Colombian Cacao Leaves | Theobroma cacao
Product Description: Sustainably collected Colombian Cacao leaves (Theobroma cacao) from the same regions as popular and iconic tropical species in our hobby. These textured leaves are ideal for the habitat creation of aquarium fish like Plecos, Corydoras, Cardinal Tetras, Angelfish, Dwarf Cichlids, and more.
When incorporated into a Botanical Method, Blackwater, or Biotope Aquarium, this Colombian-sourced cacao leaf litter helps recreate the naturally forming leaf beds these fish encounter in the wild. When layered with our other Colombian botanicals, they foster foraging behavior, support the microbial food web, and promote territory building and spawning in the home aquarium.
Like our curated Cacao Leaves from Indonesia, these contain an abundance of minerals beneficial to shrimp, snails, and other aquatic life. Trace amounts of iron, magnesium, and natural antioxidants are present, along with mild antibacterial and antifungal properties that support ecological balance. Their low tannin content makes them an excellent choice for aquarists who prefer less tinted water.
In the vivarium, these leaves contribute to the health of your clean-up crew by encouraging biofilm growth and offering trace minerals that support microfauna. Dart frog species such as Ameerega, Dendrobates, Phyllobates, and Oophaga frequently encounter cacao leaves in their native Colombian forest floor habitats. Adding them to your enclosure helps recreate this leaf litter understory, offering both ecological support and functional aesthetics.
Our packaging is home compostable. Just like the botanicals inside, it will break down naturally and return to the soil, because what supports your ecosystem should minimally impact our planet.
Not for Human Consumption. Preparation Required.
Quantities: 20c Cacao leaves from Colombia.
Size Range: ~5-10" in length and 2"-4" wide.
Aquarium Botanical Location: Colombia.
This is a natural product. Variation in color, texture, and shape is expected.
Colombian Cacao Leaves | Theobroma cacao
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.