Anyone try Fissidens moss?

[Mitch]

Hello!

I know a lot of people use several species of aquatic moss in their vivariums because they can tolerate very moist conditions unlike a lot of moss we try to use (which fail). I have used Java Moss and Christmas Moss successfully and many others have used Riccia with great success also. Another popular aquatic moss is Fissidens, but I have yet to see anyone use it in their vivariums... although it seems like a good option. So, has anyone here tried it out?

Here's a picture of one of the many varieties for those not familiar:

Fissidens fontanus

[Epiphile]

I didn't have any luck with it out of water, personally, though it grows well in water features, paludariums, etc. Lovely looking stuff.

[rain-]

The example species is not a good candidate for that purpose. As Epiphile said, it doesn't handle dry conditions well. Fissidens fontanus is one of those rare mosses which don't do well grown above water level.

Some other Fissidens species are terrestrial, so you would be able to try them. From the ones available in eBay/Aquabid etc. I think at least F. splachnobryoides and F. zippelianus are terrestrial, but most likely all of them except the F. fontanus would do well in a viv.

Java and Christmas mosses are actually not aquatic, they just adapt to submerged conditions too. Same goes to just about any other Vesicularia and Taxiphyllum moss available (Flame, Singapore, Weeping, Erect etc.). There are only a few truly aquatic mosses in aquarium hobby, Riccia fluitans, Fontinalis antipyretica and Fissidens fontanus being nearly the only ones commonly available. And from those three, Riccia can also be grown emersed.

[Mitch]

Wow, thanks for the info! I definitely think I'm gonna try one of the species of Fissidens you mentioned in my next viv. Also, isn't Riccia a liverwort and not a true moss?

[raimeiken]

I've tried it before and it didn't do too well. It needs to be wet all the time