Japanese moss balls...

[futura2000]

I've recently ordered some japanese moss balls. Almost everywhere that sells tham claims they are extremely easy to maintain, and wondered if anyone with experience keeping them could confirm? Also do many out there use aquarium plant fertilizers and if so how much of a difference do they really make?

Dean.

 

[mechanic380]

There was a recent thread about Japanese moss balls I believe. As for the fertilizers I think that is a no as long as there are newts in the tank.

 

[axolotlgangster]

I don't think you need fertilizers as they grow 5mm a year.

 

[achiinto]

I once kept a few moss ball in blackish water and also went few several months of heavy medication. Eventually, they couldn't survive, but that was after many months of abuse. I believe that the plant is very hardy, but you will have to rotate them once in a while to keep them in good shape (spherical). As long as the water is clean and healthy, the moss ball should be fine.

 

[evut]

I've had 2 for about 6 months now and they're still looking good without me ever paying any attention to them except rinsing them once in a while. I actually took a little bit of the moss and put it into a gap on a piece of driftwood and it seems to be (slowly) growing .

 

[SludgeMunkey]

It really comes down to whether or not they are the actual moss balls, a type of algae, or if they are java moss balls. The actual item needs lots of bright light to thrive. The java moss version will grow in just about anything.

Either way, no need for any type of fertilizer in a caudate tank in my opinion.

 

[Yahilles]

There was a recent thread about Japanese moss balls I believe. As for the fertilizers I think that is a no as long as there are newts in the tank.

Of course in most cases you don't need any fertilizers for plants but i'm using NO3 and Potassium liquid fertilizers without any harm to any animal in my tanks. If fertilizers are not toxic to fish, shrimps or snails, why should be so for caudates?

 

[stavroske]

Mossballs grow much more than 5mm a year. Only if you have shrimps in your tank they don't grow that much. Shrimps eat the moss, thats why it grows that slow. Just give enough light, that all it needs.

 

[futura2000]

Cheers for the info guy's...hopefully they will make a nice addition my tanks.

Dean.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Of course in most cases you don't need any fertilizers for plants but i'm using NO3 and Potassium liquid fertilizers without any harm to any animal in my tanks. If fertilizers are not toxic to fish, shrimps or snails, why should be so for caudates?

Copper based products are harmless to most fish and plants too, but they kill amphibians in a hurry.

Always remember caudates are not fish.