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Bucephalandra Theia

Bucephalandra Theia

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Amount: Rhizome

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$9.00

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Description
Aquatic Plants

Bucephalandra Theia

A compact cultivar with narrow, slightly elongated leaves and a luminous silver-white to pale blue iridescent shimmer — the most delicate and fine-scaled iridescent Buce in the catalog.

Silver-White to Pale Blue Shimmer Fine Narrow Leaves Compact Collector Cultivar Rhizome — Do Not Bury No CO₂ Required Low to Medium Light

Bucephalandra Theia occupies the cool, luminous end of the Buce iridescence spectrum — a compact cultivar with narrow, slightly elongated leaves that carry a silver-white to pale blue shimmer that is distinctly cooler and more ethereal in quality than the vivid blue-green of Godzilla, the violet-pink warmth of Biblis, or the cool blue of Artemis. Where Artemis produces a clear, consistent blue iridescence across the leaf surface, Theia's shimmer has a more luminous, almost translucent quality — a soft whitish-blue that catches light with a gentle rather than vivid flash and gives individual leaves an appearance closer to moonlight on water than the stronger iridescent expressions of other cultivars. The narrow leaf form is finer in scale than most other Buce in the catalog, giving Theia a delicate, refined character that pairs exceptionally with bold or large-leafed plants as a textural counterpoint. Rhizome must never be buried. Attaches to driftwood and stone. Safe with all Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and snails.

Not RequiredCO₂
72–82°FTemperature
Low–MedLighting
What to Expect

Appearance & Growth Over Time

Silver-white to pale blue shimmer with a luminous, ethereal quality — Theia's iridescence is the coolest and most luminous in the catalog — a pale whitish-blue shimmer that does not flash as vividly as Godzilla or Artemis but has a soft, even glow quality across the leaf surface that the more vivid cultivars lack. Under direct lighting it reads as a cool silver-blue; under dimmer or softer light it takes on an almost ghostly pale quality. The subtlety is a character trait rather than a limitation — Theia rewards a viewer who looks carefully, like a star that becomes more visible as your eyes adjust. Narrow, slightly elongated leaves at compact scale — the leaves are finer in width and proportion than most other Buce cultivars — closer to lance-shaped than oval, and small enough to read as delicate at the scale other Buce occupy. The narrow form combined with the pale shimmer gives Theia a refined, almost jewel-like quality when viewed close up on driftwood. It occupies the opposite end of the Buce scale hierarchy from Godzilla — and the two together on the same piece of driftwood create the largest within-genus scale contrast available in the catalog. Differentiates from Artemis on shimmer quality — Artemis produces a consistent, clearly blue iridescence across broad, rounded leaves; Theia produces a paler, more luminous silver-white shimmer on narrower, more elongated leaves. The difference in both color temperature and leaf form is sufficient to make the two cultivars clearly distinct from each other in a collection or multi-cultivar arrangement. Artemis leads with colour confidence; Theia leads with luminous delicacy. Slow rhizome growth and initial melting are both normal — Theia grows at the same unhurried pace as all Buce, extending the rhizome and adding new leaves individually over weeks. Initial melting of existing leaves after introduction is common and temporary — the rhizome survives and produces new growth adapted to the new tank's conditions. Do not remove the plant or disturb the rhizome during the adjustment period. Accumulates biofilm on narrow leaf surfaces — the narrow leaves of Theia accumulate biofilm along their surfaces and in the spaces between closely spaced leaves, providing foraging surfaces that shrimp and snails graze steadily. The pale shimmer makes the small, fine leaves conspicuous enough that individual shrimp grazing them are easily visible and clearly framed against the luminous leaf surface. Rhizome must remain fully above substrate — secure to driftwood or stone with cotton thread or super glue gel. The entire rhizome must remain exposed to open water at all times — burial causes irreversible rot.
How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1Attach to fine-branched driftwood that suits the delicate leaf scale — the narrow, fine leaves of Theia pair most naturally with fine-branched or intricate driftwood where the delicate leaf scale and the hardscape scale are proportionally matched. On a large, smooth piece of driftwood the small leaves can be visually lost; on branchy, detailed hardscape the fine leaves and pale shimmer integrate naturally and read more clearly.
2Position in direct light for maximum shimmer visibility — Theia's pale shimmer requires direct overhead or front-angled light to be fully visible. In shaded positions on the driftwood or behind other plants, the luminous quality of the iridescence diminishes significantly. Position the plant where the narrow leaf faces receive direct light from the fixture above, with the main viewing angle looking at the lit leaf surface rather than the underside.
3Low to medium light with consistent photoperiod — Theia thrives under the standard Buce conditions of low to medium light at a steady 8–10 hour photoperiod. Consistent moderate lighting maintains leaf quality and the development of the pale shimmer on new growth. High light risks algae on the fine leaf surfaces and does not improve the iridescence.
4Fertilize consistently with balanced liquid formula — regular liquid fertilization with macros, micros, and iron supports steady new leaf production and the maintenance of the pale, luminous shimmer on established leaves. Consistent iron supplementation is particularly important for the cool, pale quality of Theia's iridescence — underfed plants produce smaller, duller leaves with less pronounced shimmer.
💡 Bonus Tip

Theia and Godzilla on the same piece of driftwood is the most extreme scale and iridescence contrast pairing in the entire Buce catalog — the large, broad, vivid blue-green leaves of Godzilla against the tiny, narrow, pale silver-white leaves of Theia creates a within-genus contrast that spans almost every visual dimension simultaneously: leaf size, leaf width, iridescence color, and iridescence intensity. The combination makes both cultivars more legible than they are alone, and the fact that they share identical care requirements makes the arrangement as practical as it is striking.

🌿
Browse more Bucephalandra

Pair Theia with Godzilla, Artemis, Biblis, or Velvet for a complete iridescent Buce collection. Browse our Aquatic Plants collection.

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Policies & Disclaimers
Aquatic plants

Policies & Disclaimers

Choosing your portions, using the plant promotion, and knowing what to expect when your plants arrive.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free: add all three

Choose three eligible plant items and add all three to your cart, including the plant you want free. The discount applies automatically at checkout; no code is needed. Adding only two items does not add a third plant for you.

Mix and match eligible varieties or choose multiple quantities of the same eligible plant. The least expensive eligible item is free. For example, with eligible items priced at $5, $8 and $10, the $5 item is discounted and the plant subtotal is $18 before shipping and tax.

The offer repeats for complete qualifying groups: three eligible items give one free, six give two free, and nine give three free. The current offer has no per-order use limit. Items must be included in the promotion; Plant Weights and other non-plant accessories do not qualify.

An item means the sale unit in your cart. One bunch, cup, portion or multipack counts as one item when purchased at quantity one, not one item for every stem, leaf or bulb inside it. Check the listing and selected option for what each unit contains.

Check the discount and quantities in your order summary before paying. Other promotions can affect the final discount; multiple product discounts do not stack on the same item. This is an online checkout offer, not an automatic in-store POS discount.

Plant Promotion Details

Portions, sizes & what you receive

Read this plant’s description and selected option for its sale format, portion size and any stated stem or plant count. A bunch, loose portion, rooted plant, bulb, cup and mounted plant are different products; there is no single size or count that applies to every plant we sell.

A mature height or spread describes potential growth in an aquarium, not the size shipped. Use the advertised purchase portion to plan your order. A full carpet, dense moss-covered surface or established group in a photograph may require several portions and time to grow.

Do not assume that a pot, planting weight, rock, wood, substrate or other display accessory is included unless the listing explicitly says it is. If the received portion appears different from the selected listing, photograph it with its packaging and contact us promptly.

Photos, color & natural variation

Photos illustrate the named plant or variety and its appearance. Living plants vary in leaf size, shape, root development, branching and fullness; a photo of an established specimen is not a measurement of each portion shipped. The product description and selected option remain the reference for your purchase.

Aquarium lighting, camera settings and the growing environment affect perceived color. Red or pink varieties can look different under different lighting and growing conditions. Do not use a photograph alone to select a plant’s care requirements or expect immediate mature coloration.

Above-water growth & the transition underwater

Some aquarium plants can grow with their leaves above water as well as submerged. These growth forms can have different leaf shapes and appearances. New underwater growth may look different from older leaves as the plant adjusts. This explanation does not mean every plant is supplied in the same growth form; follow any specific information in the listing.

Leaf loss or softening after a change of environment is often called melt. Look at the plant as a whole and its growing points rather than judging only one older leaf. Do not assume that a damaged plant is simply transitioning or wait for new growth before reporting an arrival problem.

This is background care information, not a new exclusion from the Live Arrival Guarantee. Arrival damage is assessed under the existing policy.

Planting: match the method to the plant

For stem plants, separate the stems and plant with room between them. For rosette plants, position the roots in the substrate without burying the crown. Remove transport bindings and growing material carefully where appropriate.

For Anubias and Java fern, keep the rhizome exposed rather than burying it. Moss can be divided into smaller portions and attached to suitable hardscape. Floating plants belong at the surface. Bulbs and tubers need species-specific planting depth; do not assume every type should be fully buried.

Keep plants damp while working. Follow the individual listing for placement and care, especially when a plant has unusual requirements. These are planting tips, not additional conditions for a claim.

Growth, tank conditions & choosing companions

Plan for the plant’s mature size, available light and the space it will occupy. A background stem plant, slow-growing rhizome plant and floating plant serve different roles; a purchase portion does not instantly create a finished aquascape.

Use the listing’s guidance on light, nutrients and carbon dioxide rather than assuming every plant needs the same setup. Growth rate and final appearance depend on aquarium conditions and maintenance. More light alone is not a substitute for a balanced setup.

Consider animals that dig, uproot or eat plants before choosing placement. Floating growth can shade plants below it, and fast-growing plants may need thinning. Observe new growth and make gradual, species-appropriate adjustments.

Hitchhikers & introducing plants

Our existing policy does not guarantee pest-free arrival. Plants can carry tiny organisms or eggs, including snail eggs, despite inspection. Inspect new plants before introduction, and consider separate observation or quarantine to protect an established aquarium.

Do not assume a plant is sterile, pesticide-free or safe for a particular treatment unless the listing explicitly provides that information. Sensitive leaves, mosses and roots can respond differently to dips. Research the exact plant and any treatment before using it; do not apply an animal medication or a strong dip by default.

Arrival problems: document and contact us promptly

For damaged or dead plants, email support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time. Use the email address on the order and include all arrival concerns in your first message.

Send clear photographs of the affected plants and their packaging, with the shipping label or invoice visible for identification. Photograph packaging damage before unpacking or discarding materials, and consult the full guarantee’s documentation instructions. Keep the original photos.

The current guarantee covers aquatic plants but excludes promotional or free items. That existing exclusion also matters when ordering a free promotional plant. Claims and available resolutions are assessed under the full policy; this tab does not expand or reduce coverage.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping your plants

Plants ship Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday shipping available for 2-day or overnight services. Orders remain subject to stock, fulfillment timing and weather holds under our shipping policy. A shipping-service estimate is not a guaranteed dispatch date.

Plan to receive the package promptly and inspect it on arrival. Review the full shipping information for weather precautions, transit expectations and delivery issues. If your cart also contains live animals, review the shipping requirements for those animals as well.

Shipping Information

Returns & order questions

Check the plant name, portion, quantity and selected option before completing checkout. Contact us before sending anything back; returns require prior written authorization under our existing policy. The full return policy explains the applicable conditions.

Return Policy

This tab explains the existing offer and policies alongside plant-care guidance. Care tips do not create new claim requirements or exclusions. Refer to the linked policies for complete terms.

    Bucephalandra Theia
    $9.00
    $9.00
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