Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was at Irba and LLL Reptile had this live moss (thick as heck) and they told me that it is a Moss from East coast. He couldn't provide a name. He assured me that it was perfect for the tropical Viv. Does anyone know what moss this is? I think this is the link:

http://lllreptile.com/v2/content/catalog/?section_string=cage-supplies&category_string=bedding&product_string=live-terrarium-moss

Could someone id it and tell me if its Ok for the Dart tanks?

thanks-Maggie

Looks to me like a Dicranum spp. I collect this stuff myself and have had great success with it. I have some still going strong for over a year now with no need for winter dormancy despite my area having some pretty cold winters.

-Bill J.
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I am in Pennsylvania and I also collect that moss for my habitats. I have about 5 different PA natural mosses that I use and that one is my favorite. It stays green all year, holds together very well, and is nice and solid. It doesn't grow very fast though so don't expect it to spread very quckly.

Good to know its the right kind of moss. If I break off sections to place into the tank floor and on wood pieces, will the seams fill in soon enough? thanks! Maggie

This moss tends to stay together in clumps that are more or less round in shape but you can 'mush' (technical term) them together. I put down a layer of loose Coco/peat mixture prior to putting it in my Leuc tank and it now looks like one piece after about 6 months. I like it since the FF's can't hide in it and the frogs don't miss even one of them plus the frogs can move around on it very easily. You can also clean it (vacuum) very easily since it is so firm. ON the flipside, it doesn't look as natural or grow as fast as some other mosses. In the next tank I put together I am not going to use it exclusively but it will definantly be there for a feeding area.

thanks for that info. Good food for thought. I put it just in my feeding area too as I noticed similar charactoristics! thanks-Maggie

Hello,

I bought the same moss you speak of from LLL, and it has been doing very well with my mantellas since October. It is under a daylight compact fluorescent (Home Depot $7.00). As of late, I am really starting to get away from the putting green look (which this moss definitely provides!), and going for more natural aesthetics.

Java moss does this perfectly, as it spreads fast amongst leaf litter and such, and will steadily grow up backgrounds, wood, etc. No moss I have bought or found will spread like Java...and it is really cost effective if you have an aquarium with good lighting to propagate it.
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David Knight
Tempe, AZ

3.0.1 D. imitator
3.2 D. leucomelas
1.2.1 P. terribilis (mint)
0.0.2 D. azureus
0.0.1 D. tinctorius (Alanis)
0.1 D. tinctorius (Brazilian cobalt)
0.0.4 D. auratus (Panamanian green and bronze)
1.1 M. madagascariensis
1.0 P. hypochondrialis

How do you grow Java moss in an aquarium? Does it take anything special?

I keep meaning to get some java moss.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I grow mine in a ten gallon aquarium (formerly for tetras, now for tadpoles) with a power filter and incandescent hood with 2 daylight compact fluorescent bulbs. Temperature range is between 72 and 80. I've never had the water tested. Every 2 weeks or so it produces enough that I can pluck enough out for vivarium use.
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David Knight
Tempe, AZ

3.0.1 D. imitator
3.2 D. leucomelas
1.2.1 P. terribilis (mint)
0.0.2 D. azureus
0.0.1 D. tinctorius (Alanis)
0.1 D. tinctorius (Brazilian cobalt)
0.0.4 D. auratus (Panamanian green and bronze)
1.1 M. madagascariensis
1.0 P. hypochondrialis

Great idea! Have you seen that new Moss Ball thing? Its a Korean Variety, an aquarium moss that is forms a clump that shapes into a ball. Its really an Algae they say but inhibits the growth of other algaes and it looks really cool. Wonder if they'd be good for Dart tank water portions? I saw it on Ebay. Maggie

I have seen them at the local aquarium store. Why not give them a try?
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David Knight
Tempe, AZ

3.0.1 D. imitator
3.2 D. leucomelas
1.2.1 P. terribilis (mint)
0.0.2 D. azureus
0.0.1 D. tinctorius (Alanis)
0.1 D. tinctorius (Brazilian cobalt)
0.0.4 D. auratus (Panamanian green and bronze)
1.1 M. madagascariensis
1.0 P. hypochondrialis