Magnolia Leaves

[JimO]

That's a generous offer. I can share a bit about leaves that I've picked up over the years.

It's best to let them fall and then allow them to cure for a few weeks in a dry place. When they are green or freshly fallen from the tree (and still pliable), they rot much faster. You can pick green leaves and dry them, but they don't dry with that nice bronze color and it takes a long time before they are ready. When they become brittle, they're ready to use in the viv. Also, I recommend boiling any leaves you place in your viv to prevent parasites or fungal infections. I use thick layers of leaves and boil them all for at least 15 minutes. Another great small leaf is from the Sand Live Oak, which is a different species than the southern live oak. Sand live oak leaves come in a tremendous variety of shapes and sizes, most of which are curled. This gives the leaf litter a 3-D characteristic that allows microfauna and small or juvenile frogs hiding and foraging places. If the leaf litter is flat and wet, it won't support a healthy growth of microfauna.

Here's a photo showing the difference between southern and sand live oak leaves.

I need magnolia leaves for a 20 - 30 gallon long. Please be gentle on price. >_<