Moss balls

[bev]

hi what's a moss ball and how do u get one

 

[amber]

Marimo Moss - you can get them on eBay, usually from Germany.
I have one in my tank - these are green, furry orbs - actually a type of less invasive algae.
When the 'Lotl pushes it around, it rolls and helps maintain the nice round shape.

To grow another, carefully pull one in half and tie both into ball shapes with plain cotton

Easy peasy.

These are slow but determined growers that aren't picky of their water conditions - and some have been recorded to grow 14" wide over a period of about 20 years.

I've had mine about 8 months now, and it's 2.5" ish wide. I got it sized about 1.8".

Hope that helps!

Oh - it's actually one of the National Treasures of Japan!

 

[jennifer]

bev, if you want to know what they look like, search google images, there are zillions of photos out there.

 

[lorie]

They're a plant and they're great! Better in warm water but you can ut them in cold hey just grow slower
They're big round masses of moss Shrimp like to eat them ahah

 

[joan]

My axies shredded theirs. I now have moss parts. lol.

I don't know as if it ever really grows in cold water. My little parts haven't really gotten any bigger in well over a year. But they havent died either *shrug*. They're nice though. Kinda cute.

 

[amber]

Mine is growing at a steady rate as said!

Try bundling the little bits together with cotton - roll it gently every day, and it should rebond in a month or so.

Shrimp adore sitting on them, fighting to sit on them and to clean them - mine don't seem to eat enough to do it any harm.

They are an immensely slow grower, which is why they're ideal for the smaller tank IMO - they're interesting, unusual, and don't take up a huge amount of room.