Moss help?

[LiarDelilah]

I had some moss (I'm pretty sure it was mood moss) as well as another sort in my frog vivarium. But the ones I had turned brown. I've heard that mosses can't really die, although I've been watering them and they're not turning green again. So, I'm scared to buy more. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? I didn't think moss was so tough?

[LiarDelilah]

Found my source I bought it from. It's cushion moss.

[Tongue Flicker]

Well it's always a good idea to give the mosses a good soak in water before putting them in. This should get them started once inside. Newly put mosses should not be exposed to too bright to boost their chlorophyll production

[deranged chipmunk]

the other thing to take into account is that not all mosses are alike. some prefer temperate conditions, like you would find in washington state rainforests, some prefer sub tropicl conditons, like in the southeast U.S., and some prefer tropical conditions, like that of south american rain forests. you can sometimes get the lesser mosses acclimate in something like a tropical tank, but it does take time and patience. and then, it's not a given that it will survive. some mosses, especially temperate one, need a dormancy period. they may thrive in a vivarium for a few months, but will die off, seemingly for no reason.

mosses are extremely difficult to completely kill. but reviving them is not easy. i have been reviving some tropical sheet moss in a tupperware container for a few months, but to look at it, you would think it is still dead, but there is new growth appearing in spots, and it has been 3 months. scientists have recently revived a moss species frozen in ice for a ridiculously long time, although the article never metioned how long it took to revive it. i am sure it probably took quite a long time.

[LiarDelilah]

Yeah, these moss have been hurt in' for quite a whole. I went back to the source where I bought it and confirmed that the ones I am referencing are cushion moss, but even the sheet moss I bought from work was a brilliant green and is beginning to turn brown. It's come back a bit, but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. You're saying to pull them out and care for them separately until they revive? If so, I'm assuming this would be placed on soil in the tub?

[deranged chipmunk]

No, you can leave them in. It may take time for them to come back. What are the conditions on the tank? How often does the moss get misted?


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[LiarDelilah]

As of right now, humidity is 50 and temperature is 80. I was misting daily, now every two or three days or so, depending on dryness or humidity levels. They were so green, and I'm not sure what is going on with it. I have so,e plants doing well, but the moss and bromeliad are looking a bit rough.

[Jayzie Greenfrog]

Hi, I know just what you mean I have tried various mosses but just cant get the conditions right for it every time it dies or stops being lush and green. The lot I have at the moment is doing best of all at least it isn't completely brown just only sparsely green . As for bromeliads Iv given up with those completely so I too would be VERY grateful for any tips on giving these guysthe conditions they need

[Tongue Flicker]

Instead of misting daily, try raising the humidity up to 70% and lower the temps slowly to 70F. If you have animals or frogs living with it then just adjust humidity-temp ratio. Unless that is a desert moss, that is too low of a humidity

[deranged chipmunk]

Neil is correct. Mosses, and broms, for that matter, like humidity and slightly cooler temps (below 80). It's why they do so well in dart tanks.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[LiarDelilah]

Humidity I can adjust easily, but I thought for whites tree frogs the humidity was about 40-60? Woukd it be too high for them? As for temperature, the tank tends to run warm, not sure how to cool it.

[deranged chipmunk]

Care sheets vary so widely on white's. Some say 40-60% humidity, others suggest higher, closer to 80%. They live in such a wide range that they adapt easily to different conditions. I kept mine in 80% humidity when I kept them and never had any issues. I also know numerous other people who keep them in higher humidity without issues.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[limnologist]

My tip is to feed the moss a little bit of epsom moss.

[LiarDelilah]

Care sheets vary so widely on white's. Some say 40-60% humidity, others suggest higher, closer to 80%. They live in such a wide range that they adapt easily to different conditions. I kept mine in 80% humidity when I kept them and never had any issues. I also know numerous other people who keep them in higher humidity without issues.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

Which is easily done, but as for cooling a warm terrarium?

[LiarDelilah]

My tip is to feed the moss a little bit of epsom moss.

Did you mean salt? I google and found nothing for Epsom moss..