Opinions on the best vivarium moss?
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That stuff looks awesome!!! Let me know when you get some extra going!
I have a tropical moss I'm culturing right now that grows pretty quickly in viv conditions. I have no idea what it's name is, I plan on sharing, trading in the future
Here are some recent pic's.
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Roots, FTS please?I have a tropical moss I'm culturing right now that grows pretty quickly in viv conditions. I have no idea what it's name is, I plan on sharing, trading in the future
Here are some recent pic's.
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The only moss that I use personally is the imported Hawaiian stuff that BJ carries. It won't grow submerged, but with good humidity and light, it will cover anything in a short period.
The best vivarium moss is the one that grows under your conditions. I tend to have a lot of mosses start spontaneously on thier own because I use strong lights on my tanks.
If you want to grow a moss that does well under vivarium conditions take a 50/50 mixture of peat and silica play sand, wet it, place it into a pot and keep it damp,in bright light and high humidity. In several months the pot will fill with a tight green moss. This moss tends to do well in terrariums but it can grow vigerously enough that it can overrun small plants.
Ed
If you want to grow a moss that does well under vivarium conditions take a 50/50 mixture of peat and silica play sand, wet it, place it into a pot and keep it damp,in bright light and high humidity. In several months the pot will fill with a tight green moss. This moss tends to do well in terrariums but it can grow vigerously enough that it can overrun small plants.
Ed
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Christmas Moss - Vesicularia montagnei, look the best for me
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Wiror moss - Fontinalis sp. 'japan'
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Stringy moss - Taxiphyllum sp (Leptodictym riparium ) gives a really small intensive carpet.
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I have no idea what moss exactly is growing here, think Christmas Moss overwhelmed them all
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Wiror moss - Fontinalis sp. 'japan'
Stringy moss - Taxiphyllum sp (Leptodictym riparium
) gives a really small intensive carpet.
I have no idea what moss exactly is growing here, think Christmas Moss overwhelmed them all
A lot of the ones shown in this thread are available for use in underwater applications particularly show Amano style tanks and shrimp tanks.
some comments
Ed
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Ed knows what's up - a majority of the mosses used for freshwater planted aquariums will grow well in high humidity environments. In fact, a lot of varieties are sold now in tissue cultures(also called In Vitro) which would be ideal for use in vivariums, as they are already adapted to emersed growth, and have never been in contact with aquarium water which could possibly contain contaminants and/or pathogens.
Peacock, Java, Flame, virtually all Taxiphyllum listed for aquarium use, most Vesicularia sp. listed for aquarium use will work depending on placement and relative humidity of the viv. Some may require more misting than others to really thrive.
Sources for these in tissue culture may be: Aquaforest Aquarium, Tropica 1-2 grow, Dennerle. Additionally, most other plants that are tissue cultured for aquariums will also grow well in vivariums.. so there are a LOT of options out there
The various java/xmas/willow/flame mosses will certainly do well in high humidity vivs. In my experience, however, they do a little too well. They will cover things quickly in a lush carpet - but they tend to keep growing and will swallow-up all details in your viv in a thick blanket and smother smaller plants.
Bright light is important in keeping mosses short and tightly spaced - even "low growing" mosses will stretch upward if they don't get adequate light.
I like a variety of small liverworts that tend to grow horizontally. They are great for low growth but they are a pickier about preferred substrate and adequate light. User Manuran sells the small liverwort I mention in the classifieds from time to time (other users may be offering it too).
There is also an aquatic liverwort, usually sold as "mini Pellia" that needs very moist conditions but grows very nicely on wet wood/rocks and drip walls. It stays very low but doesn't like to dry-out even slightly.
Bright light is important in keeping mosses short and tightly spaced - even "low growing" mosses will stretch upward if they don't get adequate light.
I like a variety of small liverworts that tend to grow horizontally. They are great for low growth but they are a pickier about preferred substrate and adequate light. User Manuran sells the small liverwort I mention in the classifieds from time to time (other users may be offering it too).
There is also an aquatic liverwort, usually sold as "mini Pellia" that needs very moist conditions but grows very nicely on wet wood/rocks and drip walls. It stays very low but doesn't like to dry-out even slightly.
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