Marimo Ball spores?

Question

How do you make Marimo Balls release their spores without waiting for them to grow bigger?

My Marimo ball broke into 5 pieces due to stress in while being shipped to my place. I want my Marimo Balls to be round so I want spores.

How long does it take for Marimo Balls to recover to their round shape if I have CO2 and NH4 in the water?

Answer 1

The Cladophora aegagropila ( Marimo ball, lake ball ) grows very slowly ( 3 - 4 mm per annum ) and in nature it can arrive at the age of more than hundred years. Therefore its maturity will be rather late, I suppose and that could be the reason why  I couldn`t find any publication how to animate it nor an offer. I tried in different countries and languages.

Here you find botanical aspects of reproduction incl. illustrations:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf...

This publication shows a photo-documentation of growing  baby Marimo balls from broken colonies. Might be it helps to manage to keep your ball.

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,%2...

On the other hand I found balls offered for the price of about 2,50-3,50 EUR in shops. You could try one of them prevent shipping problems and you should find a lot of good advice in a good shop.

The CO2 and NH4 shoud not make problems, in contrast the Marimo ball are said to like these gases.

Thomas Barr ( see first link ) once suggested that NH4 triggers the algae to reproduce by sending out spores

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Algae/clad...

http://www.aquariummalta.com/post.asp?me...

Wish you good luck!