Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi:

Does anyone know if Liverwort will work inside a dart tank? If so, on what substrate will it grow? I love the way it looks and I used to have it growing in my front yard in water logged, clay soil area with moss all around it. I found a place that will sell it to me now. Is there a way to get it to grow in a tank, on the floor, meandering up any wood trunk or any other Liverwort variety that will work in a Dart tank?

Thanks-

Maggie

Maggie-- Try it out and then tell US how it works. Every time I've thought I had a liverwort in my dart tanks, it has turned out to be a prothalium of a developing fern--not that this is ever disappointing, but they do look a lot alike.

My only personal botanical experiences with liverworts have been in cold mountain streams on rocks along the edges or just under the surface, so I've never tried to use them in artificial tropical conditions. Wouldn't a tropical liverwort be great though?
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

I use Crystalwort emmersed with good success in my dart tanks (closely related to Liverwort). And currently im in the process of experimenting with a Sp.Marchantia with my mantellas (I keep them more arid then my darts). Last time I tried to use Marchantia with my darts its thallus became sludgey and I eventually threw it out. There are several species of Marchantia so maybe the type I get in plant stores up in Canada just arnt ment for terrariums.

Cool! Do you know:

-What Crystalworts look like in comparision to Liverworts?
-Where I might get some?
-What conditions I might need to have?
Soil, light, moisture?

Thank you so much for your expertise

Maggie

Hey Maggie,

1)Crystalwort is like a small/skinny version of liverwort. Both of them have dichotomous branching (they split into 'Y' shapes). Its more of a lime green color compared to Liverworts deep green.

2) You can probably track some down at a local fish store. Its the new fish craze to string it submersed to rocks or wood to give an underwater moss effect. Normally it will be found floating at the surface of water like Duckweed. And if all else fails do a google seach for "Riccia Fluitans" and go from there .

3) As far as conditions it needs to be constantly moist (in my limited experience). I currently have some growing in completely sealed dart tanks on some spagnum, also some in water features that my darts trampled into the gravel, even on some moist wood. In the few tanks that have it my light ranges from 3000k-5000k (the 3000k is very reddish so thats a guestimate on the color scale as ive thrown out its box, but it seems to do better in the 5000k range).

Lastly IMO its a nice change from moss but im not sure if it compares much visually to liverwort. I have however seen some sp. of Riccia that look exactly like mini Liverwort but ive never been able to track them down, so your best shot at getting some seems to be Riccia Fluitans. Good luck.

-Martin

Hey Martin:

Thanks for the tip and your knowledgeableness. I looked the Crystalwort up. I'll be giving it a try and reporting back as to how it does!

Maggie