Species field guide

The MOKIZEN species field guide has care profiles for 93 aquarium plants, terrarium plants and aquarium animals — light, CO₂, temperature, pH, placement, trimming, common problems and fixes — for building planted aquariums, terrariums and paludariums.

Aquarium plants

• African Water Fern (Bolbitis) (Bolbitis heudelotii) — care: moderate, light: medium
• Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' (Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini') — care: moderate, light: medium to high
• Amazon Sword (Echinodorus grisebachii 'Bleherae' (sold as E. bleheri)) — care: easy, light: low to medium
• Anubias Nana (Anubias barteri var. nana) — care: very easy, light: low
• Anubias nana 'Petite' (Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite') — care: very easy, light: low
• Aponogeton crispus (Ruffled Sword) (Aponogeton crispus) — care: easy (suits low-tech tanks), light: medium to bright
• Asian Marshweed (Limnophila sessiliflora) — care: easy (copes with a wide range of conditions; resembles cabomba but needs much less light), light: medium
• Barclaya longifolia (Orchid Lily) (Barclaya longifolia) — care: moderate, light: medium to high
• Brazilian Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) — care: moderate (tolerates soft, hard and slightly brackish water), light: medium to high
• Bucephalandra (Buce) (Bucephalandra spp.) — care: easy, light: low to medium
• Christmas Moss (Vesicularia montagnei) — care: easy to moderate (slower and fussier than java moss), light: low to medium
• Coral Moss (Riccardia) (Riccardia sp. (sold as R. chamedryfolia)) — care: moderate, light: medium
• Cryptocoryne (Crypt) (Cryptocoryne wendtii) — care: easy, light: low to medium
• Downoi (Pogostemon helferi) (Pogostemon helferi) — care: moderate, light: medium to high
• Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis) (Eleocharis pusilla (sold as E. parvula / 'Mini') / E. acicularis) — care: easy, light: medium
• Dwarf Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma) — care: very easy (one of the most robust, undemanding aquarium plants; water hardness has no effect), light: low to high
• Eriocaulon cinereum (Pipewort) (Eriocaulon cinereum) — care: demanding, light: high
• Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss) (Fissidens fontanus) — care: moderate (easy to keep alive, hard to grow dense and algae-free), light: medium
• Giant Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana) — care: easy (crushed leaves smell of lemon), light: high
• Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) — care: not keepable at home (public aquaria only), light: high
• Glossostigma (Glossostigma elatinoides) — care: difficult, light: high
• HC Cuba (Hemianthus callitrichoides) (Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' (now Micranthemum callitrichoides)) — care: difficult, light: high
• Hydrocotyle tripartita ('Japan') (Hydrocotyle cf. tripartita ('Japan')) — care: easy to moderate, light: medium
• Hygrophila pinnatifida (Hygrophila pinnatifida) — care: moderate, light: medium to high
• Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus (syn. Leptochilus pteropus)) — care: very easy, light: low to medium
• Ludwigia repens (Ludwigia repens (incl. 'Rubin', possibly a hybrid)) — care: easy, light: medium
• Marimo Moss Ball (Aegagropila linnaei (syn. Aegagropila brownii)) — care: easy, light: low
• Matogrosso Milfoil (Myriophyllum mattogrossense) — care: easy, light: medium
• Monte Carlo (Micranthemum) (Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo' (WCVP: syn. of M. umbrosum)) — care: easy (sources range from easy to medium; easier than hc cuba), light: medium to high
• Monte Carlo Carpet (Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo') — care: easy to moderate, light: medium to high
• Nymphoides 'Taiwan' (Taiwan Lily) (Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan') — care: easy, light: medium
• Pogostemon erectus (P. deccanensis) (Pogostemon deccanensis (sold as P. erectus)) — care: moderate, light: medium to high
• Pygmy Chain Sword (Helanthium tenellum (syn. Echinodorus tenellus)) — care: easy (very adaptable; soft or hard water, up to about 20 dgh), light: low to medium
• Ranunculus inundatus (River Buttercup) (Ranunculus inundatus) — care: moderate, light: high
• Rotala / Red Stem Bush (Rotala rotundifolia / Ludwigia palustris) — care: easy, light: medium
• Rotala H'ra (Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra') — care: moderate, light: medium to high
• Staurogyne repens (Staurogyne repens) — care: easy to moderate, light: medium to high
• Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea lotus (syn. N. zenkeri)) — care: easy (its size is the main challenge), light: medium
• Utricularia graminifolia (UG) (Utricularia graminifolia) — care: demanding (not a first carpet plant), light: medium to high
• Vallisneria (Eelgrass) (Vallisneria spiralis / V. americana (trade stock often misidentified)) — care: very easy, light: low to medium
• Water Clover (Marsilea) (Marsilea hirsuta (also sold: M. crenata / M. minuta)) — care: easy (a good low-tech carpet), light: medium

Terrarium plants

• Air Plant (Tillandsia ionantha) (Tillandsia ionantha) — care: easy, light: bright indirect light near a window or under lights; strong direct sun indoors can burn it
• Alocasia 'Polly' (African Mask Plant) (Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly' (accepted as A. × mortfontanensis)) — care: moderate, light: bright indirect light; direct sun scorches; lower light just slows growth
• Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) — care: easy, light: bright indirect light or dappled shade (a north window works); strong direct sun yellows and stunts fronds
• Cape Sundew (Drosera) (Drosera capensis) — care: easy, light: high – bright light or full sun for red, dewy tentacles; a normal windowsill is often too dim
• Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) — care: very easy, light: medium – bright indirect light or part shade
• Cushion Moss (Pillow Moss) (Leucobryum glaucum) — care: moderate (often rots or browns in closed jars), light: low
• Delta Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) — care: demanding, light: bright indirect light or partial shade; sun burns the fronds, deep shade weakens it
• Earth Star (Cryptanthus) (Cryptanthus spp. (e.g. C. bivittatus)) — care: easy, light: bright, diffused light; gentle morning/evening sun is fine, midday sun bleaches and shrivels leaves; deep shade dulls colour
• Fittonia (Nerve Plant) (Fittonia albivenis) — care: easy, light: bright indirect diffused light
• Jewel Orchid (Macodes petola / Ludisia discolor) — care: easy (ludisia) / demanding (macodes), light: low to filtered shade
• Neoregelia Bromeliad (Neoregelia spp. (e.g. N. carolinae)) — care: easy, light: bright indirect light for best colour; low light makes long, thin plain-green leaves; harsh sun scorches
• Peacock Plant (Calathea makoyana) (Goeppertia makoyana (syn. Calathea makoyana)) — care: moderate, light: bright indirect light or partial shade; copes with low light but the pattern fades; direct sun scorches
• Peacock Spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata) — care: easy, light: low to deep shade
• Peperomia (String of Turtles / Ripple Peperomia) (Peperomia prostrata / P. caperata) — care: easy, light: bright indirect light
• Pilea 'Aquamarine' (Silver Sparkle Pilea) (Pilea 'Aquamarine' (sold as "Pilea glauca")) — care: easy, light: medium to bright indirect light; an east or north window is ideal; best kept out of hot direct sun
• Pilea depressa (Baby Tears) (Pilea depressa) — care: easy, light: bright indirect light or semi-shade; adapts to lower light and led terrarium lights; too much light yellows leaf edges
• Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia maculata) — care: moderate, light: good but filtered light for sturdy canes and bright spots; shade from hot sun, which scorches the leaves
• Sarracenia (North American Pitcher Plant) (Sarracenia spp.) — care: moderate, light: high – 6+ hours of direct sun outdoors; indoors only the low-growing species cope under strong grow lights
• Sphagnum Moss (Live) (Sphagnum spp.) — care: moderate, light: bright but diffused; hot direct sun scorches it. bright light gives lime-green or red tones, shade darker green
• Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) — care: easy, light: bright dappled light or partial shade; avoid hot direct sun; very low light invites disease and pests
• Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes) (Nepenthes spp.) — care: moderate, light: bright light with some shade
• Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) — care: moderate, light: high – full sun outdoors; indoors strong white led light of roughly 15,000–25,000 lux for about 14 h a day
• Zebra Haworthia (Haworthiopsis attenuata (syn. Haworthia attenuata)) — care: very easy, light: bright light for best colour; shade from hot midday/afternoon sun; takes partial shade but the stripes fade

Aquarium animals

• Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) — care: moderate (not hard, but needs a tall, roomy tank and careful tankmates)
• Aquarium Fish Species (Pisces (tropical freshwater community fish)) — care: easy, light: gentle lighting with plant shade
• Atolla Jellyfish (Deep-sea Crown Jelly) (Atolla wyvillei) — care: not kept at home (needs an rov to collect it and a cold, dark deep-sea system), light: lives in total darkness; light is foreign to its habitat. it makes its own blue flashes when attacked.
• Blue Blubber Jelly (Catostylus) (Catostylus mosaicus) — care: moderate (needs a dedicated, well-managed jelly system and steady food), light: medium light: the bell holds fewer zooxanthellae than other rhizostomes, so ordinary led or white light is fine. colour ranges from white and light blue to purple, maroon and brown.
• Box Jellyfish (Cubozoa) (Cubozoa: Tripedalia cystophora, Carybdea marsupialis, Alatina alata (Chironex fleckeri is never kept)) — care: very difficult (lab or public aquarium only; chironex is never kept), light: they hunt by sight with 24 eyes, so give a regular day/night cycle; the one lab culture used 8 h light / 16 h dark for medusae, polyps in darkness.
• Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus (bronze cory, as traded)) — care: easy
• Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — care: easy to moderate (likes soft, clean water; wild-caught fish can be more sensitive)
• Cherry Dwarf Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) — care: easy, light: adaptable to all light levels
• Chili / Mosquito Rasbora (Boraras brigittae (mosquito or chili rasbora)) — care: moderate (timid; needs tiny tankmates and soft water)
• Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) — care: moderate to demanding because it needs a very large tank and a group
• Comb Jelly (Sea Walnut) (Mnemiopsis leidyi) — care: difficult (specialist plankton feeder, very fragile; not a beginner species), light: needs no light. lab culture uses a 12 h light/dark cycle; spawning follows darkness (about 5-8 h after sunset).
• Common Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) — care: easy while young, hard on long-term size
• Crystal Jelly (GFP Jellyfish) (Aequorea victoria) — care: difficult (cold-water specialist; not suitable for home aquaria; husbandry data are limited), light: body is almost transparent. the green fluorescent ring shows only under uv or deep blue light; use side lighting and a dark background to see it.
• Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) — care: demanding (very shy and skittish; needs warm, clean, soft water and plenty of cover)
• Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) — care: moderate (shy yet territorial; trade stock quality is poor)
• Flower Hat Jelly (Olindias formosus) — care: difficult (specialist, large public-aquarium display only; not recommended for home keeping), light: a nocturnal hunter; needs no strong light. tentacle tips carry fluorescent proteins and glow green under blue or uv light.
• German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) — care: moderate to demanding (needs pristine water and is a poor competitor)
• Goldfish (Carassius auratus) — care: easy on water and food, but needs a bigger tank than people expect
• Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) — care: easy (very adaptable; but many commercial strains are weakened by inbreeding and over-production)
• Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus (Cyprinus carpio)) — care: moderate to demanding (needs a big pond, strong filtration and seasonal management)
• Lion's Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) — care: advanced, public-aquarium only (harder than moon jellies, and the sting is strong), light: no photosynthetic partners, so ordinary white light is enough; give a day/night cycle. the reddish-orange bell reads best under white or cool-white light.
• Moon Jelly (Aurelia) (Aurelia aurita / A. coerulea) — care: easy (the easiest first jelly, but it needs a dedicated, fully cycled jelly system), light: no special lighting needed, since it has no photosynthetic symbionts. leds are for display only; keep a dark period.
• Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) — care: easy if you start with healthy stock (years of commercial breeding have weakened many trade fish)
• Nerite / Ramshorn Algae Snail (Vittina natalensis (syn. Neritina natalensis) / Planorbarius corneus) — care: very easy, light: any lighting
• Otocinclus (Oto) (Otocinclus macrospilus (as a representative; many otos are traded under this name)) — care: moderate (imported fish can be delicate, usually from starvation in transit)
• Sea Nettle (Chrysaora) (Chrysaora fuscescens / C. chesapeakei) — care: advanced (the pacific nettle is a public-aquarium animal; the bay nettle is easier but still advanced), light: no photosynthetic partners, so no special light need; ordinary white light with a dark period. the pacific nettle shows stress when lit 24 h a day.
• Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta) (Betta splendens) — care: moderate (needs a properly sized, warm, planted tank; its temperament means it is best kept alone)
• Southern Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) — care: easy
• Upside-down Jellyfish (Cassiopea) (Cassiopea andromeda / C. xamachana) — care: moderate (retailers often label it difficult or expert; suits reef keepers with strong lighting), light: high light: it hosts zooxanthellae, so use coral or clam-grade lighting (a retailer figure is about 200 par or more), 10-14 h a day, with blue and daylight spectrum.

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