Mosses for Blackwater Aquariums, Paludariums & Vivariums

In the Botanical Method, Blackwater, or Biotope aquarium, mosses cling naturally to driftwood, stones, or seed pods. They soften the hardscape with vibrant greenery while providing essential shelter for fish and invertebrates. Their fine, branching structures become microhabitats where microorganisms flourish, offering a continuous source of supplemental nutrition. This makes mosses especially valuable for shrimp and baby fish, which graze on biofilm and microfauna throughout the day.

In paludariums and vivariums, mosses thrive in humid, shaded zones along wood and stone. They spread across branches, roots, and vertical surfaces, bridging land and water with lush, living texture. Dense mats of moss not only enhance the aesthetic but also stabilize moisture and form microhabitats for springtails, isopods, and amphibians.

5 products

Java Moss portion commonly used in Southeast Asian-inspired blackwater aquariums, photographed against a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Portion: 4oz Portion Cup

Java Moss | Vesicularia dubyana
from $8.00
from $8.00
A Christmas Moss plant portion prepared for use in low-tech blackwater aquariums, photographed against a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Portion: 4oz Portion Cup

Christmas Moss | Vesicularia montagnei
from $8.00
from $8.00
A Peacock Moss portion in a clear culture cup for low-tech blackwater aquariums, photographed against a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Peacock Moss | Taxiphyllum sp. 'Peacock'
$8.99
$8.99
Fissidens moss prepared for use in low-tech shrimp aquariums, photographed against a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Fissidens Moss | Fissidens Nobilis
$18.00
$18.00
A Taiwan Moss clump grown for biotope aquariums, displayed in a clear culture cup and photographed against a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Taiwan Moss | Taxiphyllum Alternans
$8.99
$8.99

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A blue snowflake on a natural cream background for an ice pack during aquatic plant shipping at Betta Botanicals.

Aquatic Plant Cold Pack | Shipping add on above 90­°F
$3.00
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Colombian Sterculia apetala seed pods with natural split form, photographed on a natural background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Colombian Jungle Pods | Sterculia apetala
$13.50
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Colombian Casho leaves with broad, rounded shape and warm brown tones, photographed on a natural background for blackwater aquarium and bioactive vivarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Colombian Casho Leaf Litter | Anacardium excelsum
$15.00
$15.00
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Colombian mango leaves with natural spotting and variation, photographed on a natural background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Colombian Mango Leaves | Mangifera indica
$15.00
$15.00
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Colombian Guadua Bamboo Leaf Litter | Bambusa sp.

Colombian Guadua Bamboo Leaf Litter | Bambusa sp.
$14.00
$14.00
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Cacao leaves from colombia with natural coloration, photographed on a creamy green background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Colombian Cacao Leaves | Theobroma cacao
$15.00
$15.00
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Swamp Grass in loose golden strands, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Swamp Grass | Carex sp.
$10.00
$10.00
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Terentang Leaves in mixed sizes and natural brown color tones, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Terentang Leaves | Campnosperma brevipetiolata | Restocking July 31st
$15.00
$15.00
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Trio of large, textured Para Para seed pods with dark brown exteriors and split seams, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Para Para Pods | Jacaranda copaia
$11.50
$11.50
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Three textured Pente de Onca seed pods showing interior and exterior views, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Pente de Onca Pods | Bignoniaceae haplolophium
$9.00
$9.00
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Euphorbia antiquorum seed pods in varying shades of tannin brown, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Antiquorum Pods | Euphorbia Antiquorum Linn
$9.50
$9.50
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Cariniana savu trumpet pods arranged in a circular cluster, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Savu Trumpet Pods | Cariniana sp. 'Savu'
$21.00
$21.00
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A Najas guadalupensis plant prepared for use in blackwater aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Guppy Grass | Najas guadalupensis
$18.00
$18.00
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A Green Rotala (Rotala rotundifolia) stem bundle prepared for use in blackwater planted aquariums, photographed against a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Rotala rotundifolia 'Green'
$5.00
$5.00
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Red Mangrove Propagule with young leaves and roots for blackwater and brackish aquariums, photographed on a natural background at Betta Botanicals.

Red Mangrove Propagule | Rhyzophora mangle
$10.00
$10.00
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Sarracenia carnivorous plant in a pot with upright green and red-veined pitchers, photographed on a natural background for blackwater bog plant use at Betta Botanicals.

Sarracenia Carnivorous Bog Plants
$15.00
$15.00
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A group of six hard shelled bornean ironwood tree seed pods with light brown exteriors and dark brown interiors for the blackwater botanical method aquarium at Betta Botanicals.

Ulin Pods | Eusideroxylon zwageri
$22.00
$22.00
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A group of three fibrous and branching Ceylon date palm flower stalks for blackwater biotope aquariums at Betta Botanicals.

Quantity: 1c Ceylon Date Palm Stalk

Ceylon Date Palm Stalk | Phoenix pusilla
from $15.00
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Illustration of a flame with orange, white, and red colors on a natural cream background at Betta Botanicals.

Aquatic Plant Heat Pack | Shipping add on for Below 40°F
$3.00
$3.00
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Branching manzanita driftwood for planted blackwater aquariums and bioactive enclosures at Betta Botanicals.

Manzanita Piece: #8 Branching Manzanita

Branching Manzanita | WYSIWYG Pieces
from $28.00
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A pile of brown, dried Tamarind indica leaves, ideal for botanical method aquariums and bioactive enclosures at Betta Botanicals.

Tamarind Leaf Litter | Tamarindus indica
$10.00
$10.00
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Exotic manzanita wood for aquascaping in blackwater aquariums and bioactive vivariums at Betta Botanicals.

Manzanita Piece: #2 Exotic Manzanita

Exotic Manzanita | WYSIWYG Pieces
from $28.00
from $28.00
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A selection of WYSIWYG Manzanita wood pieces for aquascaping blackwater, biotope and botanical method aquariums at Betta Botanicals.

Select'Starwood' Manzanita: #6 'Starwood' Manzanita

Starwood Manzanita | WYSIWYG Pieces
from $30.00
from $30.00
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A pile of green morus alba mulberry leaf litter for use in shrimp, snail, and pleco aquariums at Betta Botanicals.

Mulberry Leaves | Morus alba
$12.00
$12.00
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Kiriwel Bark | Ichnocarpus frutescens

Kiriwel Bark | Ichnocarpus frutescens
$13.00
$13.00
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A pile of brown and tan fishtail palm stems with rough outer texture against a white background for blackwater aquariums at Betta Botanicals.

Fishtail Palm Stems | Caryota mitis
$10.00
$10.00
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Kielmeyera lathrophyton seed pods displayed in varied sizes and natural textures, photographed on a white background for blackwater aquarium and vivarium use at Betta Botanicals.

Kielmeyera Pod | Kielmeyera lathrophyton
$10.00
$10.00

Build Your Ecosystem

Aquarium botanicals have varying levels of durability, which is predictive of the leafs waxy coating and the seed pods woody composition. All types are equally important to the botanical aquarium as they build different layers of the ecosystem.