3/11/21 - 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. Zebra mussels are a small freshwater mollusk aquatic invasive species that can reproduce rapidly and cause detrimental harm to the ecological balance within a water system. They can also cause an economic burden, clogging pipes and other underwater infrastructure. As filter-feeders, they prolifically consume microscopic aquatic life, which causes a potential impa
Photo: Kilian Fichou/AFP (Getty Images)
Balls of moss commonly found in aquariums are threatening to push the zebra mussel invasion further across the U.S., wildlife officials are warning. Contaminated moss balls have been found in pet stores in 21 states in recent weeks, and both officials and the pet supply industry are scrambling to contain the problem before it’s too late.
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Judging by their name alone, the fingernail-sized zebra mussel might not seem like the most fearsome creature to be worried about. What makes them so dangerous, though, is their ability to adapt. Once introduced to a new lake or other body of freshwater, they can quickly crowd out and devastate local populations of other mussel species. Their rapid growth isn’t great for us either, since they can clog up the intake pipes in our water treatment and power plants, while also damaging boats and fishing equipment. That puts pressure on already-strained infrastructure dealing with more deluges a
Indiana DNR Warn of Invasive Mussel Species Found In Moss Balls
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is warning aquariums owners of an invasive species that has been found in moss balls sold at pet supply stores and aquarium stores.
Marimo moss balls are sold through a number of retailers both brick and mortar and online. They are literal living balls of marine life. Marimo is a not actually a moss at all but rather a variety of algae that grows in the form of a ball. Some people use them in their aquariums or terrariums - others use them as a stand alone, living piece of decor often displayed in glass bowls on tabletops.
CHRIS HUBBUCH
Wildlife officials are asking aquarium owners to destroy their âmoss ballsâ after invasive zebra mussels were found on some of the ornamental plants.
The U.S. Geological Survey warned Monday that the destructive shellfish have been found in pet stores in at least 21 states including Wisconsin.
âThe issue is that somebody who purchased the moss ball and then disposed of them could end up introducing zebra mussels into an environment where they werenât present before,â said Wesley Daniel, the USGS biologist who discovered the problem. âWeâve been working with many agencies on boat inspections and gear inspections, but this was not a pathway weâd been aware of until now.â