Marimo Balls (Moss Balls)

[Kashta]

Lots of nice green, fluffy Marimo Balls (aka Moss Balls) for sale at $7.00 each.
Buy one or several. Sizes are approx. 1-3/4 to 2 inches in diameter.

Shipping is $7.00 by USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation/tracking number.
USA Only. Paypal preferred. Heat packs are available, add $2.00.

[Lindtball]

Thank you. Will PM you about how many etc...

[Kashta]

All PMs replied and wait list folks notified. Thank you, everyone.

Still plenty of marimo balls available - as is java moss, taiwan moss, and flame moss.
Will post other plants available too (very soon) for combined shipping.

[boobiebutt]

Hey Kashta, have the Marimo balls you raise reproduced yet? I currently have a few and I was wondering how long it actually takes for them to divide and split up naturally.

[Kashta]

No, Boobie. It takes years for them to push out a new bump that separates into a new ball... many years. And I'm not growing these things from scratch. I have a supplier who brings these in, so I can get large orders of them.

I have broken up a few larger moss balls into smaller pieces, which will continue growing and eventually become spherical again. I imagine that takes years too.. but I think it'll be interesting. Then I'll have lots of little baby moss balls rolling around. It's a lot of fun. lol.

Edit to add: Average rate of growth for Marimo Balls is approx. 5 mm (less than a 1/4 of an inch) per year. Very slow.

[customdrum]

mine grow about 1" or more a year

[Kashta]

They grow faster with bright lights, CO2, etc. Mine have grown faster too under good lighting.. without CO2. I can see the difference, especially when I pick them up to squeeze them out. You can feel they get heavier too. But even under low lights with no special care, they seem to grow faster than that. I just listed what is commonly reported as "average" growth. Try not to overstate things where someone will end up being disappointed if they don't get the same results.

Have yours produced any new balls yet, Customdrum?

[customdrum]

no not yet.

[boobiebutt]

mine grow about 1" or more a year

What are the tank conditions your Marimo balls are currently under? That's a lot of growth.

[customdrum]

3.2 wpg , daily ferts and co2. i take them out the tank every few weeks and squeeze them out to.

[Kashta]

I should probably add that the actual size of each moss ball seems to fluctuate. They grow slightly bigger and shrink a little smaller at different times.

<< My theory is that it depends on what kind of mood they're in. But I'm not telling people that because they already think I'm nuts. :lipssealedsmilie: >>

So, don't get too focused on measuring them at regular intervals. That might frustrate you because you might not see a steady rate of growth. These are living globs of algae. It's not an actual plant by itself - each moss ball is an actual colony of algae organisms that form together naturally into this round shape. Some are formed more tightly and stay more dense and compact, others are more flexible and spread out more which makes them look bigger. If you squeeze them out regularly to flush the debris away that collects inside, they tend to soften up more and expand a little too.

They also move by themselves. << I know, I shouldn't say that either But they do! >> When they're pearling, they can also float around.

... sometimes.

<< If they want to. >>

;)

[Thursday Postal]

Got mine this morning! Thank you, it looks pretty nice! A question, though, how hard are you supposed to squeeze it to rinse it out? I have black sand substrate and it seems like it's going to pick that up so easy.

[Kashta]

The moss balls are really dense, so you shouldn't see any sand getting inside. Regular dirt from dissolved food material and fish waste will get through with the water, though. The balls are not fragile at all, so you can squeeze them out quite hard. Just like you would a cleaning sponge at the kitchen sink.

I have several of them in my goldfish tank with a silica sand substrate. As the fish rummage around them for bits of food, they even spit sand on top sometimes... mostly depends on where my sinking pellets landed. Still.. I haven't seen any sand getting into them.

I'm glad you like them.. they're a real fun bit of added greenery.

[Thursday Postal]

I'm glad you like them.. they're a real fun bit of added greenery.

I hope my shrimp like it when I get them!