Delonix regia seed pods - aquarium safe?

[MarcW]

Hi Everyone,

20+ years ago while on a family holiday to the Caribbean, Jamaica, I believe, I picked up and brought home one side of a large curved seed pod, about 16-18 inches long. While looking for something else yesterday I found it in a box and thought it'd look good in an aquarium, rather than in a box in the loft!

I believe it to be the seed pod from Delonix regia, which from what I've read so far, is very widely introduced, and seems to have edible seeds and various uses in traditional medicines.

Has anyone heard of these being used in aquariums before? Should it be fairly safe to just put in and see what happens?!

[bekateen]

From a professional botanist friend of mine, commenting on your question:

That's a tough one. Some legumes are spectacularly toxic, others aren't. Not familiar with that species.

Sorry that's no help, but I think it says don't take it for granted without specific wisdom.

Good luck, Eric

[Dave Rinaldo]

I searched "Delonix regia seed pod toxicity" and found this.
http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?scr ... 7000100003

[MarcW]

Thanks Eric and Dave.

To my non-scientific mind that paper says that the mature seeds had previously been assumed to be toxic, but it seems the results of their study showed them to be edible, albeit with a cardiovascular risk due to a high sodium to potassium ratio.

I think that means the pods should be ok, if that study is accurate. Maybe in future I'll test it out in a tank, after soaking and changing water regularly in a bin for a while, maybe with some daphnia or similar to see if they survive.

For now it'll stay in the box!