Maple Leaf Litter — Fast-Decaying Temperate Leaves for Dart Frog Vivariums & Isopod Cultures Description: Maple leaves (Acer spp.) from pesticide- and herbicide-free locations, fully desiccated. These leaves are most often between 1–5 inches long and vary in color from red to yellow to brown. Our Maple leaves can consist of silver maple, red maple, or other types of maple — type will vary with inventory and stock levels. Why keepers love Maple leaf litter: Natural hides & stress relief — Inverts, amphibians, and small reptiles burrow under and hide among the leaves to feel secure Egg-laying sites — Dart frogs and many invertebrates naturally deposit eggs on and between leaf litter Humidity control — Holds and slowly releases moisture to help stabilize humidity swings Microfauna fuel — Feeds your cleanup crew (springtails, isopods) with constant food and shelter Mimics the wild — Recreates the deep leaf litter layer found in natural dart frog and invertebrate habitats for more naturalistic behavior Fast decomposition — Thinner than most commercially available leaf litter, decays rapidly in a vivarium — great for isopod cultures and the lower layer of leaves in a build Sizing: Most leaves are between 1–5 inches long. Best for: dart frog vivariums, tropical bioactive enclosures, isopod cultures, salamander terrariums, and rainforest-style naturalistic builds. Note: Only dried leaves will be shipped. If you would like fresh, green leaves, please contact us for availability. Sorting process: We actively sort through leaves and pull out the majority of broken leaves We sort the leaves through any sticks, acorns, rocks, or other materials Leaves are poured into sorting vats and are not cleaned, only dried (may be heat treated per request) There may be minimal traces of sticks, acorns, rocks, or plant material — we do our best to give you a premium product We make sure the leaves are bone-dry for packaging FrogDaddy leaf grades: AAA — Pristine, high-quality leaves. Display tank/exhibit quality. Always fully cleaned/sterilized with 0 breaks or imperfections. Rarely available. A — High-quality leaves. Thick cuticle types are cleaned and sterilized; thin cuticle types are meticulously sorted for purity. Our "standard" leaves. B — Leaves with imperfections, breaks, and minor debris. Thick cuticle leaves still cleaned and sterilized; thin cuticle leaves sorted but contain higher debris amounts. C — Leaves with some breaks and tears. Thick cuticle leaves not cleaned or sterilized; thin cuticle leaves may be dirty and sorted quickly with possible large debris amounts. D — Leaves with many breaks and imperfections; lowest grade. Harvested and shipped without sorting or cleaning. Recommended for invertebrates only or boil/clean yourself.
