4.9
A single areca palm frond with brown curled fronds for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Areca Palm Fronds | Dypsis lutescens

From $8.00
5.0
A long and hollow brown Palm Flower Pot botanical for aquarium caves, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Palm Flower Pot

$5.50
5.0
A group of spiraled brown rams horn pods (Borassus flabellifer) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Rams Horn Pods | Borassus flabellifer

From $4.75
4.9
A group of round, golden-brown bael tree pods (Aegle marmelos) with hollow interiors for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Bael Tree Pods | Aegle marmelos

From $5.00
5.0
Dark brown and black hazelnut twigs from Betta Botanicals showcasing their branching and intricate structure for blackwater betta fish tanks.

Hazelnut Twigs

$8.00
5.0
Honeysuckle twigs from Betta Botanicals with their light brown and grey color with delicate branching network for blackwater betta fish aquariums.

Bush Honeysuckle Twigs | Lonicera sp.

$8.00
5.0
A group of dark brown cacao pods (Theobroma cacao) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Cacao Pod | Theobroma cacao

From $5.00
5.0
Calcium+Protein shrimp food by KatsAquatics to help prevent failed shrimp molts at Betta Botanicals, for cherry shrimp, for crystal red shrimp.

Calcium + Protein Shrimp Food

$13.50
5.0
Red Bajakah Root (Spatholobus littoralis) pieces dried for use in blackwater aquariums, biotopes, and bioactive enclosures, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Bajakah Root | Spatholobus littoralis hassk

$8.00
5.0
A collection of curled brown and orange Sappanwood pods (Biancaea sappan) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Sappanwood Pods | Biancaea sappan

$9.50
5.0
A group of golden-brown Longan leaves (Dimocarpus longan Lour) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Longan Leaf Litter | Dimocarpus longan Lour

$7.00
5.0
A single light-brown Melastoma root (Melastoma malabathricum) with thin branching roots for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Melastoma Roots | Melastoma malabathricum

$18.00
4.5
A spread of curled and flat climbing swamp fern leaves (Stenochlaena palustris) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Climbing Swamp Fern | Stenochlaena palustris

$12.00
5.0
A group of light and medium brown jambolan leaves (Syzygium cumini) with varied speckling and texture for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Jambolan Leaves | Syzygium cumini

$12.00
5.0
A group of small to large brown, amber, yellow leaves and seed pods and cones for medium sized blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at betta botanicals.

20 Gallon Ecosystem Kit

$175.00
5.0
A group of brown, amber, orange leaves, seed pods, manzanita wood, and cones for small blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

10 Gallon Ecosystem Kit

$115.00
5.0
A group of large brown and golden Macaranga leaves (Macaranga triloba) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Macaranga Leaves | Macaranga triloba

$12.00
5.0
A group of dark brown-red Mangrove leaves (Rhizophora mangle) for blackwater and biotope aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Red Mangrove Leaves | Rhizophora mangle

$14.00

Build Your Ecosystem with Aquarium Botanicals

Every botanical we curate—whether leaf, seed pod, bark, or root—contributes its own durability, tannin profile, and ecological benefit. Layered together, they create the foundation of botanical method, blackwater, and biotope aquariums, and bioactive vivariums, where life flourishes through natural processes.

At Betta Botanicals, we uphold strict sourcing standards. Each batch is inspected and tested before it reaches your aquarium or vivarium, and all packaging is 100% home-compostable to keep your ecosystem and our planet aligned. With select free USA shipping on orders over $50 and detailed preparation guidance, we make it simple to start building your own ecosystems right at home.

Leaf Litter Safe for Fish, Shrimp, and Vivariums

We love the aesthetic that botanicals add to our ecosystems, but their true value lies in supporting microbial colonization, stabilizing water chemistry, and providing cover, foraging zones, and spawning sites. Whether you’re adding Catappa Leaves to calm a Betta, Alder Cones to tint water for Tetras, or larger leaves to enrich a vivarium floor for dart frogs, every product is tested.

Aquarium Botanicals for Blackwater and Biotopes

Pairing soft water with botanicals allows you to replicate natural blackwater habitats—ecosystems defined by their rich tint, low pH, and low dissolved solids. Many popular fish, from Tetras to Apistogramma, evolved in these conditions. Botanicals like Alder Cones and Macaranga Leaves help gently lower pH, while pods and bark create natural spawning shelters. For aquarists seeking to replicate specific biotope aquariums, our curated range makes it possible to blend function with aesthetics.