Bog moss (Mayaca fluviatilis) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Bog moss, Stream bog moss
Family
Mayacaceae (bog moss family)
Origin
South-eastern USA, the Caribbean, and Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
30 cm
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–7
Hardness
1–8 dGH
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
Medium light; moderate CO2 (6–14 mg/L) recommended

Care

Bog moss is not a moss but a flowering plant, the main member of its own small family. It has soft, thin, bright green leaves set in spirals around pale stems, giving a fluffy, moss-like look. In the wild it grows submerged in water up to 2 m deep, forms semi-floating mats, or grows semi-terrestrially in wetlands, with stems often reaching about 1 m. Plants sold for aquariums are reported to be sterile. Tropica rates it medium difficulty, with medium light and CO2 needs, reaching 15–30 cm in two months. It grows quickly once settled, branches freely and needs regular pruning. It prefers soft, slightly acidic water but tolerates medium-hard water. Without enough iron the shoots turn very pale, so dose an iron-containing fertiliser. Tropica warns that bundled plants may carry pesticide residues: keep them in a separate tank with twice-weekly water changes for two weeks before adding them to tanks with shrimp or sensitive fish. Our sources give no temperature range; the temperature figures are our estimate. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayacafluviatilis); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayaca); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Separate stems or young plants from the bundle, strip the leaves from the lowest 5 cm and plant them individually; roots form quickly. Trimmed tops can be replanted.

Compatibility and tank mates

Fine-leaved stems trap debris and are grazed by goldfish, silver dollars and large cichlids. Shrimp, fry and small tetras and rasboras suit it well; avoid strong flow and heavy diggers.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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