foreground plant · easy

Marimo moss ball: height, light, CO₂ & fish that eat it

Aegagropila linnaei typically grows 1.2–3.9 in tall (3–10 cm) and grows in the foreground of a tank. It's rated for low–high light, and injected CO₂ is not needed. Temperature 39–82°F, pH 6–8.5.

Check for zebra mussels. In 2021 the US Fish & Wildlife Service reported invasive zebra mussels in marimo balls sold in stores. Inspect new balls, and never dump them or their water outdoors.

Try it in the tank builder See which fish eat it

How tall it grows

Each bar is roughly the water depth a tank leaves above the substrate. The teal band is the plant's reported height range. ✓ fits, trim means it can reach the surface, ✕ means it typically outgrows the water.

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Check it with your fish →

Quick facts

Grows to: 1.2–3.9 in (3–10 cm)
Height basis: Tropica 2-month avg (listed 3-10+); ball diameter
Where it goes: foreground, midground
Light: low–high light
Injected CO₂: not needed
Growth: slow
Difficulty: easy
Temperature: 39–82°F
pH: 6–8.5
Hardness: 9–30 dGH
Feeds through: not published
Also sold as: Marimo; moss ball; algae ball; formerly Cladophora aegagropila

Planting tip: A green alga, not a moss: set it loose on the substrate, turn it regularly, and inspect new balls for zebra mussels (USFWS 2021).

Fish and Marimo moss ball

Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: plant-eating and digging named in each fish's sources, plus temperature and pH overlap.

Eats it (9)

May uproot it (0)

Not rooted, so digging fish can't pull it up.

Different water (0)

Every fish shares some temperature and pH range with it.

Fish that leave it alone and share its water (97)

Pearl Gourami Angelfish German Blue Ram Bolivian Ram Kribensis Electric Yellow Lab Bronze Cory Panda Cory Pygmy Cory Julii Cory Bristlenose Pleco Otocinclus Kuhli Loach Hillstream Loach Siamese Algae Eater Cherry Shrimp Amano Shrimp Nerite Snail Mystery Snail Glowlight Tetra Lemon Tetra Congo Tetra Black Neon Tetra Chili Rasbora Boesemani Rainbowfish Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish African Dwarf Frog Pea Puffer Ghost Shrimp Iridescent Shark Bala Shark Red-Tail Shark Rainbow Shark Oscar Chinese Algae Eater Neon Tetra Cardinal Tetra Black Skirt Tetra Serpae Tetra Rummy-nose Tetra Ember Tetra Harlequin Rasbora Zebra Danio Celestial Pearl Danio White Cloud Mountain Minnow Cherry Barb Tiger Barb Guppy Endler's Livebearer Molly Platy Swordtail Betta Dwarf Gourami Honey Gourami Head-and-tail-light Tetra Bleeding Heart Tetra Diamond Tetra Silver Tip Tetra Pristella Tetra Penguin Tetra Silver Hatchetfish Marbled Hatchetfish Lambchop Rasbora Pearl Danio Giant Danio Scissortail Rasbora Gold Barb Rosy Barb Odessa Barb Denison Barb Variatus Platy Three-spot Gourami Moonlight Gourami Sparkling Gourami Paradise Fish Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Firemouth Cichlid Electric Blue Acara Discus Blood Parrot Cichlid Peppered Cory Sterbai Cory Clown Pleco Pictus Catfish Glass Catfish Upside-down Catfish Weather Loach Forktail Blue-eye Clown Killifish Bumblebee Goby Crystal Red Shrimp Bamboo Shrimp Ramshorn Snail Malaysian Trumpet Snail Assassin Snail Japanese Trapdoor Snail

Common questions

How tall does Marimo moss ball grow?

Growers report about 1.2–3.9 in (3–10 cm). Basis: Tropica 2-month avg (listed 3-10+); ball diameter.

How much light does Marimo moss ball need?

It's rated for low–high light. Growers often disagree on light, so this is the full range across our sources.

Does Marimo moss ball need CO₂?

No. Its sources rate its CO₂ need as low, and it grows without injection.

Which fish eat Marimo moss ball?

In our database, Convict Cichlid, Common Pleco, Common / Comet Goldfish, Clown Loach, Tinfoil Barb, Buenos Aires Tetra, Kissing Gourami, Yoyo Loach, Fancy Goldfish are flagged as eating live plants. Tough-leaved anubias usually hold up better.

Gear for Marimo moss ball

PlantLive Marimo moss ball. Compare sellers and pot sizes.Find on Amazon →LightA basic aquarium LED is enough for low light.Find on Amazon →GluePlant glue or thread to fix it to wood or rock.Find on Amazon →

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Sources

Values come from these pages, in our own words. Where growers disagree, we show the full range. Last reviewed 2026-10-17.

tropica.com /en/plants/plantdetails/4385/4385
aquasabi.com /Aegagropila-linnaei
flowgrow.de /db/aquaticplants/aegagropila-linnaei
fws.gov /story/2021-03/invasive-zebra-mussels-found-moss-balls