java moss for betta

Question
hi karen.. jus wan to clarify this with you... i jus bought a java moss for my betta... it has been a mth then and its color is not as green as it was in the first place.. so my question is.. is it still alright to continue using as i am afraid it is not fresh enough and not healthy for the fish. i dont have any fluorescent light for my tank... so is my java moss still good enough to be used.. i dun think it is decaying or rotting jus not as green as it once was. And also, can java moss live without fluorescent light? Thanks for help.. i look forward to hear from you soon... =)

Answer
Dear Janson,
Java moss doesn't require a lot of light of course. But it does need low- to medium light conditions. I don't think there is anything wrong with your java moss but it may just not be as green as before due to not getting enough light. Try making sure it gets some sort of sunlight from a window and see how that helps. And of course, if it rots, just replace it.

A much better thing to do that would make your moss grow better and make your betta much happier is to have a small aquarium of 3-5 gallons that comes equipped with florescent lighting. Your betta will live longer with a more stable environmnet, he can have his temperature consistant with a heater, and the good lighting shows off his colors. Not only that, only partial water changes are needed in established aquariums rather than the complete cleanings a bowl/vase requires. This would be a great time to upgrade to a small aquarium (hopefully I'm not talking about a betta that is already in a tank! ;) and everybody would be so much happier.

Java moss could live without florescent light, and could grow from a little sunlight coming from a window. But if you want to see it green and lush, a little florescent would do it some good, maybe just a touch of liquid aquatic plant fertilizer now and then.

I really hope this helps!
Best wishes and happy fishkeeping!
Karen~