Banana Leaves

[mchambers]

I was pondering the use of Indian almond and oak leaves, and saw a reference or two to using banana leaves. Was wondering if anybody here had ever tried using them.

Also did a search on eBay, and found a few sellers, including one that was quite cheap, and included this fascinating, if hard to follow, narrative:

"Banana leaves to dry completely then. To put in a dozen fish to marinate torso. By putting down some 2-3 leaf or tear leaves into small capillaries. Before you put into it. Left to rubber water from the leaves begin to change color Malabar. First we marinate the fish may be fermented with dark Or dark brown for a 3-4 days.​

After fermentation should change the water color to fade gradually. Until a light brown color. The fermented or cultured fish behave. Fermentation of dark fermentation should not waste too much fish. The fermented fish and fins will bite you. To scale fuselage. The fish is frozen. Swimming is not active. Fight and slow down time. The fermented leaves Malabar. (Water, weak tea color) for disinfection should put salt down.​

 

[chriscoli]

wow....all that about cultured fish, biting fins, fuselage, and especially the part about the fighting and slowing down time...quite confusing, indeed!

 

[jonclark96]

Thanks for that. Actually made me chuckle out loud.


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[JasonC]

huh... fermentation?? they talking aquariums, or some wierd type of fish/bananna leaf liqour?

Odd.. ;P

 

[Becca]

Will (Localzoo) has used them.

You can buy food grade ones in the frozen section of Global Food or H Mart.

 

[mchambers]

Thanks. There's a little Thai market in Silver Spring that might carry them.

 

[Becca]

I'm not sure if you have to dry them before using them... Isaac's daycare provider uses them to wrap coconut rice, which she sometimes gives me to take home for dessert. I've got her recipe, but still can't get it right. If I ever get the unwrapped version to work right, maybe I'll bring it to one of the CCA meetings.

 

[Localzoo]

I use them for bettas and as an anti fungal I get food grade ones and rip them up into strips and let them dry then make a tea out of them. You can also just leave the dried leaves in the tank in two days they will sink and start turning the water into a light yellow/tea color. My pleco will eat the leaves before they do any good lol that's why I make a tea and then Use it.
You still have to rinse them even if its the food grade ones they have a starchy wax kind of layer on the dull side if the leaf. Posted a pic after I wash it then strip it then dry

Here's something I used when first started
For general prevention of disease, to improve the colour and to promote well-being, add 1-2 strips of leaf per fish to the water. For intensive treatment of disease or to promote readiness for spawning, add one strip of leaf per 3 - 5 l to the water.

The leaves will absorb water for 2 - 3 days (you can speed this process up by pushing the leaves under the water), they will slowly transmit their active constituents to the aquarium water over a period of 7 - 14 days. The leaves can then be taking out and replaced with new leaves.

Oh shrimp and discus and most South American love them as food


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[Localzoo]

Ready to brew


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[mchambers]

Thanks, Will. Very interesting (although not as funny as the eBay listing).

 

[ddavila06]

great information!!!! thanks for sharing

 

[Localzoo]

No prob. If you have any more questions on them let me know.



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[mchambers]

Yes, we have banana leaves

Picked up a pound of frozen banana leaves at the Thai Market (that's really the name) in downtown Silver Spring for $1.89. Now I've got to wash and dry them.

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[ddavila06]

now im tempted.. u plan to make teaout of them or drop them in the tanks?

 

[Becca]

If plecos eat these, I feel like they might be a better option than growing out babies on veggies and algae wafers since they don't decay in a way that fouls the water if left too long.

 

[chriscoli]

I'll be visiting H-Mart soon, I think!

 

[mchambers]

Usage

now im tempted.. u plan to make teaout of them or drop them in the tanks?

I was thinking I would dry them and then put them in tanks. I suppose I could just put them in without first drying.

 

[Localzoo]

I was thinking I would dry them and then put them in tanks. I suppose I could just put them in without first drying.

You can put them without drying. wash them to remove anything on surface(quick dip in boiling water will kill any nasties that survived the freezing process) will take longer for them to leach out medicinal ingredients etc. just count on leaving them in there for 4 or more days.


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