Taking action to prevent the spread of invasive zebra mussels
Alberta’s government is asking anyone who purchased moss balls after Jan. 1 to destroy and dispose of them.
Some parts of this page will not display.
JavaScript is not available in this browser or may be turned off.
Zebra mussels shown next to moss balls.
Live zebra mussels, which are an invasive species, have been discovered in moss (marimo) balls, a spherical, plant-like algae commonly sold at pet and garden stores throughout North America, including in Alberta.
Albertans should destroy moss balls by freezing or boiling them, then placing the moss balls in a sealed plastic bag and disposing of them with their household trash. Moss balls, and any water they were in, should not be flushed down the toilet, put down a drain or placed in a compost.
Zebra mussel found within a moss ball. USGS Photo.
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Agency of Natural Resources staff scientists were alerted last week that an aquarium plant sold within Vermont and throughout the country may contain an invasive aquatic animal species, zebra mussels
(Dreissena polymorpha). The aquarium plant commonly known as moss balls, may be sold under names including “Beta Buddy Marimo Balls,” “Mini Marimo Moss Balls,” and “Marimo Moss Ball Plant” and were available to purchase in large department stores or through online sales. While the plant is benign, the plants may harbor zebra mussels within the plant, or within the packaging.
Home Aquarium Moss Balls May Contain Zebra Mussels
SHARE ON:
A decorative addition to the fish tank at your home or office may harbour a dangerous invader.
There’s mounting concern that moss balls sold for aquariums contain zebra mussels.
Gail Wallen of the Invasive Species Council of BC is warning that the mussels are highly destructive and we don’t want them in our lakes.
She says people who have aquariums need to “make sure that they check to see if they, or their friends or their pet store are selling, or have moss balls because there’s a high likelihood it might have zebra Mussels in them.”
Montana FWP is tracking invasive mussels from a new source: aquarium moss krtv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from krtv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.