Pest identification
What's eating my taxiphyllum sp. 'spiky'?
Black beard algae (BBA)
Signs: Dark tufts colonise frond tips, blocking light and eventually killing tissue
Control: Dose Excel/glutaraldehyde spot-treatment; improve CO₂ consistency and reduce photoperiod to 8 hrs
Green spot algae
Signs: Hard green discs on older fronds and hardscape adjacent to the moss
Control: Increase phosphate slightly, scrub affected leaves, reduce lighting intensity
Pest snails (Bladder/Malaysian Trumpet)
Signs: Snails rasp at delicate moss shoots, thinning clumps over time
Control: Manual removal, assassin snails, or a brief potassium permanganate dip on new plants
Keep taxiphyllum sp. 'spiky' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Taxiphyllum sp. 'Spiky' pests — FAQ
What is eating my taxiphyllum sp. 'spiky'?
Taxiphyllum sp. 'Spiky' is an aquatic moss kept submerged in freshwater aquariums. Its main threats are algae overgrowth smothering fronds, pest snails grazing the tissue, and herbivorous fish nibbling it apart. Algae — especially green spot and black beard algae — is the primary enemy, winning out in high-light, nutrient-rich tanks.
How do I get rid of black beard algae (bba) on taxiphyllum sp. 'spiky'?
Dark tufts colonise frond tips, blocking light and eventually killing tissue Dose Excel/glutaraldehyde spot-treatment; improve CO₂ consistency and reduce photoperiod to 8 hrs
How do I get rid of green spot algae on taxiphyllum sp. 'spiky'?
Hard green discs on older fronds and hardscape adjacent to the moss Increase phosphate slightly, scrub affected leaves, reduce lighting intensity
How do I get rid of pest snails (bladder/malaysian trumpet) on taxiphyllum sp. 'spiky'?
Snails rasp at delicate moss shoots, thinning clumps over time Manual removal, assassin snails, or a brief potassium permanganate dip on new plants