Product Description: The Dregea Pod (Dregea volubillis) is celebrated for its soft interior which is eaten by shrimp, snails, and suckermouth catfish, and for the fibrous material left behind once it is broken down. These pods grow an abundance of supplemental nutrition like bacteria, fungi, and microfauna for our fish to eat. They have a soft and smooth inside and a ridged woody exterior that imparts a good amount of tannins to the water, and they will need a good soak in order to sink. Once these pods have been picked clean, a great deal of the 'pod structure' is left behind. We encourage you to leave this in the tank to develop your substrate. These pods tend to soften quite fast, breaking apart into long fibrous strands within a week or two, a facet we love because most pods don't do that. In the bioactive enclosure, those soft palatable insides are eaten by the clean up crew on the substrate. They are a delicacy for amphipods, and when positioned just right, make a great shelter for your frogs and geckos. 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: 20c Dregea Pods. Sizes range. This is a natural product, and variation between leaves and botanicals is expected.

Aquarium Botanical Location: Sri Lanka

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.
4.  

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.