5.0
A group of golden-brown and tan magnolia leaves (Magnolia grandiflora) for dart frog vivariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Southern Magnolia Leaves | Magnolia grandiflora

$10.00
Dwarf water lettuce by Betta Botanicals, for planted tanks, betta fish tanks, and botanical aquariums.

Dwarf Water Lettuce

$7.00
5.0
A group of tan to light brown guava leaves (Psidium guajava) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Guava Leaves | Psidium guava

$12.00
5.0
A collection of golden-brown Dregea pods (Dregea volubilis) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Dregea Pods | Dregea volubillis

$10.00
5.0
A group of brown and tan oak twigs (Quercus sp.) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Shingle Live Oak Twigs | Quercus imbricaria

$8.00
5.0
Giant Water Lettuce by Betta Botanicals, for fish tanks, aquariums, and blackwater biotope aquariums.

Giant Water Lettuce

$7.00
5.0
Loose brown alder cones (Alnus rubra) showing texture and size variety for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Alder Cones | Alnus rubra

From $8.00
5.0
Nettle Leaves for Shrimp by Betta Botanicals with a Cherry Shrimp Colony eating the bright green leaves.

Nettle Leaves | Urtica dioica

$12.00
4.8
Monkey Pods - Peruvian Blackwater Botanicals in packaging at Betta Botanicals.

Monkey Pods | Lecythis pisonis

From $7.75
5.0
Salvinia Oblongifolia in a betta fish tank by Betta Botanicals, giant water spangles, giant salvinia.

Salvinia Oblongifolia - Shipping 3/3

$9.00
4.8
A curated mix of brown, tan, and reddish aquarium botanicals including Sterculia pods, leaves, and bark for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Betta Botanicals® Variety Pack

$24.00
5.0
A collection of assorted botanicals including oak leaves, alder cones, and magnolia leaves (various species) for blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

#TanninBae Beginner Variety Pack

$17.00

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.