Mini Pellia
Riccardia chamedryfolia
Synonyms Coral moss · Riccardia chamaedryfolia
Mini Pellia (Riccardia chamedryfolia) is a moss for rock and wood and the foreground, growing to about 2 cm (0.8 in) at a moderate pace. It wants 64–79°F (18–26°C), low light and CO₂ if you have it, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Moss |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | RecommendedWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 64–79°F (18–26°C) |
| Max height | 2 cm (0.8 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
- Mini Pellia lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- CO₂ is not required, but without it expect slow growth and a thinner result.
- Glue or tie it to rock or wood. Buried in the substrate the rhizome rots, which is the usual way Mini Pellia is killed.
- It stays around 2 cm (0.8 in), low enough to keep the front glass clear.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes, but slowly. Mini Pellia is listed as CO₂-recommended, not CO₂-required: without injection it survives and grows, it just takes far longer to fill in.
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 2 cm (0.8 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing at a moderate pace, after roughly 6 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
| Mini Pellia | Pellia | Fissidens fontanus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Low | Medium |
| CO₂ | Recommended | Not needed | Recommended |
| Max height | 2 cm | 4 cm | 3 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Medium |
More plants
Sources (1)
- Light, Difficultytropica.comSep 2026