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Oct 06, 2023

Warning issued for aquarium plant contaminated with invasive species

An aquarium moss ball with adult zebra mussels. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo) A popular living aquarium plant may be infested with zebra mussels, one of the most destructive invasive species,

An aquarium moss ball with adult zebra mussels. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

A popular living aquarium plant may be infested with zebra mussels, one of the most destructive invasive species, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The plant known as a moss ball is sold by pet product retailers in several states, including Pennsylvania.

A batch of the plants, which are marketed under popular brand names like Betta Buddy and Mini Marimo Moss Balls, recently was discovered to be contaminated with zebra mussels. The plants had been distributed to pet stores across the country.

Several major pet product retailers, including Petco and PetSmart, already have removed the products from their shelves, but commission waterways conservation officers have found the contaminated products in at least one Pennsylvania store.

“Zebra mussels are one of the most troublesome invasive species in the United States and can cause major ecological and economic damage such as clogging water intake pipes, damaging boat, or damaging fisheries by impacting aquatic food webs,” said Sean Hartzell, aquatic invasive species coordinator for the commission.

“Zebra mussels are small and can produce microscopic larvae, so any water containing contaminated moss balls may contain larval zebra mussels. The potential spread of this invasive species is a major concern for our aquatic resources in Pennsylvania.”

The mussels are small black and white striped, D-shaped bivalves about the size of a thumbnail or smaller.

The commission urges anyone who has purchased a moss ball within the past several weeks to follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidance on how to properly disinfect moss balls and clean aquarium systems:

Do not dispose of the moss balls in drains, waterways or gardens. Moss balls must be destroyed and disposed of in a sealed container in the trash.

To destroy a moss ball, place it into a sealable plastic bag and freeze it for at least 24 hours, place it in boiling water for at least a minute, or submerge it in chlorine bleach or undiluted white vinegar for 20 minutes.

Then dispose of the moss ball and any of its packaging in a sealed plastic bag in the trash. If vinegar, boiling water or bleach was used, the liquid can be disposed down a household drain, but not down a storm drain where it could enter and damage local waterways.

Collect any fish or other living organisms from the aquarium and place them in another container, with water from a separate, uncontaminated water source.

Sterilize the contaminated aquarium water by adding a quarter-teaspoon bleach for each gallon of water. Let the water sit for 10 minutes and then dispose of the sterilized water down a household drain.

Clean the aquarium and accessories with hot water that is 140 degrees to flush and coat the tank and all accessory surfaces for at least one minute, or soak the aquarium, substrate, rocks, decor, and filter media in a bleach water solution for 10 minutes. Rinse off all items prior to setting up the aquarium. Dispose of the previously used filter media and replace with new media. Use a dechlorinating product to neutralize any residual chlorine prior to reintroducing aquatic life. It is recommended that you do another water change within a week and continue to monitor the tank for any unusual or unexpected aquatic life.

“Because zebra mussel larvae may not be visible to the naked eye, it is important that everyone who recently purchased a moss ball follow this strict disinfection protocol,” added Hartzell. “Just because you can’t see the mussels in your tank doesn’t mean they’re not there. Don’t take any chances.”

The transportation or release of zebra mussels or their larvae into Pennsylvania waters is considered unlawful.

Pennsylvanians who observe suspected zebra mussels or other aquatic invasive species can report them to the commission through the Report AIS portal of the commission’s website.

Contact Marcus Schneck at [email protected].

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