Product Description: Melastoma roots (Melastoma malabathricum) closely replicate spider wood, with an entanglement of elegant roots and stems. We love to use them to help create the edge of a river or stream, providing hiding spaces and a 'playground' for fish. Our Melastoma roots come from Sumatra and Java Indonesia and are ideal for bettas, rasboras, gouramis, and other fish from Southeast Asia. You can of course use these roots with other fish, they will look amazing with corydoras and Apistogramma alike. 

This wood naturally floats upon its first use, and you can speed up this process by giving it a good boil on the stovetop or soaking it in a bucket for a day or two. This wood will naturally darken over time as it becomes encrusted with bacteria, algae, biofilms, or fungi. If that look is not for you we recommend 'washing' with an electric toothbrush.

These pieces are not WYSIWYG, we select each by hand and the product photos serve as general expectations of what your piece could look like. We offer melastoma roots with the branch still attached, or just the root ball. 

Not for Human Consumption. Preparation Required. 

Quantities: 4c 8-10" piece of root with an option for the branch still attached. Sizes range. This is a natural product, and variation between leaves and botanicals is expected.

Aquarium Botanical Location: Sumatra/Java Indonesia.

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.