leaf litter

[ALX]

I would like to get some leaf litter for my Pangios.
Is there a good way to just find some outside? I live in Michigan and it is wintery out but there are still a bunch of brown leafs on the ground.
Is that what I need to get? I see mostly maple and oak leaves.

[loachmom]

Hi ALX,

I use oak leaves from outside for my kuhlis. I've used leaves from the pin oak trees in my yard, and I've harvested oak leaves off the ground in the woods near my house. I just boil them for awhile before adding to the tank. The kuhlis and the cherry shrimp love them. The shrimp eat something off of them, and the kuhlis hide in them.

[Diana]

Maple is probably OK, too.

If you can get the most intact, least decomposed leaves that you can still ID as Oak, I would do that.
I also have some Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) leaves in one tank, and have used other species of Oak before. They hold up well.

[ALX]

So I went for a little walk today down Oak St. for some leafs today. I figured Oak St. was the place to look Even though it was snowy out I found a bunch. They are in really good shape too. I still have not identified what exact kind of Oak leaf they are.
I am boiling them now. It smells very woodsy in here. I am not sure how long to boil for though.
Is this just to sterilize or is it to get the tannins out?
I can put them right in after they have boiled? No soaking in a bucket type deal?

Also, how much will the leafs be decomposing and causing extra amonia?

I am excited to put them in my tank. I have still not gotten my sand for my 30 gallon which has Kuhlis in it. So they will be pleased I am sure.
My creyfish will also be getting some too. He loves leafs.

[starsplitter7]

Does your Crawfish eat the leaves? I notice that most leafy plants in my Crawfish tank have sliced leaves and disappear. I have seen crawfish perch in leaves but never eat them. I know that they slice the leaves when they grab them.

[ALX]

Does your Crawfish eat the leaves? I notice that most leafy plants in my Crawfish tank have sliced leaves and disappear. I have seen crawfish perch in leaves but never eat them. I know that they slice the leaves when they grab them.

Well, my crayfish does not eat the dead leafs really, perhaps nibble if he does not get fed soon enough. He does like to eat fresh aquatic plants. I think most crays naturally do eat vegitation.
But with the "leaf litter" ones, he drags them into his cave to make it cozy, or he pulls some in front of his cave as he backs in to make a nice doorway. Or puts them over his head like I can't see him anymore. He has maple ones right now but i did not boil them or do anything special to them, They floated for awhile before sinking.

I think I found out what leafs I have. Burr Oak and White Oak.

[shari2]

The boiling is to sterilize and make them sink. Don't want any nasties in your tank from the leaves. Who knows what's splashed/melted/grown/been laid on them.

You don't have to boil long if you don't mind the tannins. Oak leaves are pretty tough, but once you see them starting to skeletonize you should probably remove them and replace with new ones. They will get sucked into your filters and mashed into the substrate (unless it's sand).

[loachmom]

So I went for a little walk today down Oak St. for some leafs today. I figured Oak St. was the place to look Even though it was snowy out I found a bunch. They are in really good shape too. I still have not identified what exact kind of Oak leaf they are.
I am boiling them now. It smells very woodsy in here. I am not sure how long to boil for though.
Is this just to sterilize or is it to get the tannins out?
I can put them right in after they have boiled? No soaking in a bucket type deal?

Also, how much will the leafs be decomposing and causing extra amonia?

I am excited to put them in my tank. I have still not gotten my sand for my 30 gallon which has Kuhlis in it. So they will be pleased I am sure.
My creyfish will also be getting some too. He loves leafs.

Ah, the smell of boiling oak leaves. My kids hate that smell.

I usually just boil mine long enough to clean them as Shari said. Once, though, I boiled them over and over in many changes of water to remove the tannins. They worked fine that way, too.

Your kuhlis will be so happy. I see mine much more now that I keep the leaves in the tank for them. I put quite a few leaves in so that they are piled up, and I often see kuhlis slithering through them, or I see little heads peeking out from here and there.

[ALX]

Yeah they are going to love it. I ended up doing the boiling with several changes of water to release tannins. Most of the leaves are now soaking in a bucket now. I did put some in my QT tank for my lovely new Pangio doriae loaches They look so good with the leaves. They are the same color. I can't wait till I can put them in my bigger tank with the kuhlis and a bunch more leafs.

[Martin Thoene]

They just love leaf litter. Here's a P. cuneovirgata peeping out of an almond leaf.



Martin.

[loachmom]

Wow, Martin, that's a beautiful closeup!

[soul-hugger]

Martin, that has got to be the cutest picture of a fish I have ever seen! I bet you took it yourself, too.

ALX, Your kuhlis are going to love the leaves. I would like to get some for mine, too, because they like to hide a lot. Right now they hide under a particular decoration and seem very timid. I would love to know if you see any behaviour changes after adding the leaves.., if they seem more secure.

soul-hugger

[Martin Thoene]

Yeah, it's mine and published in Loaches.

Martin.

[capeldrae]

My photo's wont make publication like Martin's, but a khulie rooting about in the leaves.



They also like to root about in stones,

[ALX]

Oh yeah Martin, that is an awesome picture of your Kuhli enjoying a leaf! Very nice.

capeldrae, thanks for sharing your pictures too. I like the rock pile one. My Loaches will be getting a nice big rock pile too.
I was actually considering making a more permanent rock pile by siliconing some rocks together. That way I can make sure to have kuhli sized gaps and ther will be no feer of the pile shifting and squishing one. It is just a thought. I don't know if it will work out as well as it looks in my head though!