BettaBotanicals

08/28/2026

Always testing new formulas of Betta Tea to see what kind of hues/shades we can come up with for our Botanical Method, Blackwater, and Biotope Aquariums. The hues on the left ecosystem have a slightly different assortment of prepared leaf litters, bark, and pods but I feel it’s not quite dark enough. What do you think? This is unedited taken with my iPhone.

08/28/2026

Not captured was the transfer into that container and them all going in different directions 😂 very relieved they arrived safe and sound!

08/26/2026

Partners in Tint since the beginning! 🍂 They requested 3ft palm fronds, so if you are local to them keep your eyes peeled for those

08/08/2026

Summer break is upon us at Betta Botanicals, and I will be venturing beneath the leaves to break down into detritus and replenish my ‘tint-spiration’. Thank you for your support during our summer break from August 9th through 14th, and please note that I will begin shipping orders placed during this time starting Saturday August 15th. Communication may be a bit delayed. Aquatic Plants and Merch will continue shipping as normal.
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If you place an order while I am away and need to make an adjustment, please send me an email. I’ll be back from beneath the leaves soon!

08/06/2026

Fresh From the Forest 8/7 👀🍂 Alder Cones and Magnolia Leaves are staples for our Botanical Method Aquariums and we’ve curated our alder cones in larger quantities. 30g->60g & 60g->120g AND a new limited edition run of Siberian Alder Cones with a slightly different hue and appearance for new textures and new colors in your substrates. We’ve also sourced new XL Magnolia Leaves (huuuuge) for the forest floor of your vivariums, isopod bins, and Botanical Method Aquariums. All sustainably curated in home-compostable packaging to reduce our impact on the planet.

07/30/2026

Testing the water from the drainage layer was fascinating. TDS was 450+ from all the fruit fly dusting yet pH was 5.7ish. It’s a beautiful color! Smells great too! I will be re-leafing their forest floor with willow oak and texas live oak, unexotic yet highly functional!

07/27/2026

Five years ago I was selling floating plants on Etsy to fund a single order of leaf litter. Now the garage is completely full. In between: Pride Packs, a magazine feature, thirteen ambassadors, and one Betta macrostoma fry…and so much more

05/11/2026

Life in The Ecosystem Garage this past weekend 🌿🍂🥃🐟🐸 Betta Botanicals has its first official employee helping me out with inventory and general garage ‘chaos’! A big welcome to .quatics who has been here for 6 weeks now! With her help I’ve been able to pivot to projects like flooding the 75 gallon which will be loosely biotope-inspired South American fishes and plants. The goo-phase is in full swing!! has partnered with us on our biotope guide which is 10 out of 16 sections done 👀 his photos along with others (which I’ve teased) are bringing cohesion and tint-spiration to bettabotanicals.com 🙏 a few snaps of the vivariums including nubs our toeless gold dust basti.

04/29/2026

Insitu Terentang, Palm Frond, Macaranga, and more from the flooded forests where many of our favorite wild bettas can be found. This is a sneak peak of some of the new photography that will be curated on the site over the next week (bonus photo of my Mazda absolutely full to the brim with ecosystem supplies). Many of these habitats are threatened, which is why we will be partnering with in the coming months to support their mission! Right now is a great time to join the dark side of the aquarium hobby with a botanical method, blackwater, or biotope aquarium 🍂🥃🪾🌿

04/20/2026

A GLOWING botanical method aquarium built by our friend AlexB Aquatics

How can anyone not enjoy a tannin stained aquarium?
My new scape is GLOWING in the corner of the fish room, and I love it!

Inspired by a flooded forest habitat of Colombia, I used cuttings from my pothos to mimic terrestrial plants that have been inundated by the floodwaters. For once, I also used biotope correct botanicals, with a lovely mix of Colombian species from BettaBotanicals.

Watch the full build now: https://youtu.be/pJhzLz0dseM