Marimo moss balls are easy to care for and low-maintenance. Keep your marimo healthy. They’re generally pretty hardy and can withstand a range of temperatures, water conditions, and inhabitants. They can be fed on, they can be grown in cold water, they can be torn apart, and they can be grown in saltwater.

What kind of water do you use for Marimo?

They can be kept in tap water, though they will remain cleaner longer in filtered or reverse osmosis water. Interestingly, Marimo can live in brackish water – in fact, it is often recommended to add a little ocean salt to the water if a Marimo is developing brown spots.

Do marimo moss balls need to be in water?

Marimo moss balls can survive without water if kept in plastic or a closed jar for several days, as long as they aren’t allowed to fully dry out.

Can Marimo live with fish?

They can live with all types of fish, and are perfect for low-stocked and low-tech aquariums. No food or fertilizers are needed since they create their own food through photosynthesis. It’s okay to use fertilizer for other plants in the tank, which may promote faster growth.

Can I put Marimo in my fish tank?

Just put Moss Balls in the aquarium and let them float around or sink to the bottom. A Marimo Moss Ball will find a spot and stay there. They can be kept alone, in small groups, or even in larger groups if space permits. They grow very slowly, and if conditions are good, they will get visibly larger over time.

How much salt do I add to Marimo?

If your Marimo Moss Ball starts to turn brown, you should remove it from the container, replace the water and squeeze the Moss Ball under running tap water to remove any dirt or debris. The addition of table salt (roughly 5%) to the water can also help, as will a night in the fridge (they prefer cold water).

Can you keep Marimo in a jar?

They’re billed as a low-maintenance houseplant, and that they are: just stick your ball(s) in a jar of water in bright light and, well, that’s it. That’s right, a jar of water.

Do moss balls have babies?

Yes, Marimo will reproduce when they are kept in a large pool of water. However, it is not recommend to split up your Moss Ball Pets. Very often you may damage it and it can cause it to die. If you are lucky your Moss Ball Pets would reproduce and you would see a bump growing on them.

Why are moss balls recalled?

CDFW was notified in early March 2021 that zebra mussels, highly invasive freshwater mussels which are illegal to possess in California, were found on aquatic moss balls at a national pet supply retailer. Investigators traced the origin of the mussel-contaminated moss balls to a distributor in southern California.

Can moss balls breathe out of water?

Yes! Your fuzzy green friends can live without water for a short while however, they love to be in the water. Marimo balls can live without water for a little over two weeks, but we wouldn’t recommend keeping your Moss Ball out of water for an extended period of time. They might get sick!

What water is best for moss balls?

tap water

Water. Moss balls are aquatic plants, so they must live submerged in cool water, preferably under 77 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants aren’t too picky about the type of water; it just has to be freshwater. “I use my tap water, but well water, distilled water, or rainwater would be fine as well,” says Steinkopf.

What kind of water do moss balls live in?

Tap water is good enough. It is recommended to change the water your Moss Ball Pets live in once a week or every two weeks.

Can you use bottled water for moss balls?

To replace the water, be sure to use either fresh bottled water, tap water that has allowed to sit for over 24hrs, or well-stored rainwater.

What should I put in my moss ball tank?

Adding Animal Life Together With Moss Balls



Marimo moss balls grow by absorbing nitrates, phosphates, and other organic waste from the water. Consuming animal waste in the water makes them perfect companions for fish. Betta fish and tiger shrimp are great companion additions to marimo aquariums.

What does it mean if your moss ball is floating?

It’s likely that buoyancy may allow marimo to maximize photosynthesis on all sides of the sphere, and, because light penetration decreases with water depth, floating allows all marimo be exposed to bright light.

How fast do moss balls grow?

Beware that the marimo ball is a very slow grower and might only expand about 5 millimeters per year. It can grow a little faster with a tiny bit of fertilizer, but don’t expect rapid growth at any point during its lifespan.