Echinodorus ocelot

Echinodorus ocelot is a mottled form, which is reflected in its name. This coloring is not lost in this species in low light. Very beautiful Echinodorus ozelot looks very beautiful when planted alone. And will be able to revitalize any underwater landscape. The species is very unpretentious. With its maintenance can cope with even a novice aquarist.

kingdom	Plants
Division	Covered seeds
class	Annuals
order	Passionflowers
Family	Chastukhovs
genus	Echinodorus
species	Echinodorus ozelot

Habitat.: Not found in nature. It is an artificially obtained hybrid. This hybrid is obtained by crossing Echinodorus x barthii with Echinodorus schluteri “Leopard”.

Echinodorus ocelot Description

Currently, three main varietals are known. They differ from each other mainly in the color of the leaves. All variants of Echinodorus ozelot large enough under good conditions of maintenance can reach thirty to forty centimeters in height. And the same amount of rosette can have in diameter. So Echinodorus ozelot is more suitable for large aquariums.

1. In the actual variant Echinodorus ocelot leaves have green, olive or reddish-brown coloring with characteristic speckles of dark brick color, for which the species actually got its name.
2. Echinodorus ocelot green has predominantly green leaves, the shades of which vary widely. The speckles on this plant are also very visible and sometimes form a very intricate pattern.
3. Echinodorus ocelot green flame. A distinctive feature of this variety are red spots on the leaves covering them so thickly that it is sometimes difficult to determine which color is the background and which is the pattern.

Well, in general, these distinctions are rather conventional, you can’t always distinguish one variant from another with certainty.

The rhizome of Echinodorus ozelot is well developed and requires a fairly deep planting. In case of insufficient water level, it can form emergent leaves.

Echinodorus ocelot Contents

The species is very unpretentious. It can be recommended even to beginners.

Aquarium volume

As mentioned above, Echinodorus ocelot is a large plant. The aquarium in which it can be planted should be at least one hundred liters. Its height is desirable not less than fifty centimeters. You can certainly plant the bush and in a smaller container, but when reaching the maximum size, it will occupy the entire volume, and at low water levels will rise above it, forming airy leaves.

Soil

For the soil you can use coarse river sand, small pebbles, granite chips or their mixture. The thickness of the soil layer should be at least eight centimeters.

Water parameters

Echinodorus ocelot is a heat-loving species. The range of temperatures it can withstand is between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius. However, the optimal temperature for it can be considered its values from 20 to 26 degrees Celsius. The water hardness can be between 5 and 15°dH. The pH is 6.5 to 7.5.

Lighting

Unlike other mottled forms of Echinodorus, Ocelot can easily tolerate shading, its mottling does not disappear. However, it is quite difficult to shade its luxurious rosette. Lighting is better to make fluorescent lamps of daylight with a total power of about 0.5 W / L.

Additional aeration and filtration are not required and are determined by the needs of other pond inhabitants.

Echinodorus ocelot Compatibility

As has been pointed out many times, the plant is large. It is unlikely that anyone will prevent it from getting its portion of light. But it can shade other representatives of flora very strongly. Therefore, it is recommended to place it in the middle ground as a single plant. And the fish will dance around it, and sing “In the forest was born a Christmas tree…”.

Echinodorus ocelot Nutrition

If you plant a young rosette in a well-established, well-silted soil, then additional feeding with CO2 or mineral fertilizers is not necessary. Echinodorus ozelot is quite enough nutrients derived from the soil and replenished by feeding fish and weekly replacement of one-fifth of the water. If the soil is not settled and not silted, then put at the bottom of the hole a small piece of clay mixed with charcoal or boiled peat. For the first time Echinodorus ozelot this will be quite enough.

Echinodorus ocelot Propagation

Reproduces vegetatively, by division of the rhizome, if the shoots are formed (this species is rare). More often, the mother rosette throws out an arrow, on which a young plant is formed, which can be carefully separated and planted in the ground. Under industrial conditions, tissue culture can be used for propagation.

Echinodorus ocelot, as well as its variants, can decorate any aquarium. Located in the middle ground, its luxurious leaves with mottled coloring give the water body an additional volume. You just need to remember that the plant is large and under the right conditions can take up a lot of space. Therefore, it is better to keep it in large aquariums. Echinodorus ocelot looks very beautiful against the background of plants capable of forming dense thickets in the background. And its ability to form airy leaves can be very originally played in a paludarium or terrarium. Good luck with your design decisions.