Terrestrial java moss

killking236

New member
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
36
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Country
United States
How do I get it to be terrestrial? Can I just plop it on the soil and keep it misted and humid or do I need to have it half in a water dish and half out? I'm starting a terrarium for the frogs I'm going to get soon and I wanted a cool land area. Any advice or ideas about the tank would be appreciated!
 
Java isnt really terrestial, it will only grow on it own out of the water onto areas that are always wet - around the water line, protruding driftwood, water falls - that kind of thing.
You can buy live terrestial moss online, may be more suited for what your describing.
 
Actually I would say the opposite from personal experience. At least with the variety that we have in many many enclosures, it will grow fine so long as it does not dry out completely. There is a period of adjustment going from completely aquatic moss, but eventually the morphology changes and it will grow terrestrially in moist or humid environments. Granted, java moss taxonomy is a mess and I cannot say for certain that we have the same variety here as everyone else. Hope that helps.

-Tim
 
Last edited:
Java can and will grow in areas of high humidity; I've had it spread on cork bark curls and driftwood in dart frog tanks. Although I like Riccia even better for such uses.
 
how about chrismast moss? i it'll be easier to handle...
 
Java will grow in areas that pool or are always wet as said but they have to be very wet at that.

In order for this to work I recommend more light. But I just like to go out and collect moss. Some moss might die off over winter but I have found some that live during the winter period in a terrarium just not spread.


What type of frogs?


You could go ahead and go to a local reptile show and buy some tropical moss or even order it online.
 
is it Java Moss, Taxiphyllum barbieri or Singapore Moss, Vesicularia dubyana
 
I just attached a small clump of Java moss onto a piece of driftwood, about how long would it take for it to take hold and start to grow?
 
Depends on your tank conditions. It easily could take a couple of months if it is converting from the emersed form to the terrestrial form....patience is key!
 
I agree with Rick, providing the right conditions and patience is important. One thing that speeds this up quite a bit is running water over both java moss and driftwood. Java moss seems to love water current and grows terrestrial faster. Once it attaches and starts growing slow the water volume down, slowly decrease over time until you are only watering it every day or too. This seemed to work really well for me and covered twice as much area as area where I just waited.

Mitch
 
Thanks, could I ask what the best conditions would be? Temperature, amount and length of light?

thanks
 
I find it grows best in my dart frog tanks that stay around 75F, have 10-11 hours of bright light, and lots of moisture.
 
Similar to Justin's method, mine is under bright lighting (12 on 12 off), at about 72F. It grows above the water line anywhere there is A: partially submerged, wet wood; B: Where the water feature tumbles over the rocks; and C: up the glass in the main water feature. However, this is for Vesicularia dubyana, didn't have much luck with the other, me.
 
Thanks, I have it on a 12/12 hour light system right now, attached to a piece of driftwood half submerged. I'll lower the water level slowly but keep it moist. I couldn't get the temperature up to the 70's right now, its all based on the natural weather outside, so the last couple days, it's been around 65ish, hope that works fine. Planning on using this moss in my c. orientalis tank, as well as in the tank for some a. opacum I'm planing on getting, it is real pretty tho, love the green it has.
 
Keep it moist....get a hand sprayer and spray at least once a day. For the moss going into the c. orientalis tank, I am presuming that it is aquatic and not terrestrial....why not grow it out as emersed. It would be easier IMO.
 
True, but this particular piece of driftwood, I plan to place in the Opacum tank. When the moss starts growing, I will take off a piece for the Orientalis tank.

Bad news though, mold is growing on the driftwood, what can I do?
 
What type of wood? You have springtails in the tank?

To be honest I don't really worry about mold....There is mold in nature too....
 
well the mold wouldve eventually taken over the driftwood.

But I just took the moss off the driftwood for now, would boiling it in water kill the mold and prevent it?
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Back
    Top