Mayaca Sellowiniana
Mayaca sellowiana
📍 South America and southeastern North America; native to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and parts of the southeastern United States
Mayaca sellowiana is a delicate, feathery stem plant with fine, needle-like leaves arranged densely along slender stems, giving it a soft, moss-like texture. It creates a lush, wispy appearance ideal for midground or background planting, adding a naturalistic, flowing quality to planted aquascapes. Under good conditions it may produce tiny pinkish-white flowers near the water surface.
Community Photos
1 photoPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
by @isaiahcowell
Sign in to vote.
Tanks keeping this 🌿
Growing in 1 tankCommunity tanks featuring Mayaca Sellowiniana.
Compatible Livestock
Small, peaceful fish that won't disturb delicate stems or uproot plantings
Tiny, non-destructive schooling fish that complement the plant's fine texture visually
Effective algae cleaners that are too small to damage or uproot the plant
Peaceful mid-water schooling fish that pose no threat to fine-leaved stem plants
Common Diseases
Melt / Stem Rot
Stems become soft, translucent, and disintegrate; leaves drop rapidly after introduction or following sudden parameter changes
Trim affected stems immediately; stabilize water parameters and ensure soft, slightly acidic water; replant healthy tops
Iron / Micronutrient Deficiency
New leaves appear pale yellow or white (chlorosis) while older leaves remain green; stunted growth
Dose chelated iron and a comprehensive liquid micronutrient fertilizer; ensure substrate root tabs are present
Thread Algae Infestation
Fine green or black thread algae entangle the delicate leaves, smothering growth and reducing light penetration
Introduce Amano shrimp or Otocinclus; reduce photoperiod; improve CO2 and nutrient balance to outcompete algae
Leggy / Sparse Growth
Stems elongate rapidly with wide spacing between leaves; plant loses its dense, feathery appearance
Increase light intensity to 70-100 PAR; add CO2 injection; trim and replant tops to encourage bushy regrowth
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- co2
- Beneficial but not essential; CO2 injection promotes faster, healthier growth and prevents sparse, leggy stems
- light
- Medium to High (50-100 PAR); benefits from consistent, strong lighting to maintain dense, compact growth
- placement
- Midground to Background; rooted in substrate, planted in bunches or small groups
- substrate
- Nutrient-rich substrate preferred; root tabs beneficial to support steady stem growth
- growth rate
- Moderate
- propagation
- Stem cuttings; trim tops and replant healthy cuttings directly into substrate; side shoots also develop along the main stem
Water it likes
- ph
- 5.5-7.0
- hardness
- 1-8 dGH
- temperature
- 68–82°F (20–28°C)
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.