Casuarina Cones

Casuarina cones (Casuarina equisetifolia) are the small, woody, cone-like fruits of the coastal she-oak. The tree is native from India through Southeast Asia to northern Australia and the western Pacific, and now grows along tropical coastlines worldwide. Ours are collected locally in Puerto Rico. Each cone is about 8–21 mm (0.3-0.9 in) long, segmented and warm brown, like a miniature pine cone on the substrate. They need a boil to sink. After that they’re hard and slow to break down, holding their shape for one to three months while releasing a gentle, steady dose of tannins. Scattered across the bottom, they add fine-scale detail and give shrimplets, fry, and microfauna small crevices to work through. Their compact size also makes them easy to use in a mesh bag in the filter.

Habitat Snapshot

Tannin Character: Low–Medium, sustained · Water Tone: Light amber · Habitat Origin: India to the western Pacific · Breakdown: 1–3 months · Best For: Shrimp · Nano tanks · Filter media bags · Substrate detail · Preparation: Rinse + Boil · Quantity: 25 g

Key Benefits

• Small scale adds micro-habitat for shrimplets, fry, and microfauna
• Long-lasting for its size, holding shape for one to three months
• Gentle, steady tannin release with a light tint
• Works on the substrate, between hardscape, or in a filter media bag

How to Use

Rinse, then boil for 10–15 minutes until the cones sink. Boiling also cleans them. Scatter across the substrate, tuck them between leaves and pods, or place them in a mesh media bag in the filter. Use 10–15 cones per 10 gal (38 L). Replace when they soften, roughly every one to three months. Mix in with larger leaves from our range for a layered litter bed.

Best For

Shrimp colonies, fry-rearing tanks, nano aquariums, wild betta builds, and any botanical aquarium where small-scale detail adds to the natural look. Also a good fit for aquarists who want gentle tannin conditioning without heavy water staining.

Please Note: Not for human consumption. Preparation required. Because this is a natural product, size, shape, color, and texture will vary from piece to piece.

Let the botanical become part of the system. The value is in the slow breakdown, biofilm, tannin character, habitat texture, and natural behavior it encourages. This is where sunken forests come to life.