Indian Almond leaves
Terminalia catappa

Introduction
These leaves (also called Ketapang, Sea Almond, Tropical Almond) were harvested fresh from wild trees grown in the rain forest in Malaysia and therefore they are essentially ‘organic’ and free from harmful pollutants/chemicals. I have been using these leaves in my Tiger shrimp tank with good results, ie they have been reproducing batch after batch continuously (see photos here). Recently, I have introduced these leaves into my Crystal Red shrimps and they too started to lay eggs although I am not sure if this is a direct result of the leaves or just coincidence. I think these leaves promote or stimulate breeding in many freshwater tropical fish species such as Beta splendens (Siamese fighting fish, see a movie of them mating here), Discus, Arowana, etc.. and also in my own experience I feel that the leaves seems to promote breeding of the Tiger and Crystal Red shrimps. Some people (also fish breeders) think that the leaves have healing/antibacterial, stress relieve and immune boosting properties. More biological information of the Indian Almond trees can be found here.

Product Details
There are three sizes available for sale: Large (Length x width: ~28 x 16 cm), Medium (~24 x 14 cm) and Small (~20 x 12 cm). These sizes are average measurements so it may vary slightly. Some of them have holes in them. They are semi-dry instead of completely dried so that they would not crumble into pieces during shipping. Due to limited number available, I can only sell in small quantity at a time. However, more could be obtained on request but time is needed. Simply rinse them with tap water before putting them into your tank. Use one small or medium leaf per 10-30L water. One large leaf per 30-50L water. These leaves will last for a long time in the aquarium because they are very thick and will not easily disintegrate.  Note: It is natural that these leaves will release tannins and humics (and other unknown organic substance, more info here) which stain the water tea colour (‘Blackwater’) and help to lower pH and hardness of your aquarium water. Frequent water change or adding activated carbon will reduce the colouration of the water but this will also remove other beneficial organic substances too!

Air bubble trapped under an Indian Almond leaf. For scale, the bubble is about 2mm diameter showing the thickness of the leaf (probably about 1~2mm thick!).

Closeup of the leaf stalk. For scale, the gravels are 4-6mm diameter.

Air bubbles trapped under an Indian Almond leaf.

My Tiger shrimps love to pick on it. Showing here is a pregnant Tiger carrying eggs. (There are some Tiger shrimps for sale here)

They just love to graze on it from time to time. I always place food for shrimps on the leaf so that tiny pieces of food do not fall in between the gravels and left uneaten and polutte the water. So placing the food on the leaf make sure that they eat every single bits!

Juvenile Tiger shrimps ‘cleaning’  the leaf.