Product Description: Shingles Live Oak leaves (Quercus imbricaria) are an incredibly durable leaf for botanical aquariums, vivariums, and other bioactive enclosures making them a great choice if you are new to using botanicals. We love this species because it adds a red/brown tint to the water, and its durable nature creates a lot of supplemental nutrition for our animals. The leaves are consumed by isopods in bioactive enclosures, and over time broken down into rich detritus in the aquarium to fuel beneficial bacteria and fungi. The leaves range in size from 1"-4" long, and roughly 0.5"-1" wide, making them amazing for adding details to small aquariums. The occasional twig or acorn is expected in this mix! These leaves are hand-collected and dried in Florida. 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: 1 ounce by weight, 12 ounces by volume, or 3oz by weight, 32oz by value, Shingles Live Oak Leaves. Sizes range. This is a natural product, and variation between leaves and botanicals is expected.

Aquarium Botanical Location: North America.

Aquarium Botanical FAQs 

1. Please reference our Shipping and Hassle-Free Return Policy at the bottom of the screen. All Products are packaged inside sustainably sourced and renewable sugar cane fibers allowing them to be fully biodegradable and compostable. Yes, you can bury these bags in your backyard to enrich your soils. 
2. Please refer to our botanical preparation instructions. These Botanicals are grown and harvested in pesticide-free environments and it is recommended to use 2-3 botanical pieces per 5 gallons to start, wait 5-7 days, or for the next water exchange to then add more.
3. Our aquarium and vivarium botanicals, leaves, and seed pods are not for human consumption, ever.
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Commonly Asked Questions:

 

1) Will Botanicals Lower The pH Of My Water?

It entirely depends on your water's chemistry. Soft water will allow the botanicals to lower your pH more than if you have medium or hard water. At Betta Botanicals HQ our tap water is Very Hard, ( 350+ppm) and we do not notice a change in water pH unless using Alder Cones or Macaranga Leaves.

2) What Are The Fluffy White Growth On My Botanicals?

White growths are the colonization of biofilms and fungi. We call this the 'goo phase' and it is totally natural. Botanicals are fuel for the ecosystem and the populations of bacteria and fungi will naturally rise and fall. 

3) I Don't Keep Bettas. Will These Botanicals Be Okay For My Critters?

100% yes. Our botanicals are for aquariums, terrariums, vivariums, and all natural enclosures wishing to recreate a more natural environment.

4) I Have Goldfish and Axolotls, What Botanicals Should I Avoid?

We DO NOT recommend using botanicals that these fish can ingest. Botanicals like casuarina cones, small alder cones, and live oak are not suited for these animals. Large aquarium leaves like Indian almond, loquat, and jackfruit leaf litter are preferred. 

5) When Should I Replace My Aquarium Leaves?

We recommend letting aquarium leaves and seed pods entirely break down into beneficial detritus. You can absolutely remove them after they don’t release tannins anymore, you just won't get all potential benefits of leaving them in the ecosystem.