Judging The Relationship Between Ketapang Leaves And Betta Fish

Hickey illustration (Cuong Nguyen - Pixabay)

JAKARTA - During the pandemic, betta fish were excellent. From those that cost tens of thousands to millions of rupiah, everything is selling well in the market. In fact, their fans are willing to participate in the auction to get the best betta.

The hobby of maintaining hickey is indeed a trend in today's society. The various colors and patterns make this ornamental fish loved by so many people.

However, keep in mind that Betta fish also need to be cared for so that they are still beautiful and can have a long life.

One of the natural treatments that can be given to a hickey is ketapang leaves. This plant was previously often used as medicine in the cultivation of catfish and carp.

Ketapang leaves are believed to make hickeys free from various diseases, including bacterial infections. This broad leaf plant is also believed to be able to maintain water quality, beautify the skin, and brighten the color of the body.

In addition, ketapang leaves can also help prevent fungal infections, diseases, skin, and reduce stress on the hickey.

Even for the cultivation process, these leaves can be useful as a place for the hickey to store eggs. The acid in the leaves can kill bacteria and parasites so that the eggs are safe from infection.

How to care for a hickey with ketapang leaves?

First of all, prepare two 15-25cm ketapang leaves. Clean it with running water, then put it in the aquarium. This amount is sufficient for an aquarium with 15-50 liters of water.

If you are using a tank with purigens or filters, it is best to remove them first. This is because purigens and filters can remove tannins from ketapang leaves.

Tannins themselves are polyphenolic compounds from plants that react by coagulating proteins and sharing other organic compounds such as amino acids and alkaloids.

Replace ketapang leaves every two to three weeks to maintain the pH of the water and the health of the hickey.

Despite the many benefits, be careful to treat the hickey with ketapang leaves. This is because if the ketapang leaves are not sterile and not properly processed, they will cause danger.

Hence, it is important to clean the leaves to their full potential. Starting from cleaning the dirt and then soaking the leaves in salt water for about 30 minutes.

After that, ketapang leaves can be soaked again in clean water, let stand 24 hours. Then, dry it in the sun for two to three days to dry. Only then can ketapang leaves be put into the aquarium.