Marimo Balls - Moss Balls

By: SteveK
 
Scientific Name: Cladophora aegagropila
 
Range: Tropical Japan, Iceland, and few other isolated areas
 
Ease of Keeping: Easy
 
Lighting: Low To Bright
 
Adult Size: 12 inches (30cm), that is over decades though
 
Aquarium Requirements: An undemanding plant from lakes with a good current. The plant naturally rotates in the water, so you will need to flip it over occasionally to keep all sides green. It handles tropical and cold-water tanks.
 
Notes: They are listed as a special Japanese Natural Treasure. Sometimes non-balling moss is rolled together and sold as marimo balls. Also, remember that these are NOT plants. They are a colony of algae. Therefore, if you use chemicals and even some medications they will die off. They grow very slow so a 12-inch diameter is attainable only in ideal natural settings. In the aquarium, the biggest reported is 5 inch diameter.