It could be very difficult to distinguish among different variety of moss - and among all, Java moss is the easiest to grow - so you could easily conclude that the price for Java moss would be the lowest, followed by other range of mosses according to their growth rate (the faster they grow, the cheaper to farm them), and also the sensitivity (the harder to grow, the more “premium” would they be).

Before we start, follow the link if you wish to know how to DIY a moss wall for aquarium tank with aquatic moss.

Java moss

Java Moss can be readily recognized by the presence of many long branches with short to long, distantly spaced, lateral branchlets. The small, flattened leaves are arranged on two sides of the stem and branches. When tied to driftwood or rocks, the long branches of the plant become more profusely produced. Observed under the microscope, the leaf shape is oblong to oblong-lanceolate, with a short and wide leaf tip. Its leaf cells are long and narrow, with thin- to moderately thick walls. The leaf margins are toothed throughout. Two short “veins” (or costae) can be clearly seen at the base of the leaf blade.

Interestingly, the species, since its first description, has not been seen to produce fruiting capsules in cultivation. Often time, alleged specimens of Java Moss with capsules that were sent to us for confirmation turned out to be of a different moss species that grows in mixture with the Java Moss.

Christmas moss

A rising star among the tropical aquarium mosses lately is the Christmas Moss (Vesicularia montagnei (Bel.) Broth.). The plant got its common name because the mature fronds hang down and overlap each other like the branches of a Christmas tree. Many hobbyists grow them as a moss wall, decorating the aquascape of fish tank.

Grown submersed, the moss can produce long triangular fronds. Its more or less regularly pinnate to subpinnate branches are characteristic. The leaves are nearly round to broadly oval with an abruptly short and sharp apex, and the leaf cells are broad and short in outline, and with thin walls. The two leaf costae are also somewhat conspicuous. In its natural environment, Christmas Moss grows on shaded wet bank of stream and creeks, and also on wet shaded ground in forest. It is a widespread species in tropical Asia.

Taiwan moss

One recently introduced and rather pricey aquarium moss is the Taiwan Moss [cf. Taxiphyllum alternans (Card.) Iwats.]. As the common trade name suggests, it is exported from Taiwan but we can not be sure if the plants truly originated from the island country. The fronds of Taiwan Moss exhibit a triangular shape somewhat similar to the Christmas Moss, but are distinctively more equilateral. The ends of the branches curl up slightly when grown in water. Unlike the Christmas Moss which feels hard when touched, the Taiwan Moss has a soft texture and looks delicate when grown in a bunch.

Like Java Moss, the leaves of Taiwan Moss are oblong-lanceolate with two well marked costae, but have a gradually (not abruptly) longer and sharper apex. Its leaf cells, like those of Java Moss and other species belonging to the same genus (Taxiphyllum), are narrow and long. However, a distinct difference between these two species can be observed in their leaf margins. In Taiwan Moss, only the upper leaf apex is irregularly and minutely toothed. In contrast, the leaf margins of Java Moss are toothed throughout.

Weeping moss

Another recently introduced aquarium moss allegedly from mainland China is the Weeping Moss [cf. Vesicularia ferriei (Card. & Thér.) Broth.).]. The mature fronds of this moss droop like the branches of a weeping willow tree. The overall leaf shape and the oblong and broad leaf cells approach that of Christmas Moss, but the leaf is without an abruptly short and sharp apex. This aquarium moss still needs time to gain popularity among the aquarium plant enthusiasts..

Source of information: http://www.killies.com

You could find and purchase some moss for your aquarium tank here.

David