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    Aquarium Freshwater Shrimp Care

    Our Caridina vital range is made up of essential shrimp products that help make keeping and breeding freshwater aquarium shrimp easier, such as boosting health, aiding in shrimp development and optimising the aquarium environment. 

    Some of Caridina Vital shrimp essentials may be new to you, however, they have been used by shrimp keepers and breeders in Asia for decades, with each one with its own unique benefits and properties to enhance the shrimp-keeping experience.
    Our selected blackwater aquarium botanicals can add a new aesthetic to your shrimp aquarium and even encourage natural foraging and grazing in shrimp. If you are new to blackwater aquarium botanicals or any of our Cardina vital products, feel free to reach out to us for more information.

    Forest Floor Leaf Litter Blackwater Aquarium Starter Pack

    $34.99

    Our forest floor litter packs are full of diverse colours and shapes with over 10 different species of leaves in every pack. Mixed among the leaves you may find botanicals such as acorns, magnolia stems and roots. Our packs allow you to truly create a natural-looking blackwater aquarium, bringing nature into the home.

    Tannins Released: High

    All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

    Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

    Golden Gingko Leaves (50 Pack)

    $18.99

    These beautiful leaves come from the Ginkgo biloba, which is the only living species of Ginkgoales that first appeared over 290 million years ago. Although they do not produce much in the way of tannins, their elegant shape and rich gold colour really add a unique and exquisite element to any blackwater aquarium. They are a favourite with our shrimp customers as Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp enjoy dining on the delicate textured leaves.

    Tannins Released: Low

    All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

    Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

    Nano Indica Pods (50 Pack)

    $9.99

    Casually scatter throughout your leaf litter and add to the realism of your blackwater aquarium aquascape. Provides a natural food source through biofilm production for Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp as well as bottom-dwelling species. These Indica pods are excellent for nano blackwater aquariums due to their surprisingly high tannins for such a small botanical.

    Tannins Released: High

    All our botanicals are organically sourced, free from harmful pesticides and naturally sun-dried without the use of chemicals.

    Large Sisal Gogo Pods (10 Pack)

    $12.99

    Gogo Pods make excellent hideaways for shrimp and small bottom dwellers. Their appearance can help create a more realistic biotope environment and they can be broken up into different shapes to add variety to your blackwater aquarium aquascape. They are also big enough to make great natural spawning caves for smaller fish.

    Tannins Released: High

    All our botanicals are organically sourced, free from harmful pesticides and naturally sun-dried without chemicals.

    Malaysian Forest Jumbo Leaf Litter Starter Pack

    $38.99

    This forest floor leaf litter combo is packed full of leaves commonly found throughout Borneo's forests their diverse shapes and sizes will make a real impact in your blackwater aquarium. Some leaves are over 30cm, making this Malaysian leaf litter pack perfect for larger blackwater aquarium projects. Like a forest floor in nature, you will find botanicals throughout the leaf litter which will help the aesthetic of creating a truly natural-looking blackwater aquarium.

    Check out our other leaf litter pack, perfect for smaller blackwater aquariums under 60cm. 

    Tannins Released: High

    All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

    Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

    Large Raw Cinnamon Sapwood Curl Caves

    $28.99

    Our large cinnamon sapwood rolls are practical as well as beneficial. The aquarium cinnamon sapwood contains cinnamaldehyde, which is believed to help keep diseases at bay due to its antibacterial properties.  

    The bark naturally curls up in the drying process creating a remarkable natural shelter and spawning spot for shrimp, crayfish and small fish. Cinnamon bark is LOVED by freshwater shrimp and bottom-dwelling fish as it encourages natural foraging and grazing. 

    COUMARIN FREE 

    Tannins Released: Medium

    COMMON QUESTION: We often get asked about the use of cinnamon in the aquarium and whether there is a possibility of a Cinnamaldehyde overdose. Cinnamaldehyde released from cinnamon is minimal after boiling. Furthermore, Cinnamaldehyde water solubility is poor so an overdose in the aquarium would be extremely unlikely. 
    It is believed that these factors contribute to just enough Cinnamaldehyde being released into the aquarium to provide a positive antibacterial effect. This is why it has been used by shrimp keepers in parts of Southeast Asia for decades, it is also believed the consumption of Cinnamon by shrimp helps with growth and health.

    All our botanicals are organically sourced, free from harmful pesticides and naturally sun-dried without the use of chemicals.

    Longan Leaves (20 Pack)

    $19.99

    Longan leaves have not yet made their mark yet in the west but in parts of Asia, they are the cure-all for many fish ailments and the go-to cure for turtle keepers to treat gastrointestinal parasites. Fishkeepers that use Longan leaves claim they balance the PH of the aquarium, fight fungus kills parasites and help with the conditioning of exhausted fish. 

    We use them in our quarantine tanks and ponds, particularly with fish that have been travelling for days. Whether or not the benefits are true, we personally find fish recover far quicker and are less prone to disease caused by transport stress. 

    If you are looking for a leaf with similar properties to Indian almond leaves but without the heavy tannins or the lowering of the PH rapidly you found them.

    Tannins Released: High

    All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

    Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

    Small Hibiscus Seed Pods (70 Pack)

    $12.99$14.99

    These delicate-looking but robust Hibiscus seed pods are another favourite of our blackwater aquarium customers. Their golden appearance brings a new colour element to a blackwater aquascape diversifying the tones throughout the botanicals and leaves. They also make an excellent alternative food source for Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp which enjoy nibbling on them as much as our Frangipani Flower Stems.

    Tannins Released: Low

    All our botanicals are organically sourced, free from harmful pesticides and naturally sun-dried without chemicals.

    Large Frangipani Flower Stems (70 Pack)

    $12.99$16.99

    Frangipani Flower Stems appear to almost bloom underwater and make a unique and elegant addition to a blackwater aquarium aquascape. A must for Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp keepers, shrimp love to dine on the flower stems like it is their last meal. The Frangipani Flower produces a surprisingly large amount of tannins for such a little flower turning the water a rich dark red colour. 

    Tannins Released: High 

    As with all our botanicals, this product is free from any chemicals and is naturally sun-dried without the use of ethanol.

    Large Jungle Sterculia Pods (4 Pack)

    $16.99

    One of our all-time favourite blackwater aquarium botanicals, not only is it a stunning looking botanical it is also functional. Making ideal hideaways for many species of fish and shrimp, such as dwarf cichlids and wild Betta. When the Sterculia pod becomes waterlogged it becomes somewhat malleable and can be easily worked into new shapes. If you are thinking about creating a flooded forest floor blackwater aquarium, this is the botanical for you. 

    Tannins Released: High

    All our botanicals are organically sourced, free from harmful pesticides and naturally sun-dried without chemicals.

    Green Gingko Leaves (50 Pack)

    $18.99

    These beautiful leaves come from the Ginkgo biloba, which is the only living species of Ginkgoales that first appeared over 290 million years ago. Although they do not produce much in the way of tannins, their elegant shape add a unique and exquisite element to any blackwater aquarium. They are a favourite with our shrimp customers as Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp enjoy dining on the delicate textured leaves.

    Tannins Released: Low

    All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

    Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

    Large Crescent Eucalyptus Leaves (50 Pack)

    $14.99

    Malaysian Eucalyptus leaves are unique in shape and differ from the typical leaf used in blackwater aquariums, and are a favourite among our aquascaping team. Their shape adds a new element to leaf litter and is an ideal choice for Malaysian blackwater biotopes. 

    The leaves also provide similar antibacterial properties that are found in Indian almond leaves and are commonly used in parts in parts of southeast Asia to heal common ailments found in the home aquarium.

    Tannins Released: Medium

    All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

    Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

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