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Started by Avery

Spread of Invasive Zebra Mussels

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May 2, 2021 OP
Thread Starter #1
If you have recently purchased any plants or moss balls from Petco/Petsmart, or someone who uses the same Breeder as them, you may want to be on the look out for these highly invasive mussels.

Native Invasive Species Awareness Week said:
An important alert from USGS NAS. Please read information below and share broadly!

There has been a troubling sighting report from Seattle. A PetCo employee has been finding zebra mussels attached and inside moss balls sold as aquarium plants.

This has been entered into NAS and USGS has been in contact with the WA AIS community. The more significant danger is these moss balls being distributed across the U.S.

Here is the NAS specimen report for more information.

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpecimenViewer.asp…

An alert has been generated that matched your criteria from the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database:

Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) was found in a new State, County, Drainage

Details:

State: WA

County: King

Drainage: Puget Sound (17110019)

Location: [Hitchhiker on pet store plants]

NAS ARM map was not generated because we presume the introduction has failed.

Zebra mussels have been found in shipments of Marimo moss balls (an aquarium plant) that are sold at pet stores.

More information on this specimen can be found:

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/specimenviewer.asp…

More information on this species can be found:

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpResults.aspx?SpeciesID=5✨
May 3, 2021
#2
I’ve seen this all through Facebook the past few months. Crazy that they spread this accidentally, and makes you wonder if we will now see them in other states or regions from people dumping it all incorrectly.

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May 4, 2021
#3
Noticed that my local stores don’t even have these for sale and have a sign similar to what that group posted. Crazy that they didn’t see this in packaging them or anything else.
Nov 2, 2022
#5
Is this still an issue? I haven’t seen any of these plants at any Petsmart at all even to this day, and curious if they just stopped carrying them due to the bad press.

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Nov 4, 2022
Thread Starter #6
Gilbert said:
Is this still an issue? I haven’t seen any of these plants at any Petsmart at all even to this day, and curious if they just stopped carrying them due to the bad press.

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That is a good question, although the first outbreak that caused this has disappeared - there is still a notice to be aware of in your tank or others since these are tiny at first until they reach a big population. I don't recall if Petsmart or Petco sell these anymore since I haven't seen any in my local stores (but haven't visited the hub in my region yet to check) - but I will let you know once I visit if they have these, or they all got destroyed due to the bad press and actual issues caused to states by this.
Nov 4, 2022
#7
Avery said:
That is a good question, although the first outbreak that caused this has disappeared - there is still a notice to be aware of in your tank or others since these are tiny at first until they reach a big population. I don't recall if Petsmart or Petco sell these anymore since I haven't seen any in my local stores (but haven't visited the hub in my region yet to check) - but I will let you know once I visit if they have these, or they all got destroyed due to the bad press and actual issues caused to states by this.


Good to hear a follow-up on this!
Aug 30, 2023
#8
Hey Fogerty12, thanks for sharing the update on the zebra mussels situation. It's good to know that the first outbreak has disappeared, but it's still important to be aware of these tiny creatures in our tanks. I'll keep an eye out for any moss balls being sold at Petsmart or Petco and let you know if I come across any. It's definitely a concerning issue, so let's stay vigilant.
Jul 9, 2024
#9
  • The spread of invasive zebra mussels is concerning, particularly if they were unknowingly distributed through plants or moss balls from stores like Petco or Petsmart.
  • There is a risk of this species expanding to new regions if not handled properly, as seen through accidental introductions.
  • Some stores are taking precautions and not carrying these items due to the threat these mussels pose.
  • It remains uncertain how far these mussels may spread and what impact they could have on local ecosystems.
  • While the initial outbreak may have subsided, vigilance is crucial since these mussels can rapidly multiply.
Jan 4, 2026
#10
Zebra mussels are still a concern because even a few can start an infestation, and their eggs are almost impossible to spot on plants or decor. Most big box stores stopped selling high-risk plants like moss balls after the outbreak, but local stores might still get affected stock. It’s best to always rinse and quarantine any new plants or decor, even if there aren’t active recalls. Watch for tiny striped shells—early removal is key.

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