Flame Moss
Taxiphyllum sp. "Flame"
Also sold as Taxiphyllum Flame
Flame Moss (Taxiphyllum sp. "Flame") is a moss for rock and wood, growing to about 12 cm (4.7 in) at a moderate pace. It wants 68–82°F (20–28°C), low light and no CO₂, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
Try it in a tank
Put Flame Moss in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
At a glance
| Type | Moss |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | Not neededWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 68–82°F (20–28°C) |
| Max height | 12 cm (4.7 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Moderate |
| Placement | attached to rock or wood |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
Before it goes in
- Flame Moss lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- It grows without CO₂.
- Glue or tie it to rock or wood. Buried in the substrate the rhizome rots, which is the usual way Flame Moss is killed.
Flame Moss: care and setup
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes. Flame Moss does not need CO₂ at all.
How much light does it need?
Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 12 cm (4.7 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing at a moderate pace, after roughly 3 weeks to root in.
Can I attach it to wood or rock?
Yes, and that is the only way to keep it. Glue or tie it down; buried in the substrate the rhizome rots.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Cryptocoryne wendtii.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Flame Moss | Java Moss | Spiky Moss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Low | Low |
| CO₂ | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Max height | 12 cm | 5 cm | 5 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Easy |