Hydnophytum antplants

Hydnophytum is one of a range of  plants that have evolved symbiotic relationships with ants. Hydnophytum are tropical epiphytes that provide shelter and protection for ant colonies in the forest canopy in a series of tunnels and chambers in the swollen stem (known as a caudex). In return the ants provide the plant with some defense against herbivores and with nutrients via special glands in the walls of the tunnels. You can see the holes in the caudex that provide access for the ants in the pictures below. There are 55 species, according to the most recent revision, found in South East Asia, the Pacific and Queensland.

The plants themselves are not particularly attractive but I really like the display possibilities that the epiphytic habit allows, in particular the contrast between the random, swollen caudex of the plant and a simple, elegant low profile mount or base. They apparently do fine in cultivation without their ant friends. I’ve actually not found any mentioned of keeping them with ants – could be a fun thing to try in a suitable enclosure if you anyone imports the right sort of ant.

Diapteron

I’ve always liked killifish. They are small and colourful and have masses more personality than more commonly kept ‘little pretty fish’ like tetras, rasboras and livebearers. Over the years I’ve kept Nothobranchius rachovii, Aphyosemion gardneri, Chromaphyosemion bitaeniatum and Austrolebias nigripinnis – mostly somewhat unsuccessfully in rather inappropriate community aquariums. I did get eggs from the Chromaphyosemion, but could never raise the fry.

The 5 species and numerous local varieties of the genus Diapteron have always particularly caught my eye. They come from shaded rainforest streams with soft, cool water in a small area of Northern Gabon and nearby parts of the Congo. They are stunning tiny fish, fully grown at 1.5 inches long, and so would be quite at home in a small well planted tank. A great project for those with an RO machine or regular access to clean rainwater.

One day I will breed them!

Growing lithophytes on concrete

Australian artist Jamie North (www.jamienorth.com) grows native lithophytic plants on rough, broken concrete pillars, creating some really powerful work. It is easy to see interesting applications of this in the garden or for indoor plant displays, and the combination of polished and rough poured concrete or plaster surfaces could work in a terrarium or vivarium at a different scale. There are a number of tutorials for DIY concrete planters online, but creating the broken surfaces may require a bit of experimentation…

Naturalistic vivariums at London Zoo

I really like the direction that London Zoo has taken its aquarium and reptile and amphibian displays over the last 5 years or so. They are quite simple and seemingly casual, but feel very natural in their lack of clutter or obvious design. The enclosures for their Chinese Crocodile Lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) and Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus) particularly caught my eye this time around. Perhaps I just like the look of plants and wood overhanging water, or reptiles looking happy and relaxed?

The humphead eartheaters

The humphead eartheaters, or the ‘Geophagus‘ steindachneri group, have a special place in my affections. A pair of redhump eartheaters (‘Geophagus‘ steindachneri itself) shared a too small 30″ aquarium when I first got back into fishkeeping in rented flats after leaving university in the late 90s. They are beautiful and characterful fish – more outgoing and intelligent than many South American cichlids without the anti-social aggression of most Central American species.

The three species in the group  are found North and West of the Andes in Panama, Colombia and Ecuador – quite distinct from the majority of South American aquarium fish from the Amazon and Orinoco basins to the East of the Andes. Like most geophagine cichlids they are adapted for sifting through sandy substrates to find food. Their natural habitat in open sandy-bottomed rivers and streams and the impact of their feeding behaviour on any rooted plants don’t lend themselves easily to  exciting naturalistic aquarium design. However, they do share their native range with some interesting other fish that could form the basis for a great biotope aquarium, including emperor (Nematobrycon palmeri) and rainbow tetras (Nemtobrycon lacortei), giant whiptail catfish (Sturisoma), and the Blue Acara and Green Terror related cichlids that now form the genus Andinoacara. 

‘Geophagus’ steindachneri

‘Geophagus’ crassilabris

‘Geophagus’ pellegrini

Sarracenia terrariums

Some great displays growing North American Sarracenia pitcher plants in tall narrow enclosures.  The first two, taller examples are almost perfect and much more effective for me than the wider one. Letting them grow to be a bit crowded also seems to complete the look nicely. Love the combination in the first with the grass-like plant, which might be Juncus effusus ‘Spiralis’, and the pink-flowered Pinguicula.

Tepui plants

The tops of the table mountains or tepui in the south east of Venezuela and northern Brazil have a unique flora and fauna that has developed as a result of their physical and climatic isolation. The hummocks that develop in wet areas would make a great model for a naturalistic terrarium project. I love the combination of water, wind-carved dark rocks and the red, silvery green and bright green of the plants. These include a variety of carnivorous plants, including Heliamphora pitcher plants, Drosera sundews, lithophytic and commensal Utricularia bladderworts (growing in pitchers and bromeliad tanks), and bromeliads (including Brochinnia, Catopsis and Tillandsia) that have some commercial availability. Beyond this, the plants are a bit obscure, but include grasses, orchids and some odd Ericaceae. I will need to do a bit more research.

The botanical art of Makoto Azuma

I see some great inspiration for terrarium and vivarium keepers from the work of ‘botanical artist’ Makoto Azuma (www.azumamakoto.com). I’m not sure many of us will want to freeze our prized plants or shoot them into space, but her caged and suspended epiphyte exhibits perhaps suggest a direction for modernist tree frog vivs and her stark minimalistic terrariums a way to focus attention on underappreciated individual plants in our collections.

All images are ©AMKK