Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Dark False Mussels

I found mussels attached to cement pylon yesterday in a pond here in FL. I thought for sure they were zebra mussels. After researching I found they are actually a native mussel very similar to zebra mussels.
They are Called dark false mussels. They are often reported by mistake as zebra mussels to wildlife biologist. Any one know much about these and the potential for pond use?

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=707

I've always wondered about mussels, and whether their benefits as water filterers outweighed their parasitic stage. Wish I could help, but there just isn't much info on them.

I dont bellieve this type has a parasitic stage.

One thing I do know is that the small mouth bass in Lake Erie are full of zebra mussels when we catch them. Belly's right full of them for some reason. It was good to see something was eating them and cleaning them up in the great lakes.

Cheers Don.

Don - the zebra mussels in the bass stomach may be due to the bass eating gobies with mussels in them and the shells are not digesting as fast as the gobies.

Thought maybe something for the sheepshead to eat. Koi I think would crush them and eat them too. I guess down side they would compete with fish fry for feed?

If they don't get out of hand, I think they're a fine addition to your pond.

CJB, I did notice in the pond they are growing in they only attached to the pylons and not along the shoreline or sandy bottom. Are you familiar with them in that regard? It seems the zebra mussels will form beds on sand or any place. That's what I didnt want to happen was the shallow sand beds being totally covered. The hard verticle stuctures would be ideal I think...

I guess I could always stock a bunch of sheepshead to control them if they they start getting to abundant.

I did more reseaerch and read they attach to hard surfaces, and they could reproduce in nearly fresh water but brackish is ideal. So I am not sure if they will reproduce if they do probably not in great numbers...

I think I'll put a few clumps in and see what happens...

The one sheepshead in the pond might just make a snack out of them any way.

Always fun to try and see what happens. You know the risks.