Betta Leaf Litter
Product Description: Leaf Litter in the aquarium is the foundation of any good botanical method aquarium, forming detritus, which is the main source of fuel for these aquatic ecosystems. Our 'Betta Leaf Litter' is a diverse mix of whole and crushed leaves, small seed pods, and small twigs, which help you replicate the diverse leaf litter bed of nature. We provide a mixture of leaves that break down quickly and others that withstand the test of time, providing all the components needed to start your leaf litter aquarium. What’s inside the bag? Well, it’s a 'mixed bag' of our favorites. Some of which you can only get in this pack. We start with a mixture of crushed Mulberry, Jackfruit, and Magnolia, then enrich it with some catappa, beech, live oak, and maybe a few others like guava, bamboo, or loquat. We will throw in a few small twigs and pods for some variety and texture. 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: 32oz bag, the largest compostable bag we carry, containing a diverse mix of leaves. No bag will contain the same materials, but the 'base' of this leafy mix is hardwood leaf litter like Oak, Sycamore, Maples, and other fragmented leaves from our curated collection. Potential leaves you will find here are loquat, beech, alder cones, oak twigs, birch twigs, alder branches, and acorn tops. Maybe you will get shredded banana leaves, or never seen in the hobby native to betta habitats in Indonesia and Thailand. This is a natural product, and variation between 'Betta Leaf Litter' batches is expected.
Aquarium Botanical Locations: North America, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.
Betta Leaf Litter
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.