Neomeris

Neomeris · also called Ringed Finger, Finger Algae, Fuzzy Tip

Neomeris is a green macroalgae, lightly calcified, with small, erect, finger-like growths that have fuzzy tips. N. annulata has a ringed look, and it deposits aragonite, so it draws on calcium and alkalinity. Hobby reports disagree on whether it stays put or spreads, so place it with care.

Educational only. Some KinStation entries are reviewed by licensed veterinarians, but none can replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.

Quick facts

Category	Marine & Algae
Family	Dasycladaceae
Native origin	Tropical seas, including the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Guam
Care difficulty	Intermediate
Light	Bright indirect
Pet toxicity	Toxicity unknown

Light

Wants very bright reef lighting to keep it going, according to one reference, and hobby accounts agree it does best with good light. Give it a bright spot on rock or substrate and raise intensity slowly. It grows slowly, so changes in light take a while to show.

Water

Standard reef parameters: 23-27 C (74-80 F), salinity ~1.025 SG, pH 8.1-8.4. It needs stable calcium (~400-450 ppm), alkalinity (8-11 dKH) and magnesium (~1300 ppm), and it competes with corals for them. One reference asks for high calcium and alkalinity, so stay toward the top of these ranges.

Soil & potting

Rises from substrate or rock in small upright growths, and wild plants favor intertidal rocky areas. Let a piece stay on its rock or rubble, and set that where it gets light and flow. It does not need to be buried. If it is unwanted, take out the whole rock, since it is hard to clear by hand.

Environment — humidity, temperature, placement

Moderate to high flow in a display or macroalgae tank at standard reef temperature, 23-27 C (74-80 F), is the usual advice. One aquarium author reports it did well in his tanks. Before adding it, decide if you want it for good, because it can be very hard to remove once settled.

Propagation

Grows slowly and spreads on its own, possibly by spores. Accounts conflict: some keepers say it rarely spreads and can die back, while others report it turning invasive and proving tough to clear. Use a dedicated tank if you want no risk, and thin new growths from rock you want clear.

Toxicity detail

No source covers cats or dogs, so the rating stays unknown. It makes brominated sesquiterpenes, mostly in the fleshy tips, that deter fish at natural levels, and aragonite adds a second defense. Parrotfish nibble it in the wild, and Diadema and Mespilia urchins are listed as possible grazers. No harm to tank animals or corals is documented.

Varieties & cultivars

Natural forms are the wild species; cultivars are selectively-bred colour or variegation forms of the same plant.

Natural forms1

Ringed Finger

Neomeris annulata. A lightly calcified green alga that rises from substrate or rock in small erect growths. Its ringed, finger-like form gives it the name.

Keep it out of any reef you want free of it, because it can spread widely and is very hard to remove.