Biotope One A Study of Flora and Fauna 
Biotope One is giving away a botanicals starter pack to Canadian members of the Facebook Biotope One group. Simply join the group and or post ‘Hello’ in the group Giveaway post.
All you have to do is be a member of the Biotope One aquarium, terrarium, and plant group on Facebook and reply on the post.
You can be a new member or an existing member. All that matters is that you are a member of the group at the time of the drawing and have replied to the giveaway post something like ‘Hello’ or ‘I’m Here’.
We will ship them to you free of charge.
The giveaway will be to a randomly drawn Canadian group member. Winner will be chosen next Monday, December 3rd.
I just moved to Canada and want to get to know more Canadian aquarium, terrarium, plant, amphibian, reptile, and insect hobbyists.
We will be doing more giveaways in the future in the EU, USA, and other regions so if you aren’t in Canada, join in just in case.
Free Giveaway Includes
8 Indian Lamond Leaves
2 Jackfruit Leaves
2 Guava Leaves
1 Catappa Bark Stick
1 Bamboo Leaf
1 Banana Leaf
Biotope One is giving away a botanical starter kit from my own personal stash of botanicals. Giveaway is only for Canadian addresses.
Must be Biotope One group members, however can be new or already a member of the Biotope One Facebook group.
Catappa leaves, also known as Ketapang, are great for adding tannins and leaf litter to your tank. Not only does the leaf litter add depth and aesthetics to your tank it also offers many other great health benefits. Shrimp and small fish and fry love to hide amongst it for security.
Guava leaves are a great food source for shrimp and fish in the aquarium and many species love eating the biofilm the leaves create. These leaves contain polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids and tannins. Carotenoids have been suggested in scientific studies to aid spawning health of both the parent and the offspring.
It seems that most all the leaves we utilize in our aquariums provide some medicinal or antibacterial and antifungal properties. Leaves of the Katahal, which is also known as the Jackfruit tree, are no different and also have healing properties for human use.
Bark from the Catappa tree is a great way to increase tannins in your water and to add health benefits. These dried strips of Catappa bark are great for conditioning breeding fish and adding a natural look to your aquarium.
Banana leaves are one of the lightest tannin additives known but don’t let that fool you. Banana leaves offer many benefits and Betta breeders use them for many reasons. These dried leaves are used to condition Betta scales and fins to improve their health.
Bamboo leaves offer a natural look and nice hiding places for your fish. It makes a great addition to your tank’s leaf litter. Leaf it as it is (it’s cut in half lengthwise to make it easier to ship) or tear it into strips for a natural hiding place for fry.
Tannins don’t just offer a dark natural water color. Tannins offer a better sense of security in the darker water and puts the fish more at ease for a more natural behavior. Tannins also offer medicinal and conditioning benefits.
You can find more information about botanicals here on the Biotope One website.
