I can tell you about my own experience in purchasing a nice "bunch" of java
moss. I have no idea if it is practical for a retailer, but it worked for me
as a customer. I went to a local "fish only" LFS that has a great wide
selection of everything from Koi to sal****er species. They have several
tanks with low turbulence and free-floating plants including java moss. The
tanks with java moss were probably stocked with carnivores or something that
dislikes sampling java moss. I don't remember the species, but there were
small freshwater tropicals in the tank.

When I asked for some of it, they picked out a bunch and bagged it just as
if they were capturing fish. They bagged it the same way as they would for a
nice fish, and charged me the same kind of price (it was a healthy bunch).

The LFS took their time and carefully selected a very nice looking wad of
the stuff (maybe they were just avoiding giving me fry, but that is not what
it looked like). The attendant gave the impression that I was a valued
customer and wanted me to have only the best. The show was worth the premium
price.

Not only did I get a nice healthy bunch of java moss, but I was "forced" to
stare at a lovely group of beautiful tropical fish while the purchase was
being gathered.

I brought it home and carefully tied it to a "log" in my tank. It was
shredded by the fish in my tank and I couldn't keep it under control, but I
don't regret the experience (only my own inexperience).

chet


"NetMax" wrote in message
. ..
I purchased 3 bags of Java moss, and have a couple of questions. What is
the best way to keep/grow it? Can I spread it over the gravel, or should
I use some kind of plastic squares underneath to sell it with. Has
anyone seen a good way for an LFS to sell Java moss. Also what size
should the squares be, to be useful to a buyer, and what is a low to fair
selling price?

Similar questions on Riccia fluitans. My supplier nill'ed me on my
order, but I still found a tiny bag of what I think is Riccia fluitans.
Planted it and it seems to be growing, but more like a fine stemmed plant
than a ground cover. I'm clueless on how I'm going to sell this, but it
seems to grow, looks pretty and you guys told me to buy it, so I did ;o)

ps: I bought almost everything the NG suggested. I'm waiting to see what
does best in my water to make comments. I have too many favourites to
mention right now, but it took me an hour to plant the Echinodorus
tenellus. It felt like I planted a lawn, 50 blades, one at a time, but
it will look sooo sweet if it catches on (do I need to mow it ? ;o)

NetMax