where can we get them and how much does 1 ball cost?

Just wondering is it normal for them to open up, i notice some of them have a point where they'd open up and when you press them back they won't stick and will easily split when in water.

And is it normal that some of their hair come off?

Also the brown greenish parts will they come off or will they turn green if recovered? How to tell if they cannot be saved?

What happens when they start to open mouth like pac man? Keep pressing won't make them stick back.

If you guys squeeze the bigger ones in a bowl of water instead of running tap, it's easier to clean out inside dirt & water. 1 of them can cause the whole bowl of water to turn brown greenish. Once you think it's cleaned then take out & squeeze the whole thing until most water come out. This should pretty much clean out the insides i hope.

Just checking, is it normal for the water to turn abit milky green when you squeeze them hard in a cup of water once a week?

Regarding fake Marimos, other than normal moss in a pingpong ball, styrofoam, I found out Japan are selling artificial marimo's that looks like real ones, difference is it's made of wheat & ceramic, so just wondering how exactly can we tell the real thing from fake?

Will fake marimo bubble after you clean them up?
Will real marimo continue to bubble in water or just for a while?
Will they turn brownish or loose color?
Will they stink slightly after 1 week of not squeezing & smells like plant after cleaning?
Will they float after squeezing/cleaning and sink after half a day or so?
Will real one feel bouncy when you squeeze them or will they split apart?

I got curious so i used a satay to poke tru the middle to check one of the not so healthy ones and even though it's bouncy when you squeeze it the inside core seems to be fluffy, but takes abit of strength to poke tru the whole body.

Also i notice some of the forumer's marimo tend to have rather long "furs".

One of the giant in a cup has white flakes at the bottom, it's not turning brownish or white but i notice only that guy is flaking white flakes, what are the flakes?

Is this marimo considered turning brownish? Because from room light it looks abit brown greenish but in sunlight they look greener.


This post has been edited by advocado: Apr 23 2012, 09:39 PM

One of my giant is always having white sendiments like flakes at the bottom, i notice he is the odd ball but he is still green as others so what could be the problem and what is the white flaky stuffs? Any cure? i tried putting salt.

so far anyones marimo doing well after few months without tank setup?

my giants are getting less greener, parts already looks abit whitish under room light when you squeeze it dry, less noticeable in water. I don't have a tank so i put them in those rm5 plastic display casings from japanese shop, have a fan blowing but doesn't really cool much during afternoon, it's not in direct sunlight, i put ice cubes after work & use fluorescent desk lights for an hour. Change water every week and in between throw out some water for ice cubes. Squeeze them every week they will stink in 1st few squeeze.

i gave up putting salt as i don't see any improvements.

i also gave up giving spa treatment as i see one test unit has become much less greener after few weeks in the fridge. I torn it out the inside still dark green but outside mostly very light green/whitish. So i left them in public fish pond.

any advice as i've done most recommendations here & online. it seems bigger morimos get sick easier than small ones. i'm guessing the rest of the giants will probably end up in the pond at this rate...

ps some of my nano marimo are starting to become pacman also...

The rest i don't put in fridge also losing their greenest. i can't open the aircon when i'm not around don't wanna bring them to office.

Just added some salt to see but you guys mention a pinch of salt is very generic, like how many grams per litre of water?

These guys are hard to keep in long term if you don't have proper aquarium.

Mine around 1.5 years already.

Most of them already lost the fresh green look.

I put them in those plastic display box covered. Changed water every 1-2 weeks, wash them everytime. Put abit of salt, gave some sunlight, sometimes turn on aircon.

Don't have the luxury to put them in fridge.

When they turn brownish green on some part i trim it become fresh green. Then few months lose the green again.

So if want long lasting better invest in a proper aquarium. They need the CO2 & constant filtering & lighting is better.

keep marimos only if you have a proper tank with UV & CO2 injector, if not over the years they will become duller & smaller instead of growing bigger & bigger.