Marimo Moss Balls

[webcricket]

Does anyone keep any of these? They look nifty. I was thinking of ordering some small ones for my 5 gallon. Everywhere I've looked says they are easy care and undemanding, but I'm looking for people's experience with them.

[twig]

i think you just gotta roll them every once in a while to keep the shape *shrug*

[misopeenut]

you dont really have to do anything.....

[starrystarstarr]

i have a few of these fuzzy balls.. my shrimp love them!!

[webcricket]

I decided to order some! Thanks for the input. Glad to see no one has any negatives about deliberately putting algae in a fish tank, haha. I read in Japan that they keep these things in jars and just do water changes. They must be pretty hardy.

[plah831]

I read in Japan that they keep these things in jars and just do water changes.
Why? What's the appeal of keeping algae (or moss, whatever) in a jar? I'm just wondering. I think the Japanese do some cute and quirky things :)

[webcricket]

Check out this "official" website, it'll give you language options after the initial page.

http://www.marimarimarimo.com/

They are pretty cute for algae, LOL. I'm really getting them for the "mossy rock" look without the bother of dealing with the moss spreading through the tank.

[plah831]

aww, the pictures of smiling moss balls are so cute! Thanks for the link :)

Actually, the little balls of moss in the jars are cute, too! Who'da thought algae could be so endearing? :D
The Marimo babies are a little scary, though.

[misopeenut]

I decided to order some! Thanks for the input. Glad to see no one has any negatives about deliberately putting algae in a fish tank, haha. I read in Japan that they keep these things in jars and just do water changes. They must be pretty hardy.

make sure its a real marimo and not an artificial, algae compiled ball
actually you can buy them in jar at japan and you jsut leave it alone, dont really change water... ive seen a tank with goldfish and marimos on the bottom, it looked really cool

[fresh_newby]

Be careful with marimo balls. They are nothing more than wads of cladaphora algae. Though they are a not so invasive subtype, after a while they mutate to the invasive kind and if there is something you do not want in your tank, it is a cladaphora infestation. It is a nightmare to get rid of and not worth the risk. Just my 2c. If you like the look, get a big round rock, and cut some of that mesh that those washing puffs are made of, and wrap the rock with plenty of riccia fluitans or a nice moss under it, and sink. In a few weeks you will have a nice mossy ball that is safe and your shrimp will love them

[gagaliya]

Wash it well. Take care of it like a pet. Talk to it. It will happily grow.

Please pay the Marimo with 100% of your love, care and attention. Whisper of loving words to Marimo will make it grow up with happiness and fills with love

so webcricket have you whispered words of love to your algae balls yet? :o

[webcricket]

so webcricket have you whispered words of love to your algae balls yet? :o

LOL, I'm still waiting on the shipment, but I think I'll leave the whispering of sweet nothings up to the fish they'll be living with!

I did read that they are cladaphora algae. I had a nice outbreak of that once in my oldest tank back before I believed in weekly water changes (gasp). In fact, I still have some that remains attached to a rock in that tank (looks too cool to pull off) and an occasional wad that grows on the filter output. For some reason it doesn't spread anymore, though I imagine it would if I slacked on water maintenance again. I'll keep a close eye on these balls of it. Supposedly if you turn them regularly, they won't spread into a carpet and will stay round. We'll see!

[skillful abbot]

You do have to change the water and no, it will not mutate.