What's the purpose of a moss ball?

A moss ball is a species of green algae that is formed into a ball and is two to five inches in diameter. Moss balls are purchased for home aquariums to help absorb harmful nutrients in the water and limit the growth of undesirable algae.

What is the point of a moss ball?

Helps Prevent Excess Algae Growth

Marimo moss balls suck up the same nutrients as undesirable algae, depriving invasive algae of those nutrients. I had brown algae growing in my 10-gallon tank, but since wiping them off the glass and adding a few moss balls, they have yet to grow back.

Are moss balls beneficial?

Marimo Moss Ball Benefits in Aquariums. Marimo moss balls absorb pollutants such as phosphates, nitrates, ammonia, and other waste solid debris in the surrounding water. Although they cannot completely replace a water change and filtration system, a large ball can help significantly in smaller aquariums.

Do moss balls produce waste?

It Doesn't Produce Waste

As they grow, they'll begin to shed their leaves which fall to the bottom of the tank and decay. This decaying matter produces ammonia which then has to go through the nitrogen cycle. But what if you could add a plant that avoided this altogether? Well, Marimo Moss balls are that plant.

Do moss balls have babies?

Yes, Marimo will reproduce when they are kept in a large pool of water. However, it is not recommend to split up your Moss Ball Pets. Very often you may damage it and it can cause it to die. If you are lucky your Moss Ball Pets would reproduce and you would see a bump growing on them.

Marimo Moss Ball Plant Care Tips

Why are Marimo moss balls illegal?

From DOEE: “The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) joins federal and state fish and wildlife agencies in banning the sale–and ordering the proper disposal of–live “moss ball” aquarium plants, which may be infested with invasive zebra mussels.

Why are moss balls illegal in California?

They clog pipelines used for water filtration, render beaches unusable, and damage boats. These filter feeders outcompete other native species in infested rivers and lakes.

How long do moss balls live?

Marimo balls are regarded as good luck charms in Japan, and since they have been known to live to 200 years or longer, they are often kept as family heirlooms.

Are moss balls illegal?

These moss ball shipments have been coming from Ukraine, which is native habitat for zebra mussels, according to Wesley Daniel, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. It is illegal to own, sell or distribute live zebra mussels in the U.S.

Do moss balls spread?

Even though a Marimo Moss Ball is algae, its not the type of algae that will spread throughout the aquarium. The algae in a Marimo Moss Ball will not turn tank water green. Moss Balls can often be sold on the small side, around 2 inches in diameter. Or they can be on the larger side upwards of 5 inches around.

How do you keep moss balls alive?

Keep your Marimo where they will receive llow to medium indirect light. You must protect marimo from the direct rays of the sun, as Marimo can easily turn brown if they are getting direct light! Also keep in mind that direct sun will be intensified by glass marimo enclosures which can heat water quite quickly.

Are moss balls alive?

Larger balls can be divided or may grow baby balls that later detach, creating a small indoor marimo ball colony. With the right environment and cleaning routine, marimos can live many years and even be passed from generation to generation as a unique living keepsake.

Can you cut a Marimo Moss Ball in half?

The good news is that marimo balls are very easy to propagate. Simply squeeze the water out of your moss ball and cut it in half with a knife or scissors. Roll the new clumps in your hands to form little spheres, and tie some cotton sewing thread around them to maintain the shape.

Can you keep a moss ball in a jar?

They're billed as a low-maintenance houseplant, and that they are: just stick your ball(s) in a jar of water in bright light and, well, that's it. That's right, a jar of water.

Why do shrimp like moss balls?

It's a form of self contained green algae. The Red Cherry Shrimp will not eat the Marimo Moss Ball per se, but the shrimp will eat the little bits of food that that get trapped in the fibers on it's surface. Essentially, a Marimo Moss Ball acts like a dinner plate in a Red Cherry Shrimp tank.

How do you dispose of moss balls?

Once one of the “destroy” steps are done, dispose of the moss ball and any of its packaging in a sealed plastic bag in the trash. If vinegar, boiling water, or bleach was used, the liquid can be disposed down a household drain. "Never pour into a storm drain where it could enter and damage local waterways," MDC says.

Why is my moss ball turning white?

Marimo turning white/lighter means that it is probably receiving too much light. If the marimo ball also seems a bit slimy or if its texture seems otherwise unusual, you may be dealing with hostile algae. These algae choke the slow-growing marimo, so it's best to carefully wash them off or remove them with tweezers.

Why can't I buy moss balls?

The facility that imports the moss balls has been quarantined and all shipments of moss balls have been stopped, according to a news release from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. A moss ball is a species of green algae that is formed into a ball and is two to five inches in diameter.

Are moss balls zebra mussels?

Zebra mussels have been detected within a variety of moss ball products designed for use in aquarium and water gardens. , Examples of these products are “Betta Buddy Marimo Balls” or “Marimo Balls”.

Are moss balls animals?

A marimo is a rare growth form of the species where the algae grow into large green balls with a velvety appearance. Colonies of such balls are only known to form in Iceland, Scotland, Japan and Estonia. You might be thinking that marimo aren't actually pets, but in fact they are.

Is it OK to buy marimo moss balls?

If you bought a moss ball after February 1, 2021, it's recommended that it be properly destroyed in order to prevent zebra mussels from getting into local waterways. For now, we'll have to wait to introduce these plants into our homes.

Can you buy marimo moss balls again?

Pet stores, including Petco and PetSmart, have resumed selling Marimo moss balls, which, as of September, must meet new federal safeguards.