Macaranga Leaves | Macaranga triloba
Product Description: Macaranga Leaves (Macaranga triloba) are hand collected from outside Sumatra around many Indonesian betta species we keep in the hobby. They grow in areas of disturbance where trees have freshly fallen, growing as pioneer species. They are not widely sold here in the United States, which is puzzling, because they are a key plant for a Betta Biotope aquarium as they produce almost as many tint-inducing tannins as Indian almond leaves, and act like peat in the aquarium helping to lower pH. They have a very sweet smell out of the bag which is incredibly pleasant and their large size means you’ll want to rip them up a bit before adding to your botanical method aquarium. This bag and its contents are biodegradable! Did you know our product packaging is made from renewable and sustainable sugarcane? So just like the botanicals inside, it will compost when returned to nature.
Not for Human Consumption. Preparation Required.
Quantities: 20c Macaranga triloba Leaves. Sizes range. This is a natural product, and variation between leaves and botanicals is expected.
Aquarium Botanical Location: Indonesia.
Home is getting a bit more natural
While the aesthetic appeal of botanicals and tinted water can be quite attractive to us, the recreation of nature to emulate water conditions, feeding patterns, spawning displays, and territory building are the true benefits botanicals provide to our critters.
Botanical FAQs
Compostable Packaging Promise
Our packaging is designed to return safely to the Earth, just like the botanicals inside. Every bag is BPA- and Phthalate-free, GMO-free, and contains no animal products. Each meets ASTM D6400 composting standards, ensuring it can fully break down in a home compost bin.
What are the Fluffy White Growths on my Botanicals?
That’s biofilm and fungi—what we call the “goo phase.” It’s one of the clearest signs that your aquarium is alive and functioning. These growths wax and wane naturally as botanicals decompose. They’re harmless, even beneficial, and will disappear on their own once microbial populations stabilize.
Will botanicals lower the pH of my water?
That depends entirely on your source water. In very soft or RODI water, botanicals can gradually lower pH as tannins and humic substances accumulate. In medium to hard tap water, buffering capacity often resists these shifts, and you may not notice much change. At Betta Botanicals HQ, our very hard water (350+ ppm) shows almost no pH change unless we use botanicals like Alder Cones or Macaranga Leaves.
When should I replace leaves or pods in my tank?
We recommend allowing botanicals to fully break down into detritus, since this fuels microbial life and enriches the substrate. You can remove them once they stop tinting the water, but you’ll lose some of their ecological benefits. Each time you add new botanicals, follow proper preparation and observe your livestock until you learn your aquarium’s rhythm.
Are your products just for bettas?
Nope. Our botanicals are safe for almost all aquariums, terrariums, vivariums, and paludariums. The only exceptions are goldfish and axolotls, which may ingest small pods like alder cones or casuarina cones. For those species, we recommend large leaves such as Indian Almond, Loquat, or Jackfruit.
What are Tannins?
Tannins are natural compounds released by leaves, seed pods, and bark as they decompose in water. They soften water, gently lower pH, and create the characteristic tea-stained tint found in blackwater habitats. But their role goes far beyond color—tannins fuel beneficial bacteria, fungi, and biofilms, which form the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. They also offer mild antifungal benefits and help reduce stress in fish by replicating the natural conditions they’ve evolved in. At their core, tannins are plant-derived antioxidants that connect your aquarium to the same processes at work in wild flooded forests and streams.
Customer Reviews
These leaves are big, a tad bit bigger than my own hands and I like to think I have average sized hands lol. But I love the shape and look of these and if undistrubed, they will hold their shape for months.
The leaves are effective in lowering pH. Good quality product. Prep instructions are very helpful.
I bought some Macaranga leaves to try out on my imbellis breeding group. As soon as the leaf touched the water the male went to work and constructed a giant nest that covered the whole leaf.
Once the leaf sank and the babies started growing the leaf started to get covered in micro organisms which has become a natural food source for all the betta fry. Now I’m not gonna know what to do with so many imbellis 😂
I will be ordering more of the Macaranga leaves in the future!
