Sri Lankan Mulberry Leaves on the Surface:

Dried Mulberry Leaves (Morus alba) are one of our favorite feeder botanicals for shrimp, isopods, plecos, and snails to consume, providing protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals in Botanical Method, blackwater, and biotope aquariums. Ours are hand-collected in Sri Lanka, rinsed, and air-dried to preserve their nutrition. Paired with more durable leaves, they help us replicate the varied durability, palatability, textures, and colors of leaf litter beds across the globe. Our favorite way to use them is alongside Guava and Loquat Leaves.

Essential Details

• Tannin Level: Low
• Tint Color: Ever so slightly light yellow
• Durability: Low
• Habitat Location: Sri Lanka
• Optimal For: Plecos, otocinclus, herbivorous fish, shrimp, snails, isopods, and springtails. Often consumed in 48-72 hours
• Use with Caution: No known concerns for standard aquarium inhabitants.
• Size Range: 2-5" long and 2-4" wide leaves
• Quantities: 20 leaves per pack, some may arrive crushed, and we ensure that at least the equivalent of 20 whole leaves will arrive

Sri Lankan Mulberry Leaves for Aquariums & Vivariums

Naturally dried mulberry leaves soften quickly once submerged. Their soluble compounds are released and feed the beneficial bacteria and fungi in the ecosystem, which colonize the leaf's surfaces. Grazers often consume them so fast that much of the leaf is eaten before it reaches the goo-phase.

The mulberry leaf is a staple food source in our shrimp aquariums. The softened tissue and its biofilm offer our fishes and crustaceans supplemental nutrition, food sources an ecosystem produces on its own alongside regular feedings. Plecos, otocinclus, and other herbivorous fish can graze the softened leaf as well. For a longer-lasting grazing surface, layer them over Loquat and Guava Leaves, which are more durable feeder botanicals, remaining long after the mulberry has been consumed.

Mulberry leaves release small amounts of tannins and have little to no effect on pH. They provide calcium, potassium, and magnesium, and shrimp use calcium to rebuild their exoskeleton after molting. We recommend adding Mulberry Leaves, or any leaf litter, as a recurring input rather than a single addition. Start with 2-3 leaves per 5 gallons and replenish once consumed or between water exchanges.

In a humid vivarium, isopods and springtails preferentially graze the softened leaves, and what remains will transition into beneficial detritus for the microbial community beneath the leaves.

Beneath the Leaves: Morus alba in the Wild

Morus alba is believed to be native to China and has been cultivated across Asia for thousands of years as food for silkworms. This history of silk farming brought the tree to Sri Lanka, where it is grown today.

When mulberry leaves fall, they break down quickly. Their soft tissue is low in lignin, so microbes and soil invertebrates on the ground beneath the tree consume it in short order.

When we add Sri Lankan Mulberry Leaves into the aquarium, we replicate the allochthonous inputs that fuel the food webs of aquatic ecosystems around the globe. Mother Nature leads the way.

Sustainability Note:

This product's 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.

This is a natural product — variation in color, shape, and texture is expected.