Can Anyone Id This Driftwood?

I purchased it over a decade ago at Petsmart, it was for either fish or reptiles, and I swear it was just labeled "driftwood". New it was a light wood with an almost purple core, and it did float for a while before it sunk. It was smooth and was probably sandblasted. Now it is a very rich dark red-brown and the tannins still stain the water reddish.

My two clown plecos have wittled it down to almost nothing over the last 10 years and they have started fighting over what little is left. I would really like to find them more as they have liked nothing else I have added for them.

I cannot figure out what it may have originally been. Any help is appreciated! My best guess is maybe Manzanita? I haven't been able to find any locally to confirm though.

Pictures are from the first couple of years.

 

I was going to guess manzanita and then I saw in your post that’s what you thought too. I’m guessing it’s a branch body rather than the signature full branch piece I see people get a lot.

Also I’m loving that pile of kuhlis!

 

From your description of its center originally being almost purple an from looking at its color, it seems like common cedar- non aromatic. But its difficult to tell. I couldn't give you a true ID. Much driftwood sold nowadays is much lighter. If my guess is right, it was possibly originally sold for a reptile tank.

I was going to guess manzanita and then I saw in your post that’s what you thought too. I’m guessing it’s a branch body rather than the signature full branch piece I see people get a lot.

Also I’m loving that pile of kuhlis!

 

Also I’m loving that pile of kuhlis!

Thanks! I have around 2 dozen and I keep my tank specifically for them. My oldest has been with me for 14 years next month! They are a riot, especially during the nightly feeding frenzies. I have 4" fish but buy Massavore Diet to keep them all happy.

 

Thanks! I have around 2 dozen and I keep my tank specifically for them. My oldest has been with me for 14 years next month! They are a riot, especially during the nightly feeding frenzies. I have 4" fish but buy Massavore Diet to keep them all happy.
View attachment 437161

Fourteen years? Whoa! Looking forward to having my kuhlis for a good long while then. Also do you have to soak that a lot to get it to sink? My kuhlis act like they’re hungry all the time and I feel like a hefty chunk of food like that would keep them occupied.

 

It does take dried driftwood quite sok time to soak up water an sink...gets full of tiny air bubbles. That's why nowadays, you find a lot of pet shops that carry driftwood for aquariums have a piece of flat slate screwed to the bottom to anchor it in the substrate.

I purchased it over a decade ago at Petsmart, it was for either fish or reptiles, and I swear it was just labeled "driftwood". New it was a light wood with an almost purple core, and it did float for a while before it sunk. It was smooth and was probably sandblasted. Now it is a very rich dark red-brown and the tannins still stain the water reddish.

My two clown plecos have wittled it down to almost nothing over the last 10 years and they have started fighting over what little is left. I would really like to find them more as they have liked nothing else I have added for them.

I cannot figure out what it may have originally been. Any help is appreciated! My best guess is maybe Manzanita? I haven't been able to find any locally to confirm though.

Pictures are from the first couple of years. View attachment 436109View attachment 436110View attachment 436111View attachment 436112View attachment 436113

From your description of its center originally being almost purple an from looking at its color, it seems like common cedar- non aromatic. But its difficult to tell. I couldn't give you a true ID. Much driftwood sold nowadays is much lighter. If my guess is right, it was possibly originally sold for a reptile tank.

Fourteen years? Whoa! Looking forward to having my kuhlis for a good long while then. Also do you have to soak that a lot to get it to sink? My kuhlis act like they’re hungry all the time and I feel like a hefty chunk of food like that would keep them occupied.

 

The stuff I am trying to find took the longest to sink. It bobbed around for a few weeks. Probably why no one carries it anymore! I have grape and Mayalasian I put in a couple months ago. I weighed it down in a bucket and it was ready in a week. MopanI sinks like a stone from the start!

Kuhlis basically live to find food, so that is not surprising! To my knowledge they do not eat driftwood, I give them meaty pellet food which they swarm and chase around in the evening. They do however really enjoy caves and holes and things to squeeze under. My old piece of grapewood had tiny tunnels in it and they would hide inside. I'd pull it out to clean, no fish in sight, and end up with a few in the bottom of the bucket!