Prickly moss

Spiny moss or Peacock moss, the English trade name Taxiphyllum sp. Spiky Moss. Also known under the Russian-language transcription – Moh Spike. At the time of this writing, this species has not received a scientific name because it has not been positively identified. First appeared in Asia among Singapore suppliers.

Spiky Moss produces many dark green branched shoots reaching a height of up to 10 cm. It can grow successfully even in dim light. However, it is noted that the brighter the light, the denser the emerging bushes.

It grows equally successfully both under water and in the air on moist substrates. For this reason, it is actively used in the design of aquariums and paludariums.

When decorating, it looks most impressive when fixed on vertical surfaces, for example, snags, rock heaps, etc., on which branched shoots will be clearly visible.

In addition, unlike most mosses used in the aquarium trade, Peacock moss is also capable of growing outdoors. One popular application is to create a “green carpet” where small bundles are placed on the surface of the substrate at a small distance from each other. As it grows, a continuous low cover is obtained. However, it is worth remembering that in this case, the moss is very quickly polluted with organic waste, so it is not very practical in aquariums with fish.