On a Mission to Tint the World
This July marks five years of Betta Botanicals. What began with wetland conservation and salmon restoration work in Whatcom County led me to discover the benefits of leaf litter for the aquarium, and that discovery became the foundation for embracing the Botanical Method. Five years later, it has grown into more than I could have dreamed: a business, and a community, built by TanninBaes from every corner of the globe.
For the first time in the company's history, I get to do this full time. I spend my days sourcing, curating, and testing new materials for aquariums, vivariums, and enclosures, and that's only possible because of the people who keep choosing to build with us. Every leaf litter mix, every seed pod, every root shipped in compostable packaging exists because this community showed up for it. I'm grateful for that every day.
To mark five years, and to thank the community that made them possible, Betta Botanicals is running an Anniversary Sale from July 24 through Tannin Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The code TINTIVERSARY5 will be automatically applied at checkout.
This offer cannot be combined with other codes or promotions and cannot be applied to prior purchases.
Save 25% on all products, no code required at checkout.
An important Note from ben
Running a small sourcing operation carries its own pressures, and this year brought a decision I've avoided for five years: raising prices. Material costs, shipping, and sourcing expenses have all gone up, and adjusting pricing is what keeps the business sustainable enough to keep operating the way it has. This is the first price increase in Betta Botanicals' history, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me. I continue to work hard and ensure that Betta Botanicals is our community's go-to source for ecosystem supplies, and if you ever need assistance or a little tint-spiration in building your ecosystem, please send me an email at info@bettabotanicals.com
-Ben P. | Founder & Chief Ecosystem Officer
Home Compostable Packaging
It just makes sense. If we’re sending you natural materials that break down and feed your aquarium, the packaging they arrive in should return to the earth just as easily. That’s why all of our packaging is designed to compost at home, breaking down into soil instead of ending up in a landfill.
Our materials are BPA & Phthalate Free, GMO Free, and contain no animal products. They also meet ASTM D6400 standards for compostability, so you can be confident they’re safe for your ecosystem and gentle on the planet.
Sustainability
In line with our commitment to environmental sustainability, every product is thoughtfully packaged using 100% home-compostable materials made from renewable plant fibers. By choosing Betta Botanicals®, you improve your creatures' well-being while contributing to the betterment of our planet. As of June 2023, Betta Botanicals operates using solar energy, and we are actively working towards offsetting the carbon emissions from our shipping processes.
biosecurity
In close collaboration with our suppliers, every batch of botanicals is subject to a strict QA/QC process to ensure purity and consistency. Each lot is tested and reviewed before it reaches your aquarium or vivarium, so when your critter’s forest floor arrives, you can trust it’s safe, clean, and ready to support a thriving ecosystem.
preservation
Aquatic habitats around the world face daily threats from human development, pollution, and resource extraction. At Betta Botanicals, we are committed to ensuring that the materials we provide never come at the expense of the ecosystems they originate from.
Our collection strategies are designed to protect natural habitats—working only with suppliers who follow sustainable practices, focusing on naturally fallen materials, and leaving local ecosystems intact. By harvesting responsibly, we make sure the botanicals you use in your aquarium or vivarium support not only your critters, but also the wild environments they come from.
Next Steps & Information
Beginners
Your very first Botanical Method Aquarium will change how you think about keeping fish. Don’t worry—you don’t need to know everything before you start. My #1 tip for new aquarists is patience. Add botanicals gradually, watch how your fish respond, and let the ecosystem unfold at its own pace.
To make it easier, we created the Beginners Collection: a handpicked set of botanicals that are safe for sensitive species, simple to use, and impactful in small doses. A great place to begin is with Alder Cones for a quick tint boost and natural antifungal support, or the #TanninBae Variety Pack, curated specifically for new hobbyists.
Our blogs and newsletters are full of resources to guide your first steps. Start with:
- Guide to the Botanical Method Aquarium
- How to Collect Your Own Botanicals
- Re-Writing the Unfortunate Tale of Aquatic Biofilms
- Life & Death In Blackwater Aquariums
These will give you the confidence to begin layering leaves, pods, and wood into your tank, and to enjoy the process of watching your ecosystem come alive.
Preparation Video
Every Botanical Method Aquarium begins with preparation. In the wild, a single leaf falls into thousands of gallons of water, instantly diluted. In your aquarium, that luxury of dilution doesn’t exist—so we prepare. Rinsing, boiling, and soaking botanicals ensures that what enters your tank is clean, safe, and ready to fuel life without overwhelming your system.
Botanical preparation gives your aquarium a gentler introduction to the tannins, humic substances, and organic matter that botanicals release. Done properly, it mirrors the natural process of seasonal input: one leaf at a time, gradually shaping the ecosystem.
Our detailed Botanical Preparation Guide walks you step by step through the process. Follow it, and you’ll set the stage for a thriving aquarium.
Let customers speak for us
My bael pods fell apart when I let them dry out after boiling them I was waiting to start a new tank and when I put them in the water after they dried they fell apart. So I let them know and they replaced them great customer service. And they said they were going to put a note under the description of the pods. That way other customers know which makes me very happy. Everything else is amazing too and I love their products.
I’ve been introducing this to my 10 gallon tank that houses a betta and a few varieties of snails. I’ve put some in a small bag that sits in the filter and also on the tank floor. My snails seem to like gliding over it and my betta definitely enjoys exploring the little nooks and crannies that the leaves create. Next step is acquiring a few little shrimpies to help out with the algae and biofilm. Love this stuff!
Great array of botanicals that will last my ten gallon a while.
Beautiful botanicals! Will definitely order from here in the future.
Introduced tannins immediately. And made my tank beautiful. I definitely recommend.
Although I'm not using them for their suggested use, I think they'll make a beautiful presentation for my chocolate lecture!
my shrimp thank you for quality botanicals
This leaf litter is a fantastic size for nano tanks. They arrived quickly. I'm excited to build my new blackwater tank with these!
Leaves were well packed. The seller really took the time to preserve the delicate leaves during shipping. I'm excited to give these to my shrimp!
Shipping was quick and the items were well packed. The pods came in a wonderful variety of sizes!
First of all I was so impressed with the care in packaging of these products! They are beautiful and sustainable and are great to store the botanicals in. There were clear and easy directions and the botanicals were fresh and smelled wonderful when I boiled them. My lucky Lunara ( Betta) my Scarlet Badis Ravi, my Bloody Mary shrimp tank and my Endler/ Scarlett Badis tank all have leaf litter, alder cones and all the wonderful things that come in this pack. If you’ve never used botanicals I highly recommend it!
Amazing color and my betta loved it !
Wonderful as always!! botanicals never fail to make a just okay tank look fantastic :) Will be ordering again as always
Everything with my purchase was easy and my leaves arrived quickly. I followed the instructions and made a tea from the leaves after boiling them. It did turn the water in my 5-gal tank brackish or tea colored. I'm not sure if my betta liked it or not. He didn't say. I was hoping it would heal a spot on his fin but that spot has been there so long and hasn't changed so I now think it's just a discoloration. I'm hoping my fish was happy. My friends think he is "pampered." If nothing else it probably sanitized my tank.
My corydoras are so happy. This pack is so full!