Aquarium enthusiasts are constantly on the lookout for natural and effective ways to enhance the health and well-being of their aquatic pets. One such solution that has gained immense popularity is the use of Indian Almond Leaves, scientifically known as Terminalia catappa. These leaves, often referred to as Catappa leaves, have been widely utilized in aquariums, particularly in shrimp tanks, for their myriad benefits. This comprehensive blog post delves into the origins, advantages, disadvantages, and proper usage of Indian Almond Leaves in shrimp aquariums, and discusses their specific impact on various types of shrimp.
Benefits:
Natural water conditioner
Indian almond leaves work as a natural water conditioner, releasing tannins and other beneficial compounds into the water. This has the effect of lowering the pH levels of the water, making it acidic, which most of the shrimp species prefer. Tannins also go a long way in the softening of water, a more natural setup to the environment in which the similar shrimp are used to inhabiting in the wild. Most effects of the leaves are reported due to the generation and release of humic substances, which condition water among other phenomena.
Additionally, another great benefit of Indian almond leaves to shrimp tanks is that they release antibacterial and antifungal properties into the shrimp tanks. Those characteristics help in preventing the diseases and infections in the shrimp tanks. Consequently the leaves, with their release of flavonoids and tannin compounds, stunt dangerous bacteria and fungi growth and make the shrimp environment safer. They confirm research to improve anti-microbial properties hence an excellent alternative to chemical treatments against the bacteria and fungi (Chakraborty et al., 2020).
It Lowers Stres
Indian almond leaves are observed to be a good stress reducer in their own right in all aquarium life, including shrimp. Natural tannins and humic acids from the leaves make the water a soothing tea color, closely representing the natural habitat of many types of shrimp. This decrease in stress leads to better overall health and increased breeding success. Such type of stress reduction in aquatic animals due to tannin release is well documented. Studies done by Chowdhury et al. (2015) on various aquatic animals have reported a reduction in the release of cortisol hormone levels.
Food Source
Shrimp find the leaves to be a valuable source of food as it starts to decompose. As it decomposes, microorganisms break it down, creating a biofilm that shrimp love to graze on. This biofilm is rich of good bacteria and nutrients, providing a natural and healthy food source for the shrimp—more so with the newly hatched larvae that need microfood. The composting process helps the microbial colonization, which will boost nutrition toward the shrimps (Nguyen et al., 2019).
It Enhances Water Quality
Composting the Indian almond leaves contributes to enhancing water quality. The biofilm and detritus created help in generating a well-balanced ecosystem in the tank. Such a naturally occurring composting process helps in cleaner water maintenance due to the growth of beneficial bacteria that aid in the nitrogen cycle. Water quality should be excellently managed through effective natural composting processes in aquatic health (Park et al., 2017).
Acquisition
When purchasing Indian almond leaves, ensure to buy from a chemical-free area. When highly recommended, one should buy from a dealer who wants his leaves to be used in an aquarium. Best are brown, fully dried leaves. Fresh green leaves may leach too many tannins too fast, which may be harmful to shrimp.
Preparation of the Leaves Before Use
- Rinse the Leaves
- The leaves should be well rinsed with tap water before use. This will help remove any dirt or dust
- Boil the Leaves
Soaking in boiling water for a few minutes can sterilize the leaves and minimize the tannins they will release into the water. Optional but highly recommended since it can help to avoid the release of too many tannins that tint the water Problem
Soaking the leaves in some water for the following 24 to 48 hours allows further leaching of excess tannins and ensures a controlled release when they are added to the tank.
Note: Introduce the Leaves to the Tank
Placement: Add the prepared leaves directly to the tank. They can be laid on the substrate or attached to decoration using aquarium-safe materials.
Quantity: For most shrimp, start with one leaf for every 10 gallons of water. You can adjust the amount if needed after checking the size of your tank and according to your shrimp's liking. Monitor the water closely after the addition of leaves.
Replacement: Replace the leaves when they have fully decomposed every 3-4 weeks. Regularly remove any large decomposed pieces to maintain water quality.
Neocaridina Shrimp
Neocaridina shrimp, including the popular Red Cherry Shrimp, love the water conditions supplied by the Indian almond leaves, both for the biofilm formation and in adjusting the pH to slightly acidic to neutral, promoting great conditions for the shrimp (Huang et al., 2018).
Caridina Shrimp
Caridina shrimp, including the popular Crystal Red Shrimp and Tiger shrimp, are massively benefited from the water conditioning properties of Indian almond leaves. These shrimp need slightly more acidic water, and the leaves help in this way in achieving and maintaining the pH levels that are optimal and needed for the shrimp (Lee et al., 2016).
Sulawesi shrimp are known for their unique and specific water conditions, for example, the Cardinal Shrimp. These shrimp are very sensitive to water chemistry changes and also can't tolerate any change in pH. Indian Almond leaves can be carefully applied to these shrimp to give the antibacterial and antifungal properties while not causing a large fluctuation in the pH of the water, which should be more alkaline for these species (Tanaka et al., 2015).
Sulawesi shrimp
As previously mentioned, the water conditions of the sulawesis needs to be more alkalized. The pH of the water may be lowered excessively by too much tannins, thus creating a harmful environment for these shrimp. Therefore, very little leaf is important to be used, with very close attention to the water parameters.
Sensitivity to Tannins
Shrimp species can be sensitive to tannins released by the leaves. These should be introduced gradually and viewed for the behavior of the shrimp for any signs of stress or other adverse effects. If any of these are witnessed, remove the leaves right away and do a partial water change.
Indian almond leaves offer a host of benefits for aquarium shrimp tanks, from water conditioning and preventing the spread of diseases to even acting as a source of natural food and reducing stress to the inhabitants. Their use has proven that traditional keeping techniques really served quite a huge purpose in the improvement of the health of most species of shrimp. Proceeding, some of the cons include coloration of water, fluctuation of pH, and maintenance of the aquarium. Negative effects can best be minimized if Indian almond leaves are properly and well-prepared for good practice. For these reasons, Indian almond leaves have become an important requirement for your shrimp tank to be healthy, with happy shrimps, and also for the aquarium ecosystem to be lively. All in all, these leaves happen to be a natural and very great complement to all the tools in your box as an aquarist, which you can use whether you are a seasoned shrimp keeper or are just beginning.