the most peaceful cichlids in the hobby, named for the keyhole-shaped marking on its flank. Shy and retiring, it prefers heavily plan
- Rainbow Stiphodon Goby (Stiphodon ornatus) Care GuideA stunningly colorful freshwater goby with males displaying vivid red, blue, and orange markings. A specialized algae grazer that uses its m
- Julii Cory (Corydoras julii) Care GuideA beautiful small catfish with a pattern of fine black spots on a silver body, often confused with Corydoras trilineatus.
- Rabbit Snail (Tylomelania sp.) Care GuideA striking large snail from Sulawesi with an elongated spiral shell and a face resembling a rabbit. Available in yellow, orange, and chocola
- Anubias Afzelii (Anubias afzelii) Care GuideA tall Anubias species with upright, lance-shaped leaves that can reach 40cm. One of the larger species in the genus, it creates an impressi
- Anubias Congensis (Anubias heterophylla) Care GuideOne of the larger Anubias species with elongated, lance-shaped leaves reaching up to 30cm. Very slow-growing and extremely hardy, suitable f
- Cryptocoryne Aponogetifolia (Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia) Care GuideA tall, impressive Cryptocoryne with heavily ruffled and textured leaves that can reach 50cm. Requires more space than most crypts and creat
- Cryptocoryne Affinis (Cryptocoryne affinis) Care GuideOne of the hardiest Cryptocorynes with distinctive dark-green upper leaf surfaces and reddish-purple undersides. Extremely tolerant of varyi
- Stringy Moss (Leptodictyum riparium) Care GuideA fast-growing moss with long, string-like strands that create a wild, natural look. Very easy to cultivate and tolerant of a wide range of
- Vallisneria Gigantea (Vallisneria gigantea) Care GuideThe largest Vallisneria species with ribbon-like leaves that can exceed one meter. An extremely fast-growing, undemanding background plant i
- Echinodorus Uruguayensis (Echinodorus uruguayensis) Care GuideA large sword plant with long, narrow dark-green leaves that create an elegant flowing effect. One of the tallest Echinodorus species, ideal
- Echinodorus 'Osiris' (Echinodorus osiris) Care GuideA large, striking sword plant with broad burgundy-red new leaves that transition to dark green as they mature. An excellent background speci
- Murdannia Keisak (Murdannia keisak) Care GuideA fast-growing semi-aquatic stem plant with bright green bamboo-like leaves that can grow both submersed and emersed.
- Anubias Gilletii (Anubias gilletii) Care GuideA medium to large Anubias species with rounded to ovate leaves that have a distinctive leathery texture.
- Anubias Gracilis (Anubias gracilis) Care GuideA distinctive Anubias species with triangular to heart-shaped leaves on very long slender petioles, giving it an open airy appearance unlike
- Anubias Hastifolia (Anubias hastifolia) Care GuideOne of the largest Anubias species with distinctive arrow-shaped (hastate) leaves on long petioles that can reach impressive sizes.
- Cryptocoryne Willisii (Cryptocoryne willisii) Care GuideA compact low-growing Cryptocoryne with narrow green leaves that forms dense clusters over time through prolific runner production.
- Cryptocoryne Beckettii (Cryptocoryne beckettii) Care GuideA versatile midground Cryptocoryne with wavy-edged leaves that display an attractive olive-green to bronze coloration on top with reddish-pu
- Willow Moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) Care GuideA coldwater moss with long trailing dark-green fronds composed of tightly overlapping triangular leaves.
- Caloglossa Beccarii (Caloglossa beccarii) Care GuideA unique freshwater red alga with flat branching thalli that resemble miniature fern fronds. Under high light, it develops attractive reddis
- Pearl Moss (Plagiomnium affine) Care GuideA rare terrestrial moss adapted to submersed growth, with distinctive round translucent leaves arranged along creeping stems.
- Subwassertang (Lomariopsis lineata) Care GuideA freshwater fern prothallium that forms flat, round bright-green lobes resembling a cross between a liverwort and lettuce.
- Madagascar Lace Plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) Care GuideOne of the most spectacular aquarium plants, featuring large leaves with a unique skeletal lattice structure where the leaf tissue between t
- Vallisneria Americana (Vallisneria americana) Care GuideA large robust species of Vallisneria with wide ribbon-like leaves that can grow over a meter long in ideal conditions.
- Tonina Fluviatilis (Tonina fluviatilis) Care GuideAn exotic stem plant with star-shaped rosettes of narrow leaves at each node, giving it a highly decorative appearance.
- Ammania Senegalensis (Ammannia senegalensis) Care GuideA compact red-leaved stem plant that grows more densely than its relative A. gracilis. Under strong light, its leaves display vivid copper t
- Pogostemon Stellatus (Pogostemon stellatus) Care GuideAn impressive stem plant with star-shaped whorls of narrow leaves that range from green to pink-purple under high light. Creates a dramatic
- Mermaid Weed (Proserpinaca palustris) Care GuideA unique stem plant with serrated saw-toothed leaves that transition from green to golden-orange and copper-red under high light.
- Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea lotus) Care GuideA striking bulb plant with broad arrow-shaped leaves covered in reddish-brown speckled patterns. If allowed, it sends lily pads to the surfa
- Fissidens Fontanus (Fissidens fontanus) Care GuideA striking aquatic moss with tiny feathery fronds arranged in a flat fan-like pattern resembling miniature palm trees.
- Ricciocarpus Natans (Ricciocarpus natans) Care GuideA floating liverwort with distinctive heart-shaped lobed thalli that form rosette-like clusters on the water surface.
- Bolbitis Heudelotii (Bolbitis heudelotii) Care GuideAn elegant aquatic fern with dark-green finely divided leaves that create a dramatic flowing texture when attached to driftwood.
- Anubias Coffeefolia (Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia) Care GuideA distinctive Anubias variety with deeply ribbed leaves that emerge with a rich reddish-brown color before maturing to dark green.
- Aponogeton Crispus (Aponogeton crispus) Care GuideA graceful bulb plant with long narrow leaves featuring distinctively crinkled wavy edges that sway beautifully in the current.
- Aponogeton Ulvaceus (Aponogeton ulvaceus) Care GuideA bulb plant with large translucent wavy leaves that create an elegant flowing effect in the aquarium.
- Cryptocoryne Undulata (Cryptocoryne undulata) Care GuideA medium-sized Cryptocoryne with elegantly wavy leaf edges that add movement and texture to the midground.
- Cryptocoryne Spiralis (Cryptocoryne spiralis) Care GuideA tall narrow-leaved Cryptocoryne with long ribbon-like leaves that create an elegant grass-like effect in the background.
- Bacopa Monnieri (Bacopa monnieri) Care GuideA slow-growing compact stem plant with small succulent-like round leaves arranged in pairs along the stem.
- Hygrophila Corymbosa (Hygrophila corymbosa) Care GuideA large robust stem plant with broad bright-green leaves that can quickly fill the background of any aquarium.
- Cryptocoryne Lutea (Cryptocoryne lutea) Care GuideA compact Cryptocoryne with slightly wavy leaves that range from green to brownish depending on light levels.
- Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) Care GuideA grass-like foreground plant with flat narrow leaves that slowly spreads to form a dense lawn. More tolerant of low-light conditions than m
- Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis acicularis) Care GuideA grass-like carpeting plant with thin needle leaves that forms a lush lawn when given proper conditions.
- Glossostigma Elatinoides (Glossostigma elatinoides) Care GuideOne of the smallest carpeting plants, forming a dense low mat just a few millimeters high under intense lighting.
- Alternanthera Reineckii (Alternanthera reineckii) Care GuideA striking red stem plant that provides a vivid color contrast in planted aquariums. Requires high light and CO2 to maintain its intense red
- Marimo Moss Ball (Aegagropila linnaei) Care GuideA unique spherical algae colony that naturally forms a velvety green ball. Requires almost no care and can live for decades, making it a cha
- Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) Care GuideA fast-growing stem plant with uniquely shaped feathery leaves that change form depending on light intensity. Excellent nutrient absorber th