Echinodorus 'Ozelot'
A sword with bright leopard-spotted leaves — green ground splashed with crimson dots that intensify under good light. Hardier than 'Red Flame', easier than most red-flushing swords. A single specimen anchors the background of a 200 L tank.
Echinodorus 'Ozelot' (Echinodorus 'Ozelot') is a rosette aquatic plant for the background of a planted tank. It reaches 25–50 cm under good conditions and grows at a medium rate. Light: medium. CO₂: optional. Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 5–20 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs. Propagate via adventitious plantlets on flower stalks.
Care at a glance
A sword with bright leopard-spotted leaves — green ground splashed with crimson dots that intensify under good light. Hardier than 'Red Flame', easier than most red-flushing swords. A single specimen anchors the background of a 200 L tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether echinodorus 'ozelot' fits in your tank.
Alismataceae
Rosette
Background
Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs
Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks
Cultivar (South American parentage)
Cultivar (South American parentage)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: medium. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a medium rate.
Echinodorus 'Ozelot' (Echinodorus 'Ozelot') needs medium light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: background. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + root tabs It typically reaches 25–50 cm.
Propagation method: Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks. Echinodorus 'Ozelot' is a rosette plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 5–20 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
