Growing Java Moss (Vesicularia Dubyana) In The Aquarium

This species belongs to the embryophyta subkingdom of green plants. Its natural habitats are moist and shaded forest areas, coasts of streams, between stones and rocks in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.

The plant has thin and filamentous rhizoids which develop main stems; soft and long, up to over a dozen centimeters in length. The main stems develop side shoots up to several centimeters in length. Each shoot has two rows of the bottle green leaves (microphyll) which are arranged decussate. These leaves are larger on the main stems. The plant forms dense colonies, these colonies are branched and elongated. This species may be planted anywhere in the aquarium. We can even form lawns. Then we put a thin layer of the plant on the substrate, we load it of its necessary and we wait till the plant takes root. We can also arrange it on the decorative elements on stones or roots with the help of a fishing line or sewing thread. We remove the fishing line, etc. after the plant roots. We can also use this species as a background for our aquarium. Then we attach the plant to a special nylon mesh. We can also use this plant as the floating plant. This species is often used in breeding aquariums. The fish lay their eggs in the java moss and their larvae and fry hide there.

The species grows slowly but we should systematic cut it. It prefers clean water without suspended solids so we need an effective filtration system, regular cleaning of the substrate and we should rinse it from time to time. When the lighting is too low then the plant starts yellowing and it develops single and loose stems. It may be used in aquarium with herbivorous fish.

In aquariums we reproduce this species vegetatively; by dividing the plant into smaller parts. These parts should be put loosely on the substrate. We don't have to cover them.