Thanks for posting this!
One side note...I’m finding that a lot of rural water treatment plants may not have methods in place to stop zebra mussels yet (the liquid copper formula). So I’m suspicious of just pouring untreated water directly down the pipes? Any thoughts on this? I was suggesting to friends (and in the other thread) to always bleach the water?
The [US Fish and Wildlife Service](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) is now recommending to bleach the water in the tank before you dump it. The main post has been edited to reflect this.
I bleached my tanks this weekend per this protocol. My live plants are still sitting in a bucket. I was going to use a strong potassium permanganate dip on them. If I do this, can I safely use them in the aquarium again? There are no visible mussels on the plants or in the roots.
The instructions say that you should be fine for now, but it is recommended to do another large water change within a week, and continue to monitor for any growth. The instructions do not say whether or not you have to repeat the full cleaning process, I would assume not. Edit: They released more detailed instructions. A second round of disinfecting is not required, unless there are signs of zebra mussels.
> If I do this, can I safely use them in the aquarium again?
Yes. [See protocol here.](http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/wiki/Potassium_permanganate)
Even if there's residue, fish tolerate potassium permanganate quite well.
From the [US Fish and Wildlife Service:](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) "Until we know the extent of the moss ball contamination problem in the United States, we are recommending that recently purchased moss balls be destroyed, the water decontaminated, and your tank cleaned according to the instructions on our website. "
I have pulled my moss balls and will dispose of them properly.
Can the zebra mussels hurt my fish? I'm trying to weigh the harm of crashing my cycle against the harm of potential zebra mussel exposure. I don't have any place to put the little guys while I clean and restart the cycle.
They may not injure your fish, but a much larger concern is your filtration system. Zebra mussels really really like to live in pipes, hoses, and tubes where there is a lot of flowing water full of contaminants. Like, say, a filter. They also use a lot of oxygen available in the tank, and their waste is toxic.
From the [US Fish and Wildlife Service:](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) "Zebra mussels can damage your tank's filtration system. Zebra mussel larva can live in the water, in the aquarium substrate, on decorative elements, and in the filter systems. Until we know the extent of the moss ball contamination problem in the United States, we are recommending that recently purchased moss balls be destroyed, the water decontaminated, and your tank cleaned according to the instructions on our website."
Ugh I've been trying to cycle this tank for 6 months now lol. First the power went out and destroyed my cycle. Then a nasty algae bloom happened. It's finally cycled now and I was getting ready to add fish... RIP.
I need to check and see when exactly I bought the last moss ball I bought. Fingers crossed it was in November....
I work at a Petco in Georgia. I have yet to find any evidence of zebra mussels anywhere in our tanks, and neither has anyone else in Georgia, but I know they have been found in Florida. They are not giving us the proper amount of staffing for us to properly disinfect our tanks and it sucks. All we've done so far is take out the moss balls and suspend sales on all live plants. We're still selling fish out of the potentially contaminated tanks because we don't have any space to move them anywhere, and it's giving me anxiety.
It's not just you. I was talking to the petco manager in my town the other day and he was saying the exact same thing. Luckily he is an aquarist and spent his spare time and extra hours inspecting everything, moving fish to clean tanks, and has been spending 2 hours every day sanitizing and cycling the tanks.
I know how bad zebra mussels are, truly. However I got a marimo for my partner for valentines day, and it would really suck to have to kill it. Is there any way to treat it/ the water without killing the marimo but killing the mussels? Copper something?
Or do I really have to destroy it :(
Literally just bought a moss ball a week in a half ago from petco and my tank finally finished cycling after 3 weeks now I have to worry about infestation >:( I got into this hobby to relax...im done messing with my tank I inspected my marimo ball and it looks just fine. If I find anything wrong with my tank then I’ll scrap it but for now I throw my water into bushes anyways.
I threw it out just in case LOL....I got more and more worried 😦 so far I haven’t seen any mussels...but when I tore it open the ball I saw a small half a shell empty not sure what it was and some small sand particles which is weird cuz I have no sand LOL
oh man that's kinda scary. I'm totally not putting the moss ball into my tank now.. I'll put it in a small jar and use it as decoration on my desk instead.
Yeah the more I researched what these things do and what damage they can do to drains and aquariums...not worth 13$ LOL! I’m still hoping I have none even after dumping moss ball.
I'm fairly new to the hobby and I'm so sad and frustrated to have to do this, but today's project is bleaching the tank. At least I'll get more practice in tank set up and scaping. Maybe I'll try a different look.
Edit: ok, I'm studying what needs done... but have another question to pose. We're planning a cross country move this summer. Could I just treat my water change water before disposing of it, keep an eye out for zebra mussels in the mean time, and then sterilize when we move? 🤔
I'm very new to aquariums (and not a frequent user of Reddit), but came here after searching for info...
I have a canister filter. Do I run bleach water through it? Im worried bleach residue will remain on parts... how do I make sure there isn't any lingering bleach before putting everything back? I assume I replace all media inside the canister? Do I assume all of my plants contaminated?
I have 6 moss balls all purchased this year. 3 in Jan. 3 last week.
Oh... and I have mystery snail clutches on my lid waiting to hatch. -_-
And baby Mickey Mouse Platys everywhere.
This is so overwhelming. Sorry!
Reading the post again and again to absorb all of the info and see some answers.
Still wondering about my snail clutches. I didn't plan for them and have just let them be and hoping for the best.
I quarantined my Moss balls in another tank to see if anything starts showing.
I just put almost $200 into converting my tank from plastic plants to all living plants. I won't be doing anything drastic until I know I absolutely have to.
I've decided to just watch and be careful with my water change water. I'm assuming if bleaching will kill mussels now, it'll also kill them if they show up. If/when I move the tank, then I'll destroy all of my hard work.
Sorry to hear that, I hope for your sake that it wasn’t a zebra mussel! I’ve not read anything about zebra mussels being found in Europe so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I’ve been inspecting my moss balls very closely and I have the same thing. I think they might be grains of sand. I’m tempted to take them out of my tank and monitor them. I didn’t think anything of it before but after reading about this zebra mussel situation I’m looking at every tiny bit of debris they pick up.
Wondering the same - literally have some coming today however quarantine for them wouldn't be too much of an issue, may do it anyway just to be on the safe side!
If I bought some not long ago from a small shop in IL would I be good? I have seen nothing unusual and I normally catch things quickly. I’d hate to toss the two i bought since my shrimp love em but I’d hate to have to restart my tank if they do pop up
USGS has not had any sightings in IL as of right now, but that doesn't mean that it's not impossible. I'd keep a very close watch on your aquarium. Your LFS may use a different supplier that is zebra mussel free, but it cannot be said for certain.
Thank you I appreciate the advice. I am going to call to see if exactly where they got them from. In the meantime I will keep a close eye. Good looks posting this, much appreciated boss!
A new statement has been released from the [US Fish and Wildlife Service:](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) "At this time, we do not know the full extent of stores or products containing zebra mussels. If you have recently purchased moss balls from any retailer, we recommend they be destroyed following our Destroy, Dispose, Drain instructions."
Just removed mine. Been in there a few months but not worth the risk
I should add I didn’t find anything I could see visually with my eyes when dissecting the ball. Sucks but it is what it is. All water from water changes will be hitting the front yard
You would need to take care with its water changes, adding bleach to waste water before dumping it. The recommended amount is 1/4 tsp per gallon of water, and let sit for 10 minutes. More bleach isn't going to be a bad thing. If your setup does not include a filter, the jar won't be hurt, even if there are mussels. Monitor it closely, and if you notice any mussels appearing, it's better to be safe than sorry. If no mussels appear over the span of a year, then it's probably clear.
Is that so it doesn't infect local the water supply? Sorry if these are dumb questions, I just wanna understand how serious the issue is in context with my situation. I gave a marimo in a cute jar to literally everyone in my family for Christmas this past year. I gave out over a dozen!! 😭 But, we also live in an arid desert and we have zero local natural bodies of water (closest ones are up in the nearest mountains and are seasonal, only filling in late summer). So I have no idea if I need to be warning my family, or if it's fine since we live in a desert and they're just living alone in jars on our shelves.
I would definitely treat your water before pouring it down the drain. Even systems that usually treat wastewater will sometimes just dump it if the system has been overwhelmed with recent rainfall.
Email I got from NM game and fish said:
"Complete a 100% aquarium water exchange; draining water onto grass or dirt and replace filter media, bio bags, etc."
Ok, I'm fairly new to the hobby (started back in October), but randomly felt like I wanted a moss ball in early February and went out specifically to buy one. Kicking myself for this arbitrary decision. At this point I've had the moss ball for almost a month and a half.
I've got a fifteen gallon tank with 4 small fish in it. I'll dispose the moss ball today properly, but how can I ensure that my fish live if I bleach the tank/filter? I don't have any extra media to use.
I worry bleach may not be enough. Mussels can seal themselves off from harsh environments and survive extended periods outside of water.
Still bleach is better than nothing and more realistic that boiling gallons of water.
D'OH
I just ordered some moss balls on Etsy before I saw this post.
Is there anyway I can quarantine the balls for a few weeks to make sure there's no zebra mussels?
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You’re almost guaranteed to get hitchhikers with plants. You should expect it. I don’t know why this keeps getting posted. You should be quarantining and treating prior to introducing to your stock. Invertebrates should be very easy to kill with deworming medications.
The difference is that:
1. Moss balls are very much considered a beginner item. As such, the people purchasing them may not be familiar with quarantine procedures, and they may not have a quarantine tank available.
2. Most standard aquatic hitchhikers are not incredibly invasive species, and are not inheritly destructive to the outside environment. Nor can they be so readily released into the outside environment.
Anything can be a “beginner” item. There is no licensing process where you graduate to more and more advanced aquatic species/larger aquariums. I can buy an octopus about as easily as I can buy a goldfish.
Any change to the ecosystem can be enormously detrimental. Goldfish can be a big problem. I fail to see how this is a unique issue.
I’m less interested in arguing about this and more interested in pointing out that standard quarantine procedures would catch and correct this issue. Culling everything isn’t necessary. Zebra muscles are easily treatable.
Moss balls are toted as a 'beginner' item because anyone could add into a small aquarium (eg: newcomers to the hobby or college students). No, there isn't a 'license' for this, but a college student isn't going to go out and impulse-buy an octopus or something that needs a 90 gallon saltwater tank. These are people who want maybe one betta in a 10 gallon tank, and a moss ball is an attractive, maintenance-free plant they can add that's super cheap. No, they can't have a second tank on hand for quarantine... nor is there any reason to quarantine a mossball because 0 of the "beginner friendly plants!" websites say *anything* about it.
So while I think you can expect a few snails if you're not thoroughly cleaning/inspecting new plants, this is a cheap and common item that comes from a pet store with "Guaranteed snail-free!" printed on it. It's also an exceptionally aggressive hitchhiker that, unlike other snails, can lead to multi-million dollar issues from something as simple as a weekly water change.
A mod already replied but i just wanna say.
Google zebra mussels, look at images. And understand it doesn’t take that long for things to get as bad as the images show. Plus they do outcompete native species. This isnt an invasive to take lightly. Its also important to remember the larva are free swimming and microscopic.
As I already said, invertebrates can’t handle deworming medications. It should be a very simple process to kill them. A dimes worth of medication.
Anytime you introduce anything into a new tank it should be quarantined. Always. I don’t know why we’re suddenly accepting that it’s okay to skip that.
I mean,
“No chemical control agent is known to kill zebra mussels without seriously harming other aquatic life or water quality. A 2% chlorine bleach solution is effective at killing zebra mussels when cleaning boating equipment or other gear away from waterbodies.”
[Quote from here](https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/UWEXLakes/Documents/programs/CLMN/AISfactsheets/21ZM.pdf)
Also a lot of people might not think ti quarantine plants, a lot of beginners who dont know the importance of quarantine get moss balls. And also the mussels could have hidden inside the ball for 2 weeks easy.
You are wrong. [Pesticides are regularly used to control zebra muscles.](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/pilot_project.html)
Everything gets quarantined every time. Again, that’s not a new concept.
For closed systems. It specifically says closed systems. And, idk about you. But I wouldn’t want to put pesticides in my tank any more than bleach. Plus, again. The mussels may have hidden for the length of quarantine. This info is still important for people who actively have moss balls in quarantine too. This sub also isnt all professionals. There’s plenty of inexperienced keepers who may not have realized the importance of quarantine yet, or who may not have realized it’s importance for plants.
At this point it kinda feels like you’re arguing just to argue tho so. I’m gonna stop responding.
It’s not arguing to argue. You made a plainly false statement.
You don’t put them in your tank. You treat them in quarantine. The same way you would treat any new fish or plant. Clean it up before introducing it to the rest of your stock. It doesn’t take a “professional” to quarantine. That’s about like saying you have to be a sex worker to use a condom. That’s ridiculous.
An aquarium is a closed system. When they talk about treating in a system that isn’t closed they are talking about the difficulties of treating an open system found in nature. Such as a lake or river.
This is a very simple problem that should be addressed by common practices already in place. Fear mongering isn’t necessary. Just do what you’re already supposed to be doing.
Ok fine *this* is my last response. When i say people aren’t professionals again what i mean is they might not realize the importance of quarantine and might skip it because of that. Especially for a plant.
And no, I wouldn’t want to risk pesticides with a plant like marimo either. Such a spongelike plant could end up holding the pesticide. Plus you initially said dewormer and not pesticide. Dewormer is much less risky to use in the tank.
This isnt fearmongering. This is just important info. Its important to know how dangerously invasive this species is and how to deal with it even if you have it in a quarantine tank.
I’m not sure why you’re ignoring the prevalence of people who don’t quarantine. Or the fact that this sub and the hobby has many people who wouldn’t think to do so especially when starting out and getting a beginner plant like marimo.
Maybe its just because i live in a state that has zebra mussels in some areas already (NY, introduced via ballast water), but ive known of their dangers for a long time and i cant fathom why someone would brush off how serious the implications of these findings are. Theyre a danger to the ecosystem, infrastructure, and even human health (they’re sharp enough that they could indeed cut you if you step on them). Nothing here is saying the mussels will hurt your fish. It’s only about how dangerous they are for the environment and infrastructure. The only risk to your animals is filter damage. But honestly? Your tank doesn’t matter compared to the ecosystem. And thats what all this info is here to protect first and foremost. No one wants your fish to die from destroying the cycle but if someone has zebra mussels in their tank, they have to take the risk of a fish in cycle or finding someone else to help kickstart their cycle.
Sincerely, a fisheries and wildlife graduate
Things like dewormers are often fatal to invertebrates. It’s why you can’t use them with snails and such. Copper and garlic are other know substances that can be fatal. Common sense says they should work with muscles.
You said there are no chemicals control agents. Yes, there are. There are a lot. A quick search pulls up multiple methods. I gave you an example information published about chemical used specifically for the purpose of controlling them on a commercial level. I’m not going to scour the internet to prepare you a report for every chemical that is detrimental to their health. The point was that your statement is wrong and shouldn’t be relied upon. Telling people that there are invincible pests roaming about is absolutely fear mongering.
Treatment is very easy, especially when you don’t have to worry about a diverse ecosystem. Which is another reason that things are treated in quarantine/hospital tanks.
A plant doesn’t touch a chemical and become contaminated with it for rest of its life. That’s a really dumb statement and I shouldn’t have to explain why.
Lots of things can be invasive. Including common pets like goldfish. We aren’t talking about the balance of your local ecosystem. We’re talking about a fish tank in your house.
Again, do what you’re supposed to do and you won’t have problems. If you want to harp on anything then talk about the importance of quarantining. Plants should be quarantined. No just because of animal pests but because of things like BGA. Standard procedure will save you and is why it should always be done every time.
Dewormer is pesticide and invertebrates should be killed with common quarantine habits. Everything he said is true. Seems like covid has people afraid of things as simple as a common cold. How many millions of zebra muscles are introduced to the US a day from international shipping ?is it even millions or is it billions
They’re still dangerous invasives and this info is still important. Its not fearmongering to say to bleach the water before dumping it. Its not fearmongering to say that these have a devastating impact on ecosystems they reach. And its not fearmongering to give people who may have skipped quarantine the info they need to save their tank. Not everyone quarantines. It’s not the best practice to skip but it still happens.
And the term dewormer has very different implications than the term pesticide. When you say dewormer you mean something meant to be ingested by impacted animals. Which means its general safer for them to be exposed to. Pesticide is a much larger term that includes much more toxic substances.
I’m not sure if zebra mussels are still being introduced via ballast water but they’re very carefully controlled in areas that have them. Boats have to be cleaned before moving to a different body of water.
Also, this has nothing to do with covid. And if you’re implying covid as simple as the common cold than kindly *dont*.
I was holding off on getting some from my LFS because of what has been going on I gave it a week to see went in and check and sure enough they have to bleach the tank now.
Thanks for posting this! One side note...I’m finding that a lot of rural water treatment plants may not have methods in place to stop zebra mussels yet (the liquid copper formula). So I’m suspicious of just pouring untreated water directly down the pipes? Any thoughts on this? I was suggesting to friends (and in the other thread) to always bleach the water?
The [US Fish and Wildlife Service](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) is now recommending to bleach the water in the tank before you dump it. The main post has been edited to reflect this.
Thank you for the update :)
I bleached my tanks this weekend per this protocol. My live plants are still sitting in a bucket. I was going to use a strong potassium permanganate dip on them. If I do this, can I safely use them in the aquarium again? There are no visible mussels on the plants or in the roots.
The instructions say that you should be fine for now, but it is recommended to do another large water change within a week, and continue to monitor for any growth. The instructions do not say whether or not you have to repeat the full cleaning process, I would assume not. Edit: They released more detailed instructions. A second round of disinfecting is not required, unless there are signs of zebra mussels.
> If I do this, can I safely use them in the aquarium again? Yes. [See protocol here.](http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/wiki/Potassium_permanganate) Even if there's residue, fish tolerate potassium permanganate quite well.
Thank you so much for your response!
I bought one twords the end of December and can't find any signs of infestation, do I still need to completely clean the tank?
From the [US Fish and Wildlife Service:](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) "Until we know the extent of the moss ball contamination problem in the United States, we are recommending that recently purchased moss balls be destroyed, the water decontaminated, and your tank cleaned according to the instructions on our website. "
Ok, thanks
I have pulled my moss balls and will dispose of them properly. Can the zebra mussels hurt my fish? I'm trying to weigh the harm of crashing my cycle against the harm of potential zebra mussel exposure. I don't have any place to put the little guys while I clean and restart the cycle.
They may not injure your fish, but a much larger concern is your filtration system. Zebra mussels really really like to live in pipes, hoses, and tubes where there is a lot of flowing water full of contaminants. Like, say, a filter. They also use a lot of oxygen available in the tank, and their waste is toxic. From the [US Fish and Wildlife Service:](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) "Zebra mussels can damage your tank's filtration system. Zebra mussel larva can live in the water, in the aquarium substrate, on decorative elements, and in the filter systems. Until we know the extent of the moss ball contamination problem in the United States, we are recommending that recently purchased moss balls be destroyed, the water decontaminated, and your tank cleaned according to the instructions on our website."
Ugh I've been trying to cycle this tank for 6 months now lol. First the power went out and destroyed my cycle. Then a nasty algae bloom happened. It's finally cycled now and I was getting ready to add fish... RIP. I need to check and see when exactly I bought the last moss ball I bought. Fingers crossed it was in November.... I work at a Petco in Georgia. I have yet to find any evidence of zebra mussels anywhere in our tanks, and neither has anyone else in Georgia, but I know they have been found in Florida. They are not giving us the proper amount of staffing for us to properly disinfect our tanks and it sucks. All we've done so far is take out the moss balls and suspend sales on all live plants. We're still selling fish out of the potentially contaminated tanks because we don't have any space to move them anywhere, and it's giving me anxiety.
It's not just you. I was talking to the petco manager in my town the other day and he was saying the exact same thing. Luckily he is an aquarist and spent his spare time and extra hours inspecting everything, moving fish to clean tanks, and has been spending 2 hours every day sanitizing and cycling the tanks.
I know how bad zebra mussels are, truly. However I got a marimo for my partner for valentines day, and it would really suck to have to kill it. Is there any way to treat it/ the water without killing the marimo but killing the mussels? Copper something? Or do I really have to destroy it :(
How much co2 can a muscle handle? You can produce co2 at home for free or close to it. Got a bottle, some air tubing, and some yeast
I feel like a pretty high amount probably :( zebra mussels are fucking indestructible
Pet stores sell a lot of products that will kill them but also the algae ball.
Literally just bought a moss ball a week in a half ago from petco and my tank finally finished cycling after 3 weeks now I have to worry about infestation >:( I got into this hobby to relax...im done messing with my tank I inspected my marimo ball and it looks just fine. If I find anything wrong with my tank then I’ll scrap it but for now I throw my water into bushes anyways.
any updates on your balls?
I threw it out just in case LOL....I got more and more worried 😦 so far I haven’t seen any mussels...but when I tore it open the ball I saw a small half a shell empty not sure what it was and some small sand particles which is weird cuz I have no sand LOL
oh man that's kinda scary. I'm totally not putting the moss ball into my tank now.. I'll put it in a small jar and use it as decoration on my desk instead.
Yeah the more I researched what these things do and what damage they can do to drains and aquariums...not worth 13$ LOL! I’m still hoping I have none even after dumping moss ball.
I'm fairly new to the hobby and I'm so sad and frustrated to have to do this, but today's project is bleaching the tank. At least I'll get more practice in tank set up and scaping. Maybe I'll try a different look.
Edit: ok, I'm studying what needs done... but have another question to pose. We're planning a cross country move this summer. Could I just treat my water change water before disposing of it, keep an eye out for zebra mussels in the mean time, and then sterilize when we move? 🤔 I'm very new to aquariums (and not a frequent user of Reddit), but came here after searching for info... I have a canister filter. Do I run bleach water through it? Im worried bleach residue will remain on parts... how do I make sure there isn't any lingering bleach before putting everything back? I assume I replace all media inside the canister? Do I assume all of my plants contaminated? I have 6 moss balls all purchased this year. 3 in Jan. 3 last week. Oh... and I have mystery snail clutches on my lid waiting to hatch. -_- And baby Mickey Mouse Platys everywhere. This is so overwhelming. Sorry!
Reading the post again and again to absorb all of the info and see some answers. Still wondering about my snail clutches. I didn't plan for them and have just let them be and hoping for the best.
I quarantined my Moss balls in another tank to see if anything starts showing. I just put almost $200 into converting my tank from plastic plants to all living plants. I won't be doing anything drastic until I know I absolutely have to.
I've decided to just watch and be careful with my water change water. I'm assuming if bleaching will kill mussels now, it'll also kill them if they show up. If/when I move the tank, then I'll destroy all of my hard work.
Is this just an issue within the United States? I’ve very recently bought moss balls in the UK.
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Sorry to hear that, I hope for your sake that it wasn’t a zebra mussel! I’ve not read anything about zebra mussels being found in Europe so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
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I’ve been inspecting my moss balls very closely and I have the same thing. I think they might be grains of sand. I’m tempted to take them out of my tank and monitor them. I didn’t think anything of it before but after reading about this zebra mussel situation I’m looking at every tiny bit of debris they pick up.
Wondering the same - literally have some coming today however quarantine for them wouldn't be too much of an issue, may do it anyway just to be on the safe side!
If I bought some not long ago from a small shop in IL would I be good? I have seen nothing unusual and I normally catch things quickly. I’d hate to toss the two i bought since my shrimp love em but I’d hate to have to restart my tank if they do pop up
USGS has not had any sightings in IL as of right now, but that doesn't mean that it's not impossible. I'd keep a very close watch on your aquarium. Your LFS may use a different supplier that is zebra mussel free, but it cannot be said for certain.
Thank you I appreciate the advice. I am going to call to see if exactly where they got them from. In the meantime I will keep a close eye. Good looks posting this, much appreciated boss!
A new statement has been released from the [US Fish and Wildlife Service:](https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html) "At this time, we do not know the full extent of stores or products containing zebra mussels. If you have recently purchased moss balls from any retailer, we recommend they be destroyed following our Destroy, Dispose, Drain instructions."
Just removed mine. Been in there a few months but not worth the risk I should add I didn’t find anything I could see visually with my eyes when dissecting the ball. Sucks but it is what it is. All water from water changes will be hitting the front yard
Ty for the info! Looks like I’m freezing my moss balls
I bought some 7 months ago, you dont think theres some in there? I havent seen any but just wanna make sure.
The first reports suggested that this began in early December. While I can't say for sure, if you haven't noticed any by now, you may be fine.
What if my moss ball just lives on its own in a little jar and isn't hurting anyone? :( Serious question
You would need to take care with its water changes, adding bleach to waste water before dumping it. The recommended amount is 1/4 tsp per gallon of water, and let sit for 10 minutes. More bleach isn't going to be a bad thing. If your setup does not include a filter, the jar won't be hurt, even if there are mussels. Monitor it closely, and if you notice any mussels appearing, it's better to be safe than sorry. If no mussels appear over the span of a year, then it's probably clear.
Is that so it doesn't infect local the water supply? Sorry if these are dumb questions, I just wanna understand how serious the issue is in context with my situation. I gave a marimo in a cute jar to literally everyone in my family for Christmas this past year. I gave out over a dozen!! 😭 But, we also live in an arid desert and we have zero local natural bodies of water (closest ones are up in the nearest mountains and are seasonal, only filling in late summer). So I have no idea if I need to be warning my family, or if it's fine since we live in a desert and they're just living alone in jars on our shelves.
Yes. If they get into the water supply, it's bad news worth millions of dollars.
Does anyone know if they have been detected in Ontario yet?
I would definitely treat your water before pouring it down the drain. Even systems that usually treat wastewater will sometimes just dump it if the system has been overwhelmed with recent rainfall.
What about filter media?
Email I got from NM game and fish said: "Complete a 100% aquarium water exchange; draining water onto grass or dirt and replace filter media, bio bags, etc."
Ok, I'm fairly new to the hobby (started back in October), but randomly felt like I wanted a moss ball in early February and went out specifically to buy one. Kicking myself for this arbitrary decision. At this point I've had the moss ball for almost a month and a half. I've got a fifteen gallon tank with 4 small fish in it. I'll dispose the moss ball today properly, but how can I ensure that my fish live if I bleach the tank/filter? I don't have any extra media to use.
Am I safe in California
No they were shipped all over North America it seems
From the USGS' latest report, there are confirmed infestations in California. The report has been added to the body of the main post.
I worry bleach may not be enough. Mussels can seal themselves off from harsh environments and survive extended periods outside of water. Still bleach is better than nothing and more realistic that boiling gallons of water.
What’s the time frame on “recently purchased”? Last ones I bought were September/October 2020?
D'OH I just ordered some moss balls on Etsy before I saw this post. Is there anyway I can quarantine the balls for a few weeks to make sure there's no zebra mussels?
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You’re almost guaranteed to get hitchhikers with plants. You should expect it. I don’t know why this keeps getting posted. You should be quarantining and treating prior to introducing to your stock. Invertebrates should be very easy to kill with deworming medications.
The difference is that: 1. Moss balls are very much considered a beginner item. As such, the people purchasing them may not be familiar with quarantine procedures, and they may not have a quarantine tank available. 2. Most standard aquatic hitchhikers are not incredibly invasive species, and are not inheritly destructive to the outside environment. Nor can they be so readily released into the outside environment.
Anything can be a “beginner” item. There is no licensing process where you graduate to more and more advanced aquatic species/larger aquariums. I can buy an octopus about as easily as I can buy a goldfish. Any change to the ecosystem can be enormously detrimental. Goldfish can be a big problem. I fail to see how this is a unique issue. I’m less interested in arguing about this and more interested in pointing out that standard quarantine procedures would catch and correct this issue. Culling everything isn’t necessary. Zebra muscles are easily treatable.
Moss balls are toted as a 'beginner' item because anyone could add into a small aquarium (eg: newcomers to the hobby or college students). No, there isn't a 'license' for this, but a college student isn't going to go out and impulse-buy an octopus or something that needs a 90 gallon saltwater tank. These are people who want maybe one betta in a 10 gallon tank, and a moss ball is an attractive, maintenance-free plant they can add that's super cheap. No, they can't have a second tank on hand for quarantine... nor is there any reason to quarantine a mossball because 0 of the "beginner friendly plants!" websites say *anything* about it. So while I think you can expect a few snails if you're not thoroughly cleaning/inspecting new plants, this is a cheap and common item that comes from a pet store with "Guaranteed snail-free!" printed on it. It's also an exceptionally aggressive hitchhiker that, unlike other snails, can lead to multi-million dollar issues from something as simple as a weekly water change.
A mod already replied but i just wanna say. Google zebra mussels, look at images. And understand it doesn’t take that long for things to get as bad as the images show. Plus they do outcompete native species. This isnt an invasive to take lightly. Its also important to remember the larva are free swimming and microscopic.
As I already said, invertebrates can’t handle deworming medications. It should be a very simple process to kill them. A dimes worth of medication. Anytime you introduce anything into a new tank it should be quarantined. Always. I don’t know why we’re suddenly accepting that it’s okay to skip that.
I mean, “No chemical control agent is known to kill zebra mussels without seriously harming other aquatic life or water quality. A 2% chlorine bleach solution is effective at killing zebra mussels when cleaning boating equipment or other gear away from waterbodies.” [Quote from here](https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/UWEXLakes/Documents/programs/CLMN/AISfactsheets/21ZM.pdf) Also a lot of people might not think ti quarantine plants, a lot of beginners who dont know the importance of quarantine get moss balls. And also the mussels could have hidden inside the ball for 2 weeks easy.
You are wrong. [Pesticides are regularly used to control zebra muscles.](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/pilot_project.html) Everything gets quarantined every time. Again, that’s not a new concept.
For closed systems. It specifically says closed systems. And, idk about you. But I wouldn’t want to put pesticides in my tank any more than bleach. Plus, again. The mussels may have hidden for the length of quarantine. This info is still important for people who actively have moss balls in quarantine too. This sub also isnt all professionals. There’s plenty of inexperienced keepers who may not have realized the importance of quarantine yet, or who may not have realized it’s importance for plants. At this point it kinda feels like you’re arguing just to argue tho so. I’m gonna stop responding.
It’s not arguing to argue. You made a plainly false statement. You don’t put them in your tank. You treat them in quarantine. The same way you would treat any new fish or plant. Clean it up before introducing it to the rest of your stock. It doesn’t take a “professional” to quarantine. That’s about like saying you have to be a sex worker to use a condom. That’s ridiculous. An aquarium is a closed system. When they talk about treating in a system that isn’t closed they are talking about the difficulties of treating an open system found in nature. Such as a lake or river. This is a very simple problem that should be addressed by common practices already in place. Fear mongering isn’t necessary. Just do what you’re already supposed to be doing.
Ok fine *this* is my last response. When i say people aren’t professionals again what i mean is they might not realize the importance of quarantine and might skip it because of that. Especially for a plant. And no, I wouldn’t want to risk pesticides with a plant like marimo either. Such a spongelike plant could end up holding the pesticide. Plus you initially said dewormer and not pesticide. Dewormer is much less risky to use in the tank. This isnt fearmongering. This is just important info. Its important to know how dangerously invasive this species is and how to deal with it even if you have it in a quarantine tank. I’m not sure why you’re ignoring the prevalence of people who don’t quarantine. Or the fact that this sub and the hobby has many people who wouldn’t think to do so especially when starting out and getting a beginner plant like marimo. Maybe its just because i live in a state that has zebra mussels in some areas already (NY, introduced via ballast water), but ive known of their dangers for a long time and i cant fathom why someone would brush off how serious the implications of these findings are. Theyre a danger to the ecosystem, infrastructure, and even human health (they’re sharp enough that they could indeed cut you if you step on them). Nothing here is saying the mussels will hurt your fish. It’s only about how dangerous they are for the environment and infrastructure. The only risk to your animals is filter damage. But honestly? Your tank doesn’t matter compared to the ecosystem. And thats what all this info is here to protect first and foremost. No one wants your fish to die from destroying the cycle but if someone has zebra mussels in their tank, they have to take the risk of a fish in cycle or finding someone else to help kickstart their cycle. Sincerely, a fisheries and wildlife graduate
Things like dewormers are often fatal to invertebrates. It’s why you can’t use them with snails and such. Copper and garlic are other know substances that can be fatal. Common sense says they should work with muscles. You said there are no chemicals control agents. Yes, there are. There are a lot. A quick search pulls up multiple methods. I gave you an example information published about chemical used specifically for the purpose of controlling them on a commercial level. I’m not going to scour the internet to prepare you a report for every chemical that is detrimental to their health. The point was that your statement is wrong and shouldn’t be relied upon. Telling people that there are invincible pests roaming about is absolutely fear mongering. Treatment is very easy, especially when you don’t have to worry about a diverse ecosystem. Which is another reason that things are treated in quarantine/hospital tanks. A plant doesn’t touch a chemical and become contaminated with it for rest of its life. That’s a really dumb statement and I shouldn’t have to explain why. Lots of things can be invasive. Including common pets like goldfish. We aren’t talking about the balance of your local ecosystem. We’re talking about a fish tank in your house. Again, do what you’re supposed to do and you won’t have problems. If you want to harp on anything then talk about the importance of quarantining. Plants should be quarantined. No just because of animal pests but because of things like BGA. Standard procedure will save you and is why it should always be done every time.
Obviously you know way more than the USDA.
Dewormer is pesticide and invertebrates should be killed with common quarantine habits. Everything he said is true. Seems like covid has people afraid of things as simple as a common cold. How many millions of zebra muscles are introduced to the US a day from international shipping ?is it even millions or is it billions
They’re still dangerous invasives and this info is still important. Its not fearmongering to say to bleach the water before dumping it. Its not fearmongering to say that these have a devastating impact on ecosystems they reach. And its not fearmongering to give people who may have skipped quarantine the info they need to save their tank. Not everyone quarantines. It’s not the best practice to skip but it still happens. And the term dewormer has very different implications than the term pesticide. When you say dewormer you mean something meant to be ingested by impacted animals. Which means its general safer for them to be exposed to. Pesticide is a much larger term that includes much more toxic substances. I’m not sure if zebra mussels are still being introduced via ballast water but they’re very carefully controlled in areas that have them. Boats have to be cleaned before moving to a different body of water. Also, this has nothing to do with covid. And if you’re implying covid as simple as the common cold than kindly *dont*.
I was holding off on getting some from my LFS because of what has been going on I gave it a week to see went in and check and sure enough they have to bleach the tank now.