Mosses and Liverworts

    There is no doubt that plants are often highly recommended to add into a shrimp tank.  Heck, into any freshwater aquarium nowadays, it seems.  However, the most recommended plant to add into shrimp tanks are probably Mosses and Liverworts.  

     I am a very big fan of the moss-type plants.  And I say moss-type because from here on out, when I say moss, I also include the liverworts.  Aesthetically, they're quite pleasing.  You can attach it onto anything with the use of clear fishing line.  I personally use stainless steel mesh but you can attach moss onto wood and/or rocks as well.  Aside from being pleasing to the eye, the real beauty of moss lies in its purpose of providing a safe haven for shrimplets (in case there are predatory fish in the tank) and generates more surface area in the tank for micro-organisms to grow on.  There was a misconception in the past that shrimp ATE the moss because one will often see shrimp picking away at mosses.  However, this is untrue.  In fact, they are picking at the moss because there is food growing on the moss's surface for them to pick at.  Think of it as the shrimp cleaning the moss and in exchange, it gets fed.  It's a win-win situation.  So, thinking about starting a shrimp tank?  Then definitely try to get your hands on some moss!  Enjoy the beneficial properties it provides to your enclosed ecosystem and best of all, its aesthetic beauty.

Below are some photos of the mosses I use and also some of my personal favorites.  

Note* Liverworts are the plants that look like freshwater seaweed.  These would include mini pellia, round pellia (subwassertang) and regular pellia.  There are more variants, but these are the main three types we see more often in the hobby.  

Mini Pellia

 Mini X-mas

Fissidens Fontanus