Colombian Jungle Pods | Sterculia apetala
Product Description: Naturally fallen and sun-dried Sterculia Pods (Sterculia apetala) from Colombia. Often referred to as Jungle Pods, these durable, woody seed pods form along the branches of the Sterculia trees growing throughout Colombia’s lowland tropical forests. Their unique, open, cave-like shape makes them a favored botanical in both aquariums and vivariums, providing structure, surface area, and shelter within botanically driven ecosystems. They are smaller than their Indonesian counterparts, making them ideal for smaller fish or amphibians.
In the Botanical Method, Biotope, or Blackwater Aquarium, Colombian Sterculia pods are ideal for fish that need secluded territory and cover, such as apistogrammas, corydoras, and some species of tetra. Their fibrous interior and hard outer shell foster biofilm growth, providing a long-term grazing site for shrimp, snails, and rasping catfish like Otocinclus and Plecos. These aquatic seed pods will gradually soften over time, without rapid decomposition. Their concave structure also creates appealing spawning sites and aids in territory establishment, especially for small cichlids.
In the vivarium, these seed pods are quickly colonized by mosses and microfauna, while creating local areas of high moisture. Although not water-holding, their fibrous inner surface helps maintain humidity in the leaf litter zone, which is ideal for amphibians like dart frogs that rely on microclimates for temperature regulation. Once saturated, they break down slowly and contribute to the organic sediments and soils of the forest floor, supporting clean-up crew members like springtails and isopods.
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: 4c Sterculia apetala Pods
Size Range: ~2–5” in diameter, half closed or wide open.
Aquarium Botanical Location: Colombia
This is a natural product—variation in color, shape, and texture is expected.
Colombian Jungle Pods | Sterculia apetala
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.