Is There Something Wrong With My Moss Ball?

It's been about a month since I bought this small marimo moss ball off an online vendor.
It hasn't changed much since then to be honest; it just kinda sits there (nothing wrong with that I suppose).

I had this question in my mind because online photos of other people's moss balls usually seemed a lot more lush and, well, mossy.
It doesn't have any odd smells, brown or black spots, nor has it ever changed color, but it only remotely resembles actual moss when I squeeze the water out of it.
In the water it just looks like a dark green ball gathering dust under someone's bed.
Is this normal?

 

That's how they usually look. Sometimes they can have algae on them

 

I agree, that is normal

 

Doesn't look normal to me. When you squish it, does it shrink to almost half it's size?

 

It’s not actually moss, it’s just a ball of algae. Some of them are fake, but yours looks fine to me. They really don’t do anything noticeable.

 

It’s not actually moss, it’s just a ball of algae. Some of them are fake, but yours looks fine to me. They really don’t do anything noticeable.

Ah, I see. Thanks!

Doesn't look normal to me. When you squish it, does it shrink to almost half it's size?

Hmm, not that much. Maybe about two thirds or three quarters if I squeeze a lot? But then again, I've been too afraid of harming the thing to squeeze that hard.

It’s not actually moss, it’s just a ball of algae. Some of them are fake, but yours looks fine to me. They really don’t do anything noticeable.

Thank you ^^

That's how they usually look. Sometimes they can have algae on them

Ooh : D

 

It doesn't look right to me, it doesn't look 'fluffy' enough. I have seen some artificial ones for sale and I suspect it could be one of those (like sponge / foam or similar with fake 'moss' glued to it). I've heard there's also other types sold as marimo's that aren't actually marimo moss, so it could be ones of those or an artificial one.

 

That's weird, mine usually swims to the top looking for treats when I walk up to the glass!

I'm in the process of teaching it to roll through a hoop but it's been a slow go.

 

That's weird, mine usually swims to the top looking for treats when I walk up to the glass!

I'm in the process of teaching it to roll through a hoop but it's been a slow go.

XD

 

Because it is a form of algae be sure not to use Seachem's Flourish.

 

Because it is a form of algae be sure not to use Seachem's Flourish.

Yeah, I don't use that. I don't think they sell it around here anyway ^^

 

Seachem Flourish Excell is not an algecide. It is trace elements, trace nutrients and other nutrients. Source: Tech Support, Seachem,

 

Kalyke I believe you are remembering incorrectly, Seachem flourish excel is 100% gluteraldehyde (carbon substitute). Seachem flourish (the main, “comp” one) also contains some glut as well (verify the (red maybe) writing of the caution on label)

Seachem flourish TRACE is trace elements
(I consider regular flourish basically trace as well, just with the touch of K and excel added in)

Moss balls can react negatively to excel, yet not all do. Excel can be dosed to a tank with moss balls, but I wouldn’t recommend dipping or spot treating directly.

Long story short, your moss ball does not look “normal”. I would pull it out and give it a good cleaning with a toothbrush to get rid of the buildup on it

 

Kalyke I believe you are remembering incorrectly, Seachem flourish excel is 100% gluteraldehyde (carbon substitute). Seachem flourish (the main, “comp” one) also contains some glut as well (verify the (red maybe) writing of the caution on label)

Seachem flourish TRACE is trace elements
(I consider regular flourish basically trace as well, just with the touch of K and excel added in)

Moss balls can react negatively to excel, yet not all do. Excel can be dosed to a tank with moss balls, but I wouldn’t recommend dipping or spot treating directly.

Long story short, your moss ball does not look “normal”. I would pull it out and give it a good cleaning with a toothbrush to get rid of the buildup on it

Thank you

 

Lollll what do you expect? Become a giant football?

 

Lollll what do you expect? Become a giant football?

Oh I don't know, but I was hoping it would learn to speak after a while at the very least

 

Oh I don't know, but I was hoping it would learn to speak after a while at the very least

I know you jest, but some of the info on the web is quite imaginative. Like floating and sinking during the day. Spontaneous bifurcation. All rooted in misinformation and fakes.

 

Well given enough time to evolve, they probably will speak