Are Catappas for Your Tank?
Indian almond leaves sometimes referred to as IAL or Ketapang (Terminalia catappa), is quite popular among aquarium hobbyists. These are ideal for fish that are originally from aquatic environments rich in leaf debris such as bettas, gouramis, blackwater tetras, rasboras discus, and many dwarf cichlids. It is not recommended for those that like alkaline and hard water like African cichlids from the Great Rift Valley lakes.
Here are some situations when aquarium enthusiasts use Catappas:
New aquarium set-up
Introduction of new fish to an aquarium
Induce breeding especially in Bettas
Setting up and maintaining fry aquarium
Moving a fish to a new home in a plastic transport bag
How to Use:
These leaves are considered to be one of the best water conditioners that promote breeding and wound recovery. There are at least 5 ways how you can fully utilize its benefits.
- Create A Reptile Hide On The Leaf Substrate --- When the pack of 10-pieces of dried leaves by SunGrow is spread on the floor of the vivarium, see your beloved pets crawling and leaping over their snake bedding. With the passage of time, they will crush the leaves providing you with a visual barrier and hide for the inhabitants. Once it breaks down, the litter will be highly beneficial for your reptile’s overall development.
- Provides Thermal Cover For Hibernation And Estivation --- Reptiles have countless strategies to deal with extreme climatic conditions. Leaf litter keeps the temperature consistent and shields your pet against cold and heat. Snakes, chameleons, bearded dragons, geckos, tortoises, and others are good diggers who can burrow deep into the soil to reach their leaf litter. See your pet making room in snake aquarium tank for spending and surviving extreme conditions!
- Improves Chances Of Reproduction --- If you want to create opportunities for a thriving ball python habitat, you need to spread the SunGrow leaf litter in the terrarium setup. As they feed off the litter, the leaves offer them a better and increased chance to reproduce. The breaking down of the leaves influences the pH of the soil thereby creating circumstances for breeding.
- Sustain Optimal Population Of Microfauna --- Isopods and springtails thrive in such surroundings. Since most reptiles are carnivores, they tend to eat the smaller animal species. The leaf litter attracts centipedes, beetles, millipedes, worms, spiders, and slugs that serve as their food source. Consequently, together, our ball python tank accessories help in keeping the vivarium balanced and clear. The breakdown of leaves also aids in plant growth.
- Keeps Their Scale Out Of Dirt --- As reptiles live where dirt sticking is a very common occurrence, you need to take precautionary measures being their parents. This sticking of the dirt causes unnecessary stress in them. Adding a thick layer of leaf litter over the ball python aquarium substrate will give them a lot of room from getting muddy in the mud.
- Create A Reptile Hide On The Leaf Substrate --- When the pack of 10-pieces of dried leaves by SunGrow is spread on the floor of the vivarium, see your beloved pets crawling and leaping over their snake bedding. With the passage of time, they will crush the leaves providing you with a visual barrier and hide for the inhabitants. Once it breaks down, the litter will be highly beneficial for your reptile’s overall development.
- Provides Thermal Cover For Hibernation And Estivation --- Reptiles have countless strategies to deal with extreme climatic conditions. Leaf litter keeps the temperature consistent and shields your pet against cold and heat. Snakes, chameleons, bearded dragons, geckos, tortoises, and others are good diggers who can burrow deep into the soil to reach their leaf litter. See your pet making room in snake aquarium tank for spending and surviving extreme conditions!
- Improves Chances Of Reproduction --- If you want to create opportunities for a thriving ball python habitat, you need to spread the SunGrow leaf litter in the terrarium setup. As they feed off the litter, the leaves offer them a better and increased chance to reproduce. The breaking down of the leaves influences the pH of the soil thereby creating circumstances for breeding.
- Sustain Optimal Population Of Microfauna --- Isopods and springtails thrive in such surroundings. Since most reptiles are carnivores, they tend to eat the smaller animal species. The leaf litter attracts centipedes, beetles, millipedes, worms, spiders, and slugs that serve as their food source. Consequently, together, our ball python tank accessories help in keeping the vivarium balanced and clear. The breakdown of leaves also aids in plant growth.
- Keeps Their Scale Out Of Dirt --- As reptiles live where dirt sticking is a very common occurrence, you need to take precautionary measures being their parents. This sticking of the dirt causes unnecessary stress in them. Adding a thick layer of leaf litter over the ball python aquarium substrate will give them a lot of room from getting muddy in the mud.
