Some suppliers cultivate and harvest mangroves
from the wild, while others aquaculture
them in closed systems. If buying over the Internet, check your local
laws. There are some U.S. states and undoubtedly other countries that prohibit
importation of mangroves. If you live in or are traveling to an area where
mangroves are endemic and you wish to collect your own, once again make
sure that you check the local laws first. Some U.S. states, like Florida,
consider the mangrove to be a "protected species", with hefty fines incurred
if you are caught with them, while others, like Hawaii, consider them to
be a "weed", having little or no concern about anyone collecting or having
them.
There are four basic stages of mangrove
seed growth:
-
The seed with no roots or leaves.
-
The seed with knobby root starts beginning to form,
but no root sprouts yet.
-
The seed with some roots started and a leaf sprout
formed.
-
The seed with a full root system and fully grown
leaves.
If you get seeds in the first or second stages,
it will take a while for them to mature. Mangroves in the third stage have
a good root start and will grow to maturity faster. In the fourth stage
you already have mangroves with an advanced root system, and generally
you can see results in a very short period of time after introduction into
the aquarium.
Mangroves range in price anywhere from
about $4.00 up to $25.00, usually based on the stage of seed you purchase
and how they were grown. Check with your LFS to see if they have mangrove
plants available, or go our Algae
& Plant Supplier Resources to locate a buying source.
Just remember, if you are going to buy
mangroves you need to know how to acclimate them, before you get them.
Next > How
to Acclimate Mangroves
Previous < Mangrove Species & Characteristics
