Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got some irish moss to put into a new viv I'm planning...but I've heard that irish moss is a grass and won't work, is this true?

I tried the stuff once like a year ago and it was flattened by the frogs and died.
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Josh Willard
www.joshsfrogs.com

The common name of "Irish moss" covers everything from a couple of the Selaginellas that should do well in a terrarium, but are more like ferns than a moss, to Helxine soleirolii, aka "baby's tears," which may also survive in a terrarium, but is decidedly not a moss. I've also seen a creeping Dianthus called "Irish moss." The trouble with common names, is you don't know what you are getting. None of the above is a true moss. The Dianthus is totally unsuited to a tropical tank, while the others aren't "moss-like." While common names are convenient, these really only work with identifying birds--i.e. a Wilson's warbler or a mountain blue bird is about the same anywhere. The common names of plants are nearly useless outside of a particular community who recognizes them. This is confusing and frustrating to anyone who does not want to become a botanist/taxonomist just to grow a few plants successfully in a frog vivarium.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

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