Aquarium Botanicals

Terminalia catappa leaves, Barks, Tea bags and Pods :

Guava leaves:

Guava leaves are an ideal supplement of freshwater shrimp and other invertebrates. They are having antibacterial effects, are a deterrant for worms, and prevent infection of vibrio bacteria that are often responsible for shrimp losses.

Casuarina equistifolia seed(Alder cone):

Black alder cones have a slightly antiseptic and fungicidal effect, similar to almond leaves.

They also have a slight pH-reducing effect; therefore the carbonate hardness of the water must not be too high. For shrimp the alder cones are a great ‘playground’ which offers numerous hiding places and a biogenic nursery with a food source of growing biofilm.

Mulberry leaves :

Mulberry leaves are an extremely healthy feed option for freshwater shrimp.

They have a remarkably high protein content of 15-25%. They contain important vitamins, amino acids and trace elements (including zinc, boron, manganese, fluorine and phosphorus) for shrimp. 

Thus, mulberry leaves are an excellent feed for all shrimp that has a positive effect on growth and moult. They are organically grown and air-dried, so the nutrients in the leaves remain.

Banana leaves folded :

          Breeders in asia use banana leaves and bark of terminalia catappa as preventive and curative treatment in aquaria. In addition, these items:

• -          Promote the healing of injuries such as bits

• -          Promote spawning

• -          Reduce stress

• -          Promote the color intensity of the fish and strengthen the skin/mucosa of the fish.

They are successfully used for prevention and treatment of fin rot, ectoparasites, HITH disease, fungus on eggs & wherever harmful fungi and bacteria spread. The effect wears off after 1-2 weeks. The leaves can remain in the aquarium once they are spent.

Moringa leaves:

The leaves of the horseradish tree offer the aquarist a very nutrition’s and natural food for the shrimp, crabs and catfish.

 The high content of various vitamins, minerals and trace elements(including vitamins A, C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron) in combination with their high protein content makes moringa leaves a particularly valuable feed. These special leave have an anti-inflammatory effect and the zeatin they contain promotes plant growth.

2 in 1 high-quality feed & plant fertilization in one small package.

Jack Fruit leaves:

When you’re dealing with Shrimp, Leaf Litter is great for stimulating breeding. The tannins released by the leaves help create water conditions that are similar to those in the natural habitat of the shrimp, which means ideal breeding conditions

Leaves also decompose and create a surface for biofilm to grow on and this acts as a food source. This happens when microorganisms begin to colonize the leaf and break it down. This creates a biofilm which is the preferred food source for shrimp and a very important food source for shrimplettes

Cinnamon Bark:

Cinnamon Bark releases tannins and provides a natural looking shelter for shrimp while adding visual interest to your shrimp escape. They make excellent bases to attach Moss or Buce . Make sure to Boil, followed by soaking for a few days prior to use in shrimp tank. 

Coconut Palm Bracts:

"Mini" Coco Palm Bracts are "featherweight" botanicals, which are essentially like leaves in their texture, appearance, and use. Tiny specimens of the bract (a modified leaf) of the Coco Palm (Cocos nucifera),these are fabulous for a variety of aquatic/vivarium applications!

They could work really nicely in a "nano-sized" aquarium, perhaps even comprising the majority of a leaf litter bed, in which you could mix in other small leaves and botanicals as the exclusive substrate, perhaps with "Fundo Tropical"  and a bit of fine sand to hold 'em all together!

Dried coco curls:

These versatile botanicals are derived from coconut shells (Cocos nucifera), and are really cool-looking "accent pieces" for a tropical stream biotope aquarium!  Each one has a very unique shape, and they lend themselves well to all sorts of aquascaping purposes. Oh- and they release a lot of tannins!

Shrimp and Plecos seem to love grazing on them. We love to use them to cover open substrate and supplement leaf litter to simulate the materials found in tropical stream beds.

Terminelia Peniculata dried pods:

     If you're looking for another alternative or addition to leaf litter in your biotope aquarium, this is a great substrate enhancer, as it will give you a similar leaf litter "effect", with a bit less of the tannin-leaching. The fruit of the Terminalia paniculata tree from India, these very lightweight botanicals are remarkable for their "Starfruit-like" appearance. Astute "tinters" will recognize the genus, Terminalia, as the same one the popular Catappa (Indian Almond) Tree belongs to! 

It is a perfect component of any botanical-style leaf litter biotope, and resembles the materials which fall into tropical streams or accumulate on flooded forest floors, enriching the waters and providing foraging areas for many species of fishes. These interesting botanicals are small, earth-toned, and paper-thin! 

Coconut Palm stem:

Derived from the Coconut Palm, Cocos nucifera, these amazing stems are one of the coolest "accent pieces" we've come across.They have a hard texture on the outside, but do retain some flexibility. They are "inert", from in our experience, yet, like many other botanicals, they are capable of imparting a slight "tint" to the water over the long term.

These gnarled, unique-looking stems range in size from 12"-16" (30.48-40.64cm) in length, and have a beautiful tank color. They are quite light, creating a bit of a challenge when it comes to getting them to stay down in the water. 

Dried Bamboo Leaves:

          The leaves of the Indian Bamboo Plant, (Gigantochloa scortechinii), are interesting and very useful! They are surprisingly durable, good sized (10″/25.4cm or more! ), and look remarkably “tropical”- making them perfect for aquariums, vivariums, insect enclosures, etc.

These leaves last a very long term submerged, and make a great compliment to a botanical-style aquarium, providing color contrast and an altogether different look than any other leaves we offer!

They’re are harvested for us by hand by a family-owned operation from a small village in India. They’re free of pesticides, herbicides, and pollution. They’re gathered after having fallen from the trees, rinsed and air dried.

PREPARATION: Before using the leaves in your aquarium, we recommend boiling them for about 10 minutes, or steeping them in boiling water for about 10 minutes or so.

Teak Dried Leaves:  

     In the natural habitats of shrimps, you can always find leaves that are dropped into the streams and water bodies. The leaves decompose over time, releasing its goodness of minerals, vitamins and at the same time, get munched on by the critters.

The leaves of the Teak tree (Tectona grandis) provides similar benefits of Indian Almond leaves but doesn't colour the tank water much. The teak leaves help enhance coloration of fishes, provides positive effects on scale strengthening. It also maintains water pH level and serve as natural antibiotic.

Benefits and Remedies: bite injuries, fungal diseases, hardening of scales, fin rot, color enhancement