Invasive mussels found in aquarium “Moss Ball” product
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and other wildlife agencies around the country are urging stores who sell aquarium products to remove a “moss ball” aquarium plant product from their shelves and for customers to dispose of the contaminated product after invasive zebra mussels have been found hitchhiking on these products in states around the country, including Texas.
These “moss balls” are a species of algae that form green balls up to a few inches in diameter and are sold as an aquarium plant under names such as “Beta Buddy Marimo Balls,” “Mini Marimo Moss Balls,” and “Marimo Moss Ball Plant.” They may be sold separately or provided with the sale of Betta fish. These moss balls are believed to have been imported from the Ukraine and distributed across the continental U.S.
Zebra mussels can be recognized as small shellfish with triangular, brownish shells, often with their namesake zebra stripes, that may be attached to or growing inside the moss balls. They are very small, growing to no more than an inch in size, and the individuals found on the moss balls in Texas were less than a quarter of an inch long.
“Petco stores have been working diligently to remove these products from their shelves and I have informed PetSmart of the presence of zebra mussels within this product,” said Jarret Barker, TPWD Assistant Law Enforcement Commander.
“We urge any other pet and aquarium or retail store selling these ‘moss balls’ to remove this product from shelves and discontinue future sale.”
Aquarium owners are urged to stop buying this product and to safely dipose of any that have already been purchased.
This can be done safely by completely drying, freezing, or placing the moss balls into a plastic zipper bag and then disposing of it in a garbage bag
. Aquarium water should be replaced, and filters/cartridges replaced or disinfected. Aquarium water can be disinfected prior to disposal by adding one cup of bleach per gallon and allowing it to sit for 10 minutes before disposing the water down the drain.
This method can also be used to disinfect gravel, filter, and other structures, and is highly recommended if zebra mussels are found attached to the moss or in the aquarium.