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Going to show my age a little now, but years ago I remember seeing Madagascar Lace Plant for sale in a Fish Shop in Mackay, and as a young teen although I fell in love with the plant I never had the slightest hope of ever buying one because even back then I think they where selling for something like $50+ and this was when I only had a $5 a week pocket money income from my parents. Then for years I never saw these amazing plants again, and thought they must have died out in Australia (or been so rare I would never see another one expect in pictures), so imagine my surprise when checking on Facebook I found a person selling my dream plant, and I was actually more or less in a position to afford it!!!! Of course it was a no brainer and I contacted them immediately to secure a plant. Its still only young but I have big hopes for it. The bonus for me was the seller said they where growing the MLP low tech so no ferts or co2 injections. I read up some advise and found that when the plant goes dormant (most likely in summer) its best to leave it in the tank with warm water (bonus for me in central QLD since the struggle has always been trying to keep tanks cool), and that it does best with other rooted plants like swords near it. Perhaps a symbiotic relationship occurs much like certain fungi with Grass trees. Also some shade is advised I guess for the young plant/ leaves since a mature plant will easily have leaves reaching the surface of the tank. Has anyone else grown this plant and what has their experiences been? Any other tips? The cherry shrimp have already given a good going over and it looks like the snails have no interest in it, the main trick is going to be keeping the corys from up rooting it. It is planted in a sand substrate with some rounded river gravel, at the far end of the tank away from the HOB filter that hangs on the side of the 4ft tank rather than the on the back of the tank. The light is a LED I think tropical grow light that doesn't go the full length of the tank although the MLP is planted down the best lit end of the tank with a sword in front of it, a curly leafed type of val near it and various Anubius and narrow leafed java fern attached to wood also near by. Also a very tall anubius to the front of it that does give it some semi shade.

Has anyone had any leads on these lately? Im about to start hunting for them in Perth. Figured buying would be easier than catching if there is any on this side.

Lucas, J. S., 1980. Spider crabs of the family Hymenosomatidae (Crustacea; Brachyura) with particular reference to Australian species: systematics and biology. Records of the Australian Museum 33(4): 148–247. (bottom of pg 210)