Aquariums - Mod Post: PSA: Moss balls sold in the past few months may be infected with highly invasive zebra mussels. What you need to know, and what you need to do.

Mod Post: PSA: Moss balls sold in the past few months may be infected with highly invasive zebra mussels. What you need to know, and what you need to do.
Just my Telly Aquarium
Swimming to a Galaxy Near You!
My electric blue acara taking care of my snail infestation
Say hi to PJ and his new home!
Corys laying eggs
Yes, I always fall for the "utility fish" in the tank, but otocinclus are especially charming.
African Butterfly Fish
120 gallon saltwater
They want to spin, but the big guy won't let them.
Horseface loach
It's hard to focus sometimes with this surrounding me.
Little orca
White face oto? what is it? I have like 10 otos and they all are regular but this one is white lol. Did i get the shiny oto?
My new tank has fish in it!
Hello there
Picked up a breeding group of my favorite corydoras today, absolutely in love. (C. duplicareus)
Iris is building a nest big enough to impress all the ladies <3
My pride & joy, little Leo
Meet Eiron. My first fish ever.
My tank 2 years on, what could I add do you think?
My one year old black ghost knife fish.
Showing off my one baby molly!
I didn’t get into the hobby until my late 20’s, but a year & a half into the addiction... hobby I mean.... I’m proud to say I’ve gone from a 20gl to a 5, 10, 29, 30, 55, 75 & 125gl
What kind of fish are these?

Mod Post: PSA: Moss balls sold in the past few months may be infected with highly invasive zebra mussels. What you need to know, and what you need to do.

Posted: 09 Mar 2021 03:42 PM PST

Forward:

As members of a community whose hobby is focused on creating and maintaining a small ecosystem, we all know just how delicate and fragile an ecosystem can be. As such, we must all take care to ensure that we preserve the natural environment surrounding us. Zebra mussels, like all invasive species, pose a very real threat to natural ecosystems. As a community that also cares for animals that can regularly become invasive species, we must always take care to contain our little ecosystems as best we can. To be a responsible fish owner, we must all be aware, and informed, of threats that we, by way of our hobby, may impose on our environment, and lessen or contain them.

What you need to know:

In the past four months, some Marimo moss balls sold in the United States and Canada have been found to be carrying zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are endemic to Western Russia and Ukraine, but are considered one of the most invasive species across most of the globe. Moss balls are endemic to the same region, and most moss balls in the hobby are "wild caught".

What you need to do:

Do not purchase any moss balls for the time being. Both Petco and Petsmart have issued a recall for all moss balls sold in the past few months, and imports of moss balls have been halted. However some LFSes and online retailers may still be carrying them. Although the original outbreak was reported in Washington State, at least eight other states, and two provinces, have reported zebra mussels in moss balls. Edit: USFW is now reporting 26 states.
If you have purchased a moss ball in the past few months, you must completely inspect your aquarium for zebra mussels. Larval zebra mussels can be as small as one millimeter in length, so it may be difficult to find them. However, most states have a standing kill order on all zebra mussels, and it is better to be safe than sorry, which unfortunately leads to #3.
If you have purchased a moss ball in the past four months, the moss ball must be killed, along with potential zebra mussels that it may be carrying. There are three official methods of disposal, either one may be used:
1. Remove the moss ball(s) and place in a plastic bag. Put the bag in the freezer and leave for at least 24 hours. After that, the moss ball(s) can be disposed of in the trash.
2. Place moss ball(s) in boiling water for at least one full minute. After that, the moss ball(s) can be disposed of in the trash in a sealed plastic bag.
3. Submerge moss ball(s) in bleach or undiluted white vinegar for twenty minutes. After that, the moss ball(s) can be disposed of in the trash in a sealed plastic bag.
Fully clean your aquarium. The instructions that follow are from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW): Mod note: This will absolutely destroy your cycle. Please try to find biological filter media from a fellow fishkeeper, or from another active tank in your possession, and prepare it for use in the impacted tank. Our friends on the mod team over at /r/Aquaswap are allowing anyone seeking biological media for this purpose to ask over there.
1. Collect all fish & plants and place them in another container, using water form an uncontaminated source.
2. Dispose of all contaminated water down the drain. All municipal wastewater is treated to kill all pathogens, and septic tanks are fully self-contained underground. Edit: The US Fish and Wildlife service is now recommending that you add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water to your tank, and letting the water run through your system for at least ten minutes before dumping the water. Mod note: Others have been saying to dump the water in your yard. Water poured in yards is likely to end up in storm drains, which do not usually have the same treatment as sewage systems, and sometimes even lead directly to local waterways.
3. Decontaminate the aquarium and accessories using one of the following methods, ensuring that the method you choose is in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations:
  1. Hot Water Method: Pour water that is 140 degrees F into tank, covering all accessories. Allow water to sit for a minimum of 1 minute
  2. Disinfection Method: Make a disinfection solution using 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Soak the aquarium, substrate, rocks, décor, and filter media in the bleach water solution for at least 10 minutes. Rinse off all items prior to setting up the aquarium. Dispose of the previously used filter media and replace with new media. Run heavily dechlorinated water through the system, and change water again to uncontaminated water.
4. Reset the tank to its normal state.
5. 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. If needed, the above steps may be repeated. Mod note: This is a fairly vague instruction. We're not sure if this is suggesting a routine water change, or a full water change. I'll email the USFW, and see if they can give us a response.
Reports of zebra mussels attached to moss balls should also be submitted to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species data base. Upon submission, the information you provide is sent to USGS staff experts for verification. Follow the Destroy, Dispose, Drain procedures outlined on the USFW website. For questions or concerns specific to your state, reach out to your local fish and wildlife agency.
1. If you believe that your tank is infected, and you have questions, contact the Aquatic Nusiance Species Task Force on their website, or through their phone number: 1-877-786-7267.