Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My gramma got some Irish moss and it seems to be doing very well. I was wondering if I were to get some from her, would it survive in a vivarium environment?

-Brock

It will grow to capacity in about 2 weeks, and then crash. It is not capable of surviving a tropical environment. This is all from personal experience. Do yourself a favor and use tropical pillow moss (try www.themossman.com)...it will honestly save time and money in the long run.
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David Knight
Tempe, AZ

D. imitator
D. leucomelas
P. terribilis
D. azureus
D. tinctorius (Alanis)

Yep. That stuff is hell in a vivarium, nothing can keep it alive. I think it likes drier soil and direct sunlight. Pillow moss is the way to go.
-David Taylor

This depends upon which "Irish moss" you are referring to. There are several things that are not true moss at all that go under the common name of Irish moss. One is Helxine soleirolii, also known as Baby's tears that is acutally related to the Pileas and makes a nice, tiny leaved terrarium plant ground cover. Another is Selaginella kraussiana brownii, one of the "club mosses" that is an excellent terrarium plant, although this particular species doesn't spread as rapidly as other Selaginellas. The problem with common names is we can't be sure we are all talking about the same thing.

Most of the true mosses, except for the pillow moss, Java moss and perhaps some other tropical mosses do not survive long in terrariums, though. I have some trouble growing the pillow moss, as well. There are a few spots where it remains happy, usually nearest to the light source. I mostly use it for a temporary floor for nursery/quarantine containers, and keep a "culture" of it growing separately in shallow containers where it gets some morning sun and excellent lighting for this purpose.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos