Sabangau Peat Swamp Kit

Bring Borneo's Sabangau peat swamp home. This kit is built around the dark, still, acidic water of the Sabangau basin in Central Kalimantan, the only place the Critically Endangered Betta hendra lives in the wild. Climbing swamp fern and macaranga leaves build a layered litter bed, melastoma roots create the tangles wild bettas thread through, and jambolan leaves add a steady tannin base. Sphagnum peat does the chemistry, softening and acidifying the water. It's a stand-in for the swamp's own peat, which forms from rainforest wood and leaves, but it's the same approach we use in our own Betta hendra tank, where the fish spawn regularly. Everything is sized for a 20-gallon (76 L) tank, with enough for setup and a first refresh.

Habitat Snapshot

Tannin Character: Medium–High · Water Tone: Amber to dark tea · Habitat Origin: Southeast Asia (Borneo-inspired; peat is a chemistry stand-in) · Breakdown: Leaves and fern 3–6 weeks, roots several months, peat a year or more as a top layer · Best For: Wild bettas · Coccina-group bettas · Soft-water nano fish · Southeast Asian biotopes · Preparation: Leaves and fern: Rinse + Boil · Roots: Boil or soak 24–48 hours · Peat: Rinse + Soak about 48 hours · Use with Caution: Add gradually in RO, rain, or very soft water; pH can drop quickly · Tank Size: 20 gal (76 L) · Quantity: 5 botanicals, 24 pieces plus 250 g peat

What's Inside

• 8 Climbing Swamp Fern fronds
• 4 Macaranga Leaves
• 2 Melastoma Roots
• 10 Jambolan Leaves
• 250 g Sphagnum Peat Moss

Each pack is unique; variation in size, color, and shape is expected.

Key Benefits

• A habitat-inspired botanical set for Southeast Asian peat swamp biotopes
• Layered litter, root cover, and peat swamp water chemistry in one kit
• Sized for a 20-gallon tank, with enough for setup plus a refresh
• Pairs with our guide, Into the Peat Swamps of Borneo: The World of Betta hendra

Please Note: Not for human consumption. Preparation required. Because these are natural products, 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.