Tai Cutch Tree Bark (Approx. 2oz package)

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Origin: Nakhon Sawan, Thailand

The Cutch Tree (Senegalia catechu) is found throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand, where our supplier is located. This deciduous tree is used in traditional medicine throughout the region and is valued for its flavenols and of course, tannins and other humic substances. Cutch Tree Bark offers a rich source of these substances, which are also thought to provide antibacterial and antifungal properties and other health benefits for aquarium inhabitants, and it's used extensively by aquarists in its native region, particularly Betta enthusiasts.

Our Cutch Tree bark is harvested from the trees in a sustainable manner from a small village in Thailand just for us. Our supplier just happens to be a fish geek, and knows how to handle this bark with our needs in mind! They love this stuff in their own tanks, specifically with Gouramis! The preparation is straightforward: The bark is carefully washed with fresh water, cleaned, and dried. Nothing is added; it's nice and clean!

This bark is a sort of "shredded format", with a fibrous appearance- not unlike long fiber peat. In fact, we'd usages that you use it much like long fiber peat! This material is perfect as substrate "enhancer", vivarium/paludarium "shoreline" material, and for simply conditioning and "tinting" your aquarium water by placing it in a mesh filter bag. It's a cool spawning substrate for a number of fishes, such as bottom-spawning killies, which love laying their eggs on it. Plecos and other xylivorous catfishes actually will incorporate the bark as part of their diet, so you'd want to replace it over time.

Tp prepare it for aquarium use, rinse it overnight in freshwater to saturate it, then boil it for about 15-20 minutes. After boiling, let it soak overnight in freshwater. Although requiring just a bit more preparation than you might expect, this process will help it become more waterlogged and sink, and leach out some of the dirt, organics, and initial tannins bound up in the bark. The bark will very, very slowly decompose, and may be replaced as desired.

You can use as much as you'd like, taking into account its ability to color the water and potentially affect pH.

#cutchtreebark

NOTE: Because this is a natural product, prepared by hand, each package will differ in appearance. The photo shown is to provide an idea of what to expect the product to look like.

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All of our aquatic botanicals are intended for ornamental aquarium or terrarium use only. Please use common sense and take the time to boil or soak all botanicals prior to using them, to reduce the possibility of problems. Always go slow when introducing any botanicals into your systems, so you can judge the effect they have on your fishes and plants. They are not intended for human consumption. DO NOT INGEST!