![]() Species of this algae have a similar filamentous texture to marimo balls but grow very quickly and in an unorganized fashion in comparison. The Cladophora genus is notorious for housing some of the most frustrating algae species known to the home aquarium. If you’re familiar with algae taxonomy, then some red flags might be going up! Are They A Type Of Pest Algae?įor a while, marimo moss balls were scientifically categorized as Cladophora aegagropila. They only just rose in popularity in the aquarium hobby over the past decade. These algae balls were first discovered in the 1800s on the floor of Lake Zeller in Austria and then later in Japan 1. All this combined has left marimo moss balls to starve.Ĭompared to other plants, marimo moss balls were discovered a long time ago. Habitat destruction and dredging have disrupted the bottoms of lakes where these balls are found while eutrophication–or the accumulation of excess nutrients–has led to excessive algae growth and subsequently limited photosynthesis. While marimo moss balls are very common to find in the aquarium hobby, their populations are decreasing in the wild. Even though the marimo moss ball is technically an algae, many hobbyists still refer to them as aquarium plants. Though the second part of their common name is moss, this is a misnomer that tends to sell better than an algae label. Their common marimo name originates from Japanese meaning water plant and bouncy ball, which perfectly summarizes its appearance and texture. The marimo moss ball is a species of filamentous green algae called Aegagropila linnaei. We call these little green balls living things because they don’t quite fit into any other category of fish, plant, or even coral. ![]() Marimo moss balls are one of the most interesting yet understated living things you could add to your aquarium. Fortunately, marimo moss balls can withstand these conditions, unlike their betta fish counterparts. They can usually be found sitting idly on a shelf in a small container of water, sometimes next to the selection of betta fish. Marimo moss balls can be found for sale at most aquariums and pet stores. Japan, Iceland, and regions of Northern Europe Marimo moss balls, Moss balls, Cladophora balls, Lake balls
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