Acetabularia sp. - Mermaid’s Wine Glass
Tiny chalices from the mermaid’s table.
What You Get
Mermaid’s Wine Glass is a delicate green macroalga with lightly calcified stems and single, disc-shaped crowns that look like tiny pieces of reef glassware. Each stem rises from a small holdfast and ends in a flat, umbrella-like cup that catches the light and gives this species its iconic goblet shape.
In the wild it grows in shallow, protected water and is collected attached to small shells or hard substrate. In the aquarium it serves as a true display piece, adding a whimsical, tabletop feel to sheltered ledges and quiet corners where its tiny chalices can be seen up close.
Why It Is Algaesome
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Highlight: Classic wine glass form that macro lovers recognize instantly.
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Showpiece status: Best used as a focal accent in a calm, well maintained display rather than a workhorse exporter.
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Palatability: Crabs will pick at the cups and turbo snails will mow it over if given access. Fish usually leave it alone.
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Care: Prefers high light, low to gentle flow, and very stable alkalinity and calcium levels. Works best in a protected nook if you keep busy cleaners.
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Nutrient role: Poor nutrient uptake on its own, so pair with faster growing exporters if nutrient control is a primary goal.
Sizing and Availability
Each specimen will have 5 or more glasses that are typically 1.5 to 3 inches tall. It arrives attached to a small shell or rubble for stability, with natural variation in cup shape, spacing, and shade of green. Availability is limited and seasonal due to its delicate nature and collection conditions.
Traits
Color Fresh green to light emerald
Ease Advanced
Classification Green macroalgae
Nutrient Uptake Poor
Availability Seasonal (Warm Months) & Limited
Use Display macro
Lighting High
Flow Low to gentle
A Note from the Collectors:
Every macroalga we offer is hand-collected, acclimated, and observed by our team before shipping. While we carefully try to remove other algae, sponges, and tiny hitchhikers, it is possible that a few goodies from the reef may tag along. It is a natural part of receiving genuine wild-collected specimens.
Many species may arrive paler or whitish in color. This is completely normal. Macroalgae shift their pigments inward during transport to protect from light and stress, and color usually returns within a few days under good aquarium lighting and flow.
We ship via 2-day service on Mondays and Tuesdays only to help ensure specimens arrive healthy. You will receive a notification with tracking information as soon as your order ships.
Please note: This is an advanced species with delicate tissue and an often short lifespan in captivity. Because of its fragility, Acetabularia is not eligible for DOA claims.
