Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss) care guide
Fissidens fontanus · Fissidentaceae
Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss) (Fissidens fontanus) is an aquatic plant. It belongs to the Fissidentaceae family. It is native to Widespread: Europe, North America, Mexico, Chile, Australia, Zambia and Arabia (aquarium stock traces to North America) – mats on rock, roots and logs in slow or still water. It needs medium light. Water temperature: 18°C – 25°C. pH: 6.0 – 7.5. Care difficulty: Moderate (easy to keep alive, hard to grow dense and algae-free). Growth rate: slow.
How do you care for Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss)?
| Light | Medium (tolerates low to high, but needs more light than most mosses to stay dense) |
|---|---|
| CO₂ | Helpful (faster growth, deeper green) |
| Temperature | 18°C – 25°C |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Placement | Attached to wood or stone; foreground accent, nano tanks |
| Growth | Slow |
| Difficulty | Moderate (easy to keep alive, hard to grow dense and algae-free) |
| Family | Fissidentaceae |
How do you trim and propagate Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss)?
Trim with sharp curved scissors and remove the clippings so they don’t drift around the tank. Propagate by pulling clumps apart and tying the pieces on with dark cotton thread or gluing them to dry hardscape with gel superglue — works on vertical and horizontal surfaces.
What problems affect Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss)?
Browning or yellowing fronds from warm water (above about 25 – 26°C) or detritus settling in the moss; stalling and getting overgrown by algae in dirty or warm water — its slow growth hands algae the advantage.
How do you fix Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss) problems?
Keep the water cool, clean and well oxygenated (it suits shrimp tanks run at 22 – 24°C); siphon debris, keep flow up, change water regularly and keep conditions stable. Don’t let it dry out while aquascaping. Some hobby guides go up to 28°C, but good sources agree it declines above about 25 – 26°C.
Where does Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss) come from?
Widespread: Europe, North America, Mexico, Chile, Australia, Zambia and Arabia (aquarium stock traces to North America) – mats on rock, roots and logs in slow or still water
What should you know before buying Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss)?
Cold-hardy (it survives German winters), so don’t release it into local waters.
Sources
- Fissidens fontanus — Tropica Aquarium Plants
- Fissidens fontanus — Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
- Phoenix Moss (Fissidens fontanus) — Buce Plant
- Fissidens fontanus — Wikipedia
- GBIF name match: Fissidens fontanus — GBIF
- Rêu US Fiss (Phoenix moss) — Shop Thủy Sinh (Vietnamese aquarium shop)
Care details checked against these sources on 2026-09-23.
Which aquascapes and tanks use Fissidens Moss (Phoenix Moss)?
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