Caulerpa taxifolia

This particular species features tall, dark green, fronds with segmented appendages. It's similar to Caulerpa mexicana, but its fronds are spaced further apart and have a tapered shape. It's tolerant to a wide range of temperatures and a voracious grower in both the aquarium and in its natural environment. For this reason it's the single most invasive species of Caulerpa found worldwide. Today, it's rarely available for sale since its addition to the federal noxious weed list. It's a highly regulated species and has been banned from several states for quite some time. Despite its reputation, they're a few aquarium strains still in propagation in aquariums throughout North America, as well as Europe and Asia. It's been reported to have been found in Florida but I've never encountered it in the Gulf of Mexico. It's actually a very hardy species if you're lucky enough to have found some for sale.

Scientific Name: Caulerpa taxifolia

Common Name: Fern Algae

Origin: Mediterranean, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 4 - 40 Ft

Maximum Height : 10"

Growth Rate: Fast

Light: Moderate

Temperature: 60-78

Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation

Difficulty: Easy

Food Value: Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Excellent

Flow Rate: Low to Moderate

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