Submitted by: Tim Doxey, Treasurer, Chair of Awards, SOS/Clean Water Liaison, Media Outreach, Awards, and Budget committees; Source Credit: ncwildlife.org
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has created an informational webpage dedicated to what to do if you have purchased aquatic moss balls in the past month. DESTROY! DON’T DUMP! Zebra mussels have been CONFIRMED in moss balls sold at retailers in North Carolina, including PetSmart and Petco. Check out the Zebra Mussel Alert & FAQs.
If you have purchased moss balls in the past month, please follow the instructions below about how to properly destroy them and clean your aquariums. Known packaging reads ‘Marimo Moss Ball Plant Grab & Go’ and ‘Mini Marimo Moss Balls’, but there are likely more brands that contain the mussels. An overabundance of caution is suggested if you’ve purchases ANY moss balls recently.
