Aegagropila linnaei (+ Win 5 SBD)

I know, I know, I promised you a new story today. But between arriving home, unpacking my luggage, having a meeting with the student’s council immediately after coming home and being forced to manage about 3 other things, I wasn’t able to produce something good yesterday. I have something planned so I hope the new story can start tomorrow.

So instead, I’m going to tell you something about my new pets, which are Aegagropila linnaei or better known as … Moss Balls (or Marimo or Cladophora ball or Lake ball or Mossimo. Those things have hundreds of names).

When they arrived the day after my birthday (birthday present!) they looked like this:

Wrapped in plastic, I was a bit worried that they might have been damaged by the transport. Additionally, I was incredibly unprepared as I hadn’t expected them. So at first, they landed in tiny glasses in which they looked a bit uncomfortable …

But after a quick run to the store, I managed to get them more suitable homes.

You may notice that one of them floats while the other one stays on the ground. They do that once in a while, some sources say it’s tied to their photosynthetic activity. Maybe they’re just bored.

The moss ball isn’t actually moss but a freshwater macroalga that can be mainly found in northern Europe and Japan. It’s not always in ball form though, it can also exist free floating or as a carpet. But the ball form is obviously the coolest one. It can be grown from the other two forms as, genetically, it’s the same. Tidal motion is responsible for the round shape.

The balls grow slowly but are very easy to handle. Cold water below 25°C, no direct sunlight and maybe a bit of salt. Rinse them once in a while, replace their water once a week and they’re happy. The perfect pet for someone who isn’t responsible enough to keep an actual pet. I mean, they make their own food! They use sunlight and CO₂ to feed themselves. I really just have to provide the water.

Anyway, the title says you can win 5 SBD right? How many of you only clicked the article because you read this? I hope you were entertained by my cute moss balls anyway. I hope you actually read the text above because it is tied to the 5 SBD!

Pets need names. I’m horrible with names. The characters in my story are usually named with a random name generator. Funny how creativity sometimes works. Well, I decided to outsource the naming this time.

I’m asking you to give names to my beautiful moss balls! You’ve got time until I publish my next post ( about 24 or 25 hours depending on the circumstances). Write a comment with either one or two names (not more, to keep it fair). I will choose the two names I like best. Per name, you can win 2.5 SBD (so if I choose both names from you, 5 SBD).´

If two people propose the same name, the person who posted it first will be regarded as the one who came up with it. Blessed be the blockchain, everything can be traced properly.

Now, go wild!

_{And I really hope I can produce something good for tomorrow.}

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References:

Wikipedia

Mysterious Marimo

Marimo Ball Basics

Mossball.com

Global Decline of and Threats to Aegagropila linnaei, with Special Reference to the Lake Ball Habit

A geometrical approach explains Lake Ball (Marimo) formations in the green alga, Aegagropila linnaei

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First picture taken from pixabay.com, all other pictures by me

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_{Monster GIF by @saywha and @atopy}