TankBud

Mini pellia

Riccardia chamedryfolia

Also known as Coral pellia, Coral moss, Riccardia sp., Mini coral moss, Riccardia graeffei, Riccardia sp. graeffei

FreshwaterMossDivisionFragmentation

Mini pellia (Riccardia chamedryfolia)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
64–79°F
18–26°C
Max height
1.2 in
3 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Moss
pH
5.0–7.5
Hardness
0–10 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Water column
Growth region
Submersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Aneuraceae
Origin
Cosmopolitan; occurs on damp ground, rocks, and streambanks across much of the temperate and subtropical world

Overview

Mini pellia is a slow-growing little carpet-builder for rock and wood, prized for its fine coral texture. It is rated medium in difficulty, and patience is the main requirement.

Did you know

Mini pellia has no roots or leaves at all. The whole coral is one continuous flattened thallus, so every branch is the plant's whole body splitting and forking.

Caring for mini pellia

Tie or glue thin layers of mini pellia onto rock or wood. It will not anchor on its own quickly, so give it time. Keep the layers thin, because thick clumps rot from the inside where water cannot reach the middle.

Medium light keeps it compact. It grows without injected CO2, but added CO2 and steady fertilizing noticeably improve density and speed. It feeds from the water, so use a liquid fertilizer. It handles 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C).

Growth is slow, and it can take months to fill in. Underwater it forms dense, flat cushions of forking branches. To spread it, pull a clump apart and tie down the pieces, since fragments that break off keep growing.

Good to know

Riccardia chamedryfolia is a true liverwort in the family Aneuraceae, not a moss, even though the hobby groups it with mosses. It is an extremely variable species across its wide range.

In the wild

Mini pellia is a small, creeping thalloid liverwort with a cosmopolitan range. It grows on wet soil, rock and streambanks across temperate and subtropical regions. It is naturally a damp-ground species rather than a fully aquatic one, but it adapts well to permanent submersion.

Common questions

Does mini pellia need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Mini pellia grows on rock or wood rather than in the substrate. Tie it on with cotton thread or fishing line, or use gel superglue, until it anchors itself.

Does mini pellia need CO2?

No, but it helps. Mini pellia can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does mini pellia need?

Mini pellia wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

How do you propagate mini pellia?

Mini pellia propagates by division and fragmentation. Pull a clump apart into smaller pieces and tie each one down. Pieces that break off keep growing, so pulling a clump apart spreads it.

How tall does mini pellia grow?

Mini pellia grows to about 1.2 in (3 cm) tall. It grows slowly.

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