01
Overview
Riccardia creeps across hardscape as a dense mat of forked, fleshy lobes a few millimeters tall. It is one of the slowest plants in the trade and among the most jewel-like once established, which is why patient aquascapers tolerate its demands.
02
Aquascaping use
It excels as a crust on stone in Iwagumi and nano layouts, adding age without height. Pair it with fine-leaved carpets; anything coarse alongside makes it read as texture noise rather than detail.
03
Planting
Glue thin, flat pieces directly to clean rock; thick starts trap water beneath and lift. It fuses to the surface over months and eventually cannot be removed without a blade.
Attach thinly to hardscape
04
Light & CO₂
Stable CO₂ is close to mandatory for tight, healthy mats, along with moderate light. Without carbon it survives but thins to a scruffy film.
05
Substrate & fertilization
Lean and utterly consistent dosing in clean, cool water; it punishes both starvation and enthusiasm. Shrimp keep its crevices clean and are ideal companions.
Feeding behavior: Water-column feeder. Nutrient demand: moderate.
06
Growth, trimming & propagation
Shear the surface lightly every few months to prevent inner die-off; the mat regrows from what remains. Collect every clipping, as fragments root wherever they settle.
Thallus fragmentation
07
Common problems
- !Interior of thick mats suffocates and detaches
- !Growth stalls entirely without CO₂
- !Warmth and dirty water quickly brown it
