Riccia Moss aquarium plant — scientifically
known as Riccia Fluitans — is one of the most
beautiful and versatile floating aquatic
liverworts available for freshwater aquariums.
This riccia moss aquarium plant forms stunning
dense bright green cushions that float freely
on the water surface or can be tied to rocks
and driftwood to create a lush natural carpet
or foreground display in any planted tank.
Despite being called a moss, this riccia moss
aquarium plant is technically a liverwort —
a primitive aquatic plant with a distinctive
bubbly bright green texture that is instantly
recognisable and absolutely beautiful under
aquarium lighting. It is one of the most
photographed plants in the aquascaping
hobby worldwide.
What is Riccia Moss Aquarium Plant?
Riccia Fluitans is a floating aquatic liverwort
found naturally across tropical and subtropical
regions worldwide — including naturally in
India where it grows on the surface of ponds,
slow-moving streams, and rice paddies. Its
widespread natural distribution makes this
riccia moss aquarium plant perfectly adapted
to Indian water conditions and temperatures.
In the aquarium hobby, Riccia Moss is beloved
for its stunning bright green color, its
usefulness as a natural shelter for shrimp
and fish fry, and its ability to grow both
floating freely or attached to hardscape
elements as a lush submerged carpet.
Why Choose Riccia Moss Aquarium Plant?
🌿 Stunning bright green color that glows beautifully under aquarium lighting
🌿 Can be used floating OR attached to rocks and driftwood as a carpet
🌿 Perfect natural shelter and breeding ground for shrimp and fish fry
🌿 Produces oxygen visibly — tiny bubbles cling to the surface during photosynthesis
🌿 No substrate needed — grows freely in the water column or on hardscape
🌿 Fast growing — spreads quickly to fill your desired area naturally
🌿 Beloved by shrimp — provides ideal grazing surface rich in natural biofilm
Two Ways to Use Riccia Moss Aquarium Plant
METHOD 1 — FLOATING (Easiest):
Simply place this riccia moss aquarium plant
on the water surface and it will form
beautiful bright green floating cushions
naturally. This is the easiest and most
natural way to use Riccia and provides
excellent shelter for baby shrimp and
surface-feeding fish.
METHOD 2 — ATTACHED CARPET (Advanced):
Tie small portions of this riccia moss
aquarium plant to flat rocks or a mesh
using thin cotton thread or fishing line.
Hold in place with a small weight and
place on the substrate. As it grows it
creates a stunning lush bright green
carpet across the foreground of your tank.
Note that Riccia Moss naturally wants to
float — it requires regular maintenance
to keep it attached and carpet-like.
Riccia Moss for Shrimp Tanks
This riccia moss aquarium plant is one of
the most popular choices for shrimp tanks
among serious hobbyists. Female shrimp
carrying eggs love to hide within the dense
floating cushions of Riccia for protection.
Newly hatched baby shrimp hide deep within
the dense structure — dramatically increasing
their survival rate in community tanks.
The surface of Riccia also develops a rich
layer of biofilm and microorganisms that
shrimp graze on constantly throughout the
day — keeping them active, well-fed, and
visibly thriving in your tank.
Oxygen Production
Under good lighting this riccia moss
aquarium plant produces oxygen visibly —
tiny bubbles of pure oxygen cling to the
surface of its leaves during active
photosynthesis, creating a magical sparkling
effect known as pearling. This not only
looks beautiful but actively improves
oxygen levels for your fish and shrimp.
Perfect Plant Combinations
This riccia moss aquarium plant pairs perfectly with Java Moss
in shrimp tanks for a complete natural shelter environment and works beautifully
alongside Anubias Nana and Pellia Moss
for a diverse natural planted layout.
Browse our complete floating plant collection
for more surface plant options.
Read our complete guide on best plants for shrimp tanks
to learn more about creating the perfect
shrimp environment with Riccia Moss.
For more information on Riccia Moss care visit Fishkeeping World and
Aquatic Plant Central.
Care Details
🌱 Care Level: Easy
💡 Lighting: Medium to High
💧 CO2: Not required (benefits from it)
📍 Placement: Floating or Foreground
🌡️ Temperature: 18°C – 28°C
⚗️ pH: 6.0 – 8.0
💪 Growth Rate: Fast
Every Riccia Moss aquarium plant from
FloraBiz is farm-grown in clean healthy
cultivation tanks in Kozhikode, Kerala and
shipped fresh directly to your doorstep
anywhere in India with our live plant
delivery guarantee.
