A blend of six dried leaves from Indonesia: Macaranga, Bauhinia, jackfruit, mango, Indian almond and rain tree. Scatter it over the substrate as leaf litter for isopods, millipedes, springtails and other detritivores, on its own or on top of a British leaf layer such as our mixed broadleaf leaf litter. Sold by weight in 50g and 100g packs, weighed dry.
What Is in the Blend
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Macaranga (Macaranga sp.): large, rounded leaves with veins that fan out from near the centre, pale yellow when dry.
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Bauhinia (Bauhinia purpurea): the rounded, two-lobed leaves of the orchid tree.
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Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): broad, leathery, oval leaves.
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Mango (Mangifera indica): long, narrow leaves with a strong central vein.
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Indian almond (Terminalia catappa): large, broad leaves, the same tree fishkeepers know as catappa.
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Rain tree (Samanea saman): small oval leaflets that fill the gaps between the bigger leaves.
The leaves come to us as a bulk blend, so the share of each type changes from batch to batch. We aim to put all six in every pack, but a pack may not always contain every type.
Why a Mix of Leaves
Leaves differ in how tough they are and how quickly they break down, so a mix gives the tub litter at several stages at once, and the animals can choose what they eat first. The broad leaves make cover to hide under; the small rain tree leaflets settle into the gaps. Isopods take leaf litter best once it has started to soften and decay, so a layer that is topped up a little at a time always has some at that stage.
How to Use It
Scatter it over the substrate, on its own or on top of your usual leaf litter. The leaves go in dry and soften as they take up moisture from the tub, fastest at the damp end.
Top up as the layer thins. Leaf litter and rotting wood should be in the tub at all times, with a calcium source such as Malawi limestone and a living substrate underneath, such as one with flake soil in it.
Store it dry in its bag until you need it.
It suits tropical isopods, including Cubaris, as well as millipedes and bioactive set-ups with springtails. For how leaf types compare, see our leaf litter guide.
Pack Sizes
Two sizes, 50g and 100g, both weighed dry. Dried leaves are light and bulky, so 50g is more litter than the number suggests.
