Review on 🍃 SunGrow Indian Almond Leaves 2-Inches: Premium Water Conditioner for Betta & Gouramis - Pack of 50 Leaves by Chris Peck

I just received this product and my first impression is disappointing. First let me say that when I placed my order I did not expect to receive "perfect" red leaves as shown in the stock image. for this product list. However, I had some expectations. First there are the leaves. It cannot be bypassed. There are natural fluctuations and this is to be expected. However, I figured there would be a bit more consistency from leaf to leaf as the photos advertise they are 2 inches long. If you buy this product based on the photos, you will not be satisfied with what you get. Also, the product description is inaccurate. At least twice these leaves are stated to be fresh, "harvested hours before shipment to ensure they get to you as soon as possible". in its freshest form. Obviously not possible but the sheets I received are very dry and brittle with some pieces falling off during shipping. They've obviously been lying in this bag in storage for a very long time. I was hoping for leaves that actually still have natural oils, elasticity and nutritional value for my pets. These leaves are dead and useless. I also did not get the 50 sheets as stated on the packaging and listing. There were 43 in the bag. Those are oops for obvious reasons. Eventually, a leaf will have some sort of insect silk with tiny spots attached to it (along with loose pieces of leaf) that could be either debris or insect eggs. Needless to say, this one gets thrown away and gets me one less hand than what I paid for. Given the quality of the product I received I am not sure if it is safe to put in my aquarium with my inverts. I can't say for sure that this is the standard quality of this product. However, based on my experience, I cannot recommend it. Update: After speaking to the company, they apologized and kindly sent a replacement with the assurance that what I received was not typical of their product. I received the new bag a few days later and finally got a chance to look at it. The difference in quality was not immediately apparent upon examination of the sealed pouch; The leaves are still not the same as in the photo. I opened the package and sniffed the contents, just like the first batch, and it was immediately apparent that this was a fresher product. I saw another reviewer complain about the smell of incense, but my leaves smelled like fresh loose leaf tea. The smell is strong but not overpowering and nothing to worry about as the tea is mostly made from the same dried leaves. So this smell is positive (my first batch was almost odorless). Then I counted the leaves and found that this time there were more than 50; It is clear that customer satisfaction is important to them and although it was not expected, I appreciate this gesture. I also noticed that the leaves have a slightly reddish color that the previous ones didn't have, and they look much bolder overall. When working with them, I noticed that my fingers got slightly oily and the sheets had a slight sheen. Because it's winter here, my hands are very dry, so I didn't miss this subtle detail. For me, another indicator of the freshness of the product. Also this time I found no traces of insects. I've adjusted my rating (+2 stars) to reflect these changes. The very friendly customer service I received while interacting with this company earned them my respect. While I can't give this product 5 stars because it's still drier than what I was looking for, I think it's a decent product if you know exactly what you're buying. **Please note: I have not updated the replacement sheet photos I received**