Ozelot sword

Quick facts

Max height

50 cm

Growth rate

moderate

Difficulty

beginner

Placement

background, midground

Propagation

adventitious plantlets on flower stalks

Water parameters

Temperature

18–28°C

pH

6.0 to 7.5

Hardness

3 to 18 dGH

Light and nutrients

Lighting

medium

CO2

not required, but boosts growth and color

Substrate

nutrient preferred

Feeding

feeds from both water column and roots (liquid ferts plus root tabs)

Substrate

What this plant roots into (or attaches to). The substrate affects both plant nutrition and water chemistry; see each linked page for full effects.

This plant feeds primarily from the water column, so substrate choice matters more for its fish-tank compatibility than for plant nutrition.

With fish

Plant-eating fish

safe with plant-eating fish (tough leaves or unpalatable)

Diggers (corydoras, loaches)

may get uprooted by active diggers

Root-disturbing fish

tolerates fish that disturb roots

Habitat

A hybrid cultivar created by crossing Echinodorus schluteri with E. barthii (or related species, depending on the source). Not found in the wild. The Ozelot sword is distinguished by its attractive red-brown spotting on a green leaf base, a pattern that gives it the 'ozelot' (ocelot) name. The spots are most vivid on newer leaves and under moderate to high light. Several variants exist: 'Green Ozelot' (green base with brown spots), 'Red Ozelot' (reddish base with darker spots), and various unnamed intermediate forms. One of the most popular Echinodorus hybrids in the aquarium trade because of the distinctive patterning, manageable size (smaller than a full Amazon sword), and moderate care requirements.

Care notes

One of the most popular Echinodorus hybrids. Heavy root feeder; needs root tabs or a nutrient-rich substrate to develop properly. Without root nutrition, leaves stay small and lose the characteristic spotting pattern. Plant the crown at substrate level with roots buried. Moderate lighting is ideal; under very low light, the spots fade and the plant becomes uniformly green. Under high light with CO2, the spots intensify and new leaves emerge with vivid red-brown markings. Iron supplementation through root tabs supports the red pigmentation in the spots. Mature size is smaller than a standard Amazon sword (20–35 cm tall), making it more suitable for medium-sized tanks (80 L). Propagation is by adventitious plantlets on flower stalks, same as other swords. The plant sends up runners that produce small plantlets; detach and replant once they have 4-5 leaves and visible roots. Trim older outer leaves as they age and yellow. CO2 is not required but improves growth rate and color intensity. In low-tech setups, Ozelot swords do well with root tabs and moderate light, producing steady if slower growth. The Ozelot is generally hardier and more compact than a standard Amazon sword, making it a better choice for medium-sized tanks (80–200 L) where a full Amazon sword would be too dominant. Compatible with most community fish; the tough leaves resist damage from all but the most determined plant-eaters.

Further reading

• How to cycle a fish tank
• Water chemistry for fishkeepers: pH, GH, KH, and what they mean