Thicker than moss, and that is the point. Monosolenium tenerum — Pellia — is a liverwort that grows broad ribbon-like fronds rather than fine filaments, forming dense dark green cushions with real substance. It gives a texture nothing else in a planted tank offers, and it does it in low light with no CO₂.
What You’ll Receive
- Loose Portion: small portion of Monosolenium tenerum, approx. 2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm)
- Ready for Use: Can be tied to rocks, tucked into crevices, or allowed to carpet over time
Plant Profile
- Common name — Pellia
- Scientific name — Monosolenium tenerum
- Also known as — Pellia Moss, Round Pellia
- Origin — East Asia
- Placement — Foreground to midground, on rock or wood
- Shipped size — Loose portion, approx. 2" x 2"
- Mature height — 1–2 in
- Suits — 5 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Slow
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Light — Low to medium. Bright light mostly feeds algae on a plant this slow
- CO₂ — Not required
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Not required. Feeds from the water column
- Growth habit — Fully aquatic. Does not grow emersed
- Propagation — Fragmentation — split a cushion and re-tie the pieces
Grower’s Notes
- It has no roots and no grip — you must tie it down. Unlike Java Moss, Pellia is brittle and heavy and will not attach itself. Use thread, hairnet or mesh over rock, and expect to leave it several months before it holds. Dropped loose on the substrate it simply drifts apart.
- Keep the light modest. Slow growth means algae settles faster than the plant replaces tissue, and algae inside a dense Pellia cushion cannot be cleaned out.
- Give it flow. Water moving through the cushion keeps detritus from packing into the center and rotting.
- Split and re-tie rather than trimming. Fragments grow into new cushions, so one portion becomes several over a year.
- Shrimp and fry take shelter in it readily — the dense structure is better cover than fine mosses provide.
Notes
- Photos shown are sample representations. Actual plant portions may vary in size and density. Unless noted, plants may arrive in emersed or submerged form and are not guaranteed to be pest- or pesticide-free.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
This aquatic moss generally arrives quickly and healthy, with customers praising its "lush green" appearance and pest-free quality. However, some shoppers received degraded, brown material instead of the expected clumps. Most appreciated the generous portions and ease of growth, though consistency varies.
- It arrived healthy, lush green, and with no hitchhikers!
- These are gorgeous plants, they look like seaweed and are very easy.
- Very cool plant. Arrived quickly in excellent condition.
P
While all the other plants in the order arrived healthy and in good shape. This mono specimen arrived very degraded and brown “dead”. it looked like it had been kept in the bag for a week and/or was the very bottom of the barrel. The package contained very few pieces of green “live” plant material. This may be enough to regenerate over the next couple of months, but very disappointing. The photos are of what is left after pulling out the majority of dead material. Also noticed some hitchhikers. Snails, snails. Everything in the aquarium is from the same order.
T
I expected mine to come in one big clump like in the picture, but it came in mini small little fibers that have now died Do not recommend this is a product to buy from here specifically. Maybe when it’s not on sale because they’ll give you an actual good product. Because I did buy it on sale and maybe that’s why I got what I got. Here’s a picture of what I can find that is still. Slowly dying in my tank. If any of this actually does survive, I will be surprised.
R
Plants arrived quickly and in great shape! Most plants didn’t melt at all, some wear on the moss but it looks healthy. Thank you!
A
It arrived healthy, lush green, and with no hitchhikers, which I appreciate greatly!
A
I have received parasites, scuds, and leaches in some plants from other sellers, BUT not from here. They do not have any duck weed either, which is almost impossible possible to remove, it always seems to pop up. Just order you don’t have to worry like you do other places.
These are gorgeous plants, they look like seaweed to me and can grow anywhere, they are very easy,
T
Very cool plant. I was provided a generous portion that arrived quickly and in excellent condition. It looks amazing attached to the dragon-stone in my aquarium.
B
I believe these came with snails which was just what I wanted and are looking great in my 10 gallon tank
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