Description
Reptiscape Dried Banana Stems are a unique addition to your terrarium, vivarium or aquarium decor.
Dried Banana Stems AKA Musa Stick are part of the flower stalk (transitional peduncle) of a banana plant. Their mushroom or bone like appearance are a great addition to a terrarium or aquarium.
Using Dried Banana Stems in a Terrarium
Add a splash of the jungle by add some Dried Banana Stems on top of your leaf litter, to give your terrarium a more realistic, rainforest look.
In the rainforest, the leaf litter may be several inches thick with seed pods scattered all over. Typically in a naturalistic or bioactive terrarium, you want to have the leaves at least a few layers deep. You should routinely add more leaves and seed pods as you see them decomposing.
Isopods and Springtails will use the seed pods as shelter, and will eventually break them down. All part of a healthy bioactive terrarium ecosystem
Using Dried Banana Stems in an Aquarium
Dried Banana Stems are part of our Tannin Collection. They can be used in a natural aquarium set up to give it a more natural appearance. Perfect for Shrimp, Betta Fish, Discus and South American Cichlids and other fish aquariums.
Banana Stems are perfect for black water aquariums as well as many other setups. The stems will provide shelter to fish fry and small species of shrimp, crabs, crayfish, snails, and other fish while maintaining a natural look in the aquarium.
They also serve as an ideal growth medium for biofilm and diatoms, both of which are key food sources to countless aquatic animal species, including shrimp and other invertebrates as well as fish.
These stems are fairly light weight and will eventually get waterlogged and sink. However boiling them for 60 minutes will speed this process up.
How to clean and sanitize Dried Banana Stems
While you can simply rinse your stems before using them. It is recommended that you also sterilize them prior to using them in a terrarium or aquarium. To achieve this you can microwave damp stems for 1-2 minute, boil the stems for approximately 5 minutes, or bake damp stems at 200 °F for approximately 15-20 minutes.
Each package contains 4 Dried Banana Stems. Each stem is approx 4” (10cm)
Due to the nature of this product there will be variation in size and shape.
Looking for more dried seed pods and nuts for your terrarium or aquarium decor? Check out our Seed Pod and Nuts Collection here.
Reptiscape Dried Banana Stems are available for sale and shipping in Canada.