Alder Cones

15 Pack of Alder Cones with branches attached. 

   The small catkin from the Black Alder tree is a great way to add a little bit of the woodland to your isopod bin or enclosure.

    These little conifers give your isopods and springtails an enriching jungle gym where many microflora can flourish that can provide snacks for them as well. I like to personally add a few branches with the cones attached into my smaller isopod bins and watch the mancae explore all the alder cone crevices. 
 You could also add these interesting cones to the floor of any snail, hermit crab, frog or reptile enclosure. 

    One of the main uses for mini Alder cones in the pet world is in naturally scaped aquariums, that feature nano fish, betta fish or shrimp. These cones are full of tannins and humins which have many useful benefits when used in blackwater set ups. In addition to other 'botanicals' the alder cones create a layer of detritus which as it breaks down adds antifungal and antimicrobial benefits to the tank. This layer is beneficial to spawning, a great place for shrimp to graze, and fish fry to feel safe. We have added these cones to our nano tanks in previous years with great success. 

    When adding to a fish tank we recommend starting with four to five per gallon. Many people usually add the cones to the tank with other botanicals, however to avoid flotation you can soak them in dechlorinated water for 15 mins to make them water logged and therefore easier to sink. If you want the benefits of a blackwater tank without the break down of botanicals like these Alder cones, you can boil the cones for a few minutes and to create a tannin "tea", which once cooled can be added to your fish tank.