Driftwood harmful to betta?

[FroFro]

I know it's a silly question but I'm seriously asking. Before my pretty Susan passed a while back (rest his fishy soul) the only change I made to his environment was the addition of a small piece of driftwood with a anubias rubber-banded to the wood. His water parameters were fine and stable. I'd boiled and soaked the wood numerous times (yes I soaked in conditioned water) and I treated the plant for any parasites or bacteria (even though I bought it from a tube, not from a pet store tank.) I let both of these items soak in treated water for a long time before adding them to his tank, then things quickly went south. The only thing I can think of is a possible hidden parasite or a sudden change in water parameters. I read that the tannin's can cause Ph spikes, is his five gallon home too small to handle even a tiny piece of driftwood? It's no larger than my palm and it's been safely sitting in my main tank for two weeks now after I let the wood dry out for weeks and weeks. I bought a new plant to attach to the wood. I just want to be careful this time, even if I can't have the wood I'd still like to add the plant to his tank to hopefully get it a bit more "natural" looking. If it helps I think the wood is mopani, can't be certain as the label when I bought it simply said "driftwood."

 

[NickAu]

Driftwood is fine as long as there are no sharp bits or places where he can snag his tail.

I read that the tannin's can cause Ph spikes

Wood can help lower the PH but by only a small amount, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Munroco]

I agree with Nick, I don't see the wood being detrimental to your tank.

I'm intrigued though, you said you bought it from a tube? Is this a US term?

 

[FroFro]

I agree with Nick, I don't see the wood being detrimental to your tank.

I'm intrigued though, you said you bought it from a tube? Is this a US term?

I suppose? The plants are sold in small, medium, and large sizes. The larger they are the more expensive. There is the option to buy them from a tank, as seeds, or stored dry and sold in tubes. I never buy the plants from the tanks as I almost always see snails infesting them and I don't trust big pet stores when it comes to keeping up on fish health, so lord knows what parasites those things might be carrying. The tubed plants are kept in some sort of gel like substance at the roots and kept in clear plastic tubing with a taped on lid that has a hole to expose it to air. These plants are not submerged and as far as I know the pet store is not required to water them. These plants are a bit of a safer option in that they are guaranteed parasite and snail free. They are a little more pricey but I've yet to have issues from these plants when it comes to pests/the plant dying.

 

[FroFro]

Driftwood is fine as long as there are no sharp bits or places where he can snag his tail.


Wood can help lower the PH but by only a small amount, I wouldn't worry about it.

Ok that sounds about right, I plan to smother the wood in Anubis and use a safe superglue to attach them to the wood, so he should be fine swimming around it.

 

[Byron]

The former Betta may have died from any number of issues, one of which could be the wood. I have twice had fish losses, once from toxins in a chunk of wood, and once from a toxic species of fungus on another branch, so it can happen. I'm not saying it did here, just that it is not an impossibility.

Byron.

 

[Munroco]

Interesting, I've never seen plants sold like that.

 

[FroFro]

The former Betta may have died from any number of issues, one of which could be the wood. I have twice had fish losses, once from toxins in a chunk of wood, and once from a toxic species of fungus on another branch, so it can happen. I'm not saying it did here, just that it is not an impossibility.

Byron.

Well after my first betta died I let the wood dry out for about a month before boiling it several times and allowing it to soak in dechlorinated water for three days to get it water logged again. I also did this several times when I first bought the driftwood. Boiling and soaking and so on. I've had it in my main tank for almost two weeks now and my corydora and my pleco all pick at the wood and have had no visible signs of illness. Once I get enough plants to cover the wood to my liking I think it'll be safe to put in his tank, I'm sure he'll love having some natural plants to finally sit on other than silk ones.

 

[FroFro]

Interesting, I've never seen plants sold like that.

Yeah I know, it's kind of odd. What is nice though is that the petsmart near my house likes to mark them down to half price if they see the slightest sign of decay on a plant. It's funny because I can buy it and take it home and literally remove one leaf and the plant is otherwise healthy and pristine. I've tried telling them this before but, "They know what they're doing."

 

[NickAu]

Just to clarify.

When I say driftwood I mean aquarium safe real dry wood that you buy at a LFS, not stuff that you can find in the local creek or water way, this also applies to wet driftwood you can buy with plants attached wet wood can transfer pathogens and pests easily. I learned that the hard way when I introduced Planaria into my 2 foot Betta tank, I put wet wood in my tank because it had "pest snails all over it and the wood and to me thats free food.

As for dry wood I always pour boiling water over it wait till the water is cool enough for me to stick my hands in and give the wood a good scrub with a scrubbing brush then I rinse it off and put it in the tank, I love the black water look.

 

[flchamp89]

Boiling and scrubbing is good. Soaking helps water log it. Pressure washer is useful as well. I always collect my own wood. Some leach tannins longer than others. Most non live aged hardwood is ok. Do your research. Definitely avoid pine.
I use cedar which some say is a no go. Most wood is safe. Purigen will remove the tannins uf you dont want then. Alot of tetras love the tannins.

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