Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Dangers Of Zebra Muscle Infestation

Zebra mussels breed faster than the shellcrackers can eat them. Shellcrackers are not very prolific like bgill. But it also will depend on how much proper substrate is available for mussel long-term growth habits. Perch, goby, sheephead, pumpkinseed sunfish are also known to eat zebra mussels (various sizes).

I see very little if any ecological benefit yet to zebra mussels in Lk Erie. The phosphorus from the zebra mussel manure has contributed to renewed blue-green algae blooms in western L. Erie. The zebra mussel manure is one foot thick in some areas of the lake.
Z. mussels attach to the native & beneficial mussels and smother them. Zebras are eliminating the native mussels/clams from Lk.Erie.

Clearer water has reduced the overall productivity of the lake and fish biomass is now somewhat lower.
Clearer water is encouraging growth of deep water weed beds. Clearer water does sometimes help a walleye egg hatch, but wind speed and direction is probbly more important. Lack of plankton after egg hatch probably counteracts much of the hatching success. What good is it if you hatch and don't have anything to eat because zebra mussels ate your food?.
Fishermen used to be able to catch lots of walleye all summer long in shallow areas of Western L. Erie. Now they have to travel long distances off shore to deep water and catch fewer fish per hour. Overall catch rates are down compared to prezebra mussel introductions.

Some of the bioaccumulative pollution "filtered out" by the zebra mussels is showing up now in the SMB who are eating goby (who eat mussels) and crayfish that are grazing on the zebra mussel manure. The 'pollution' will no doubt exist as elevated levels in some other fish as well.
I won't go into the commercial/industrial problems caused by z. mussels.
I think we were much better off without them.

I know of no one who has gotten emerald shiners to breed regularly in ponds. Many have tried unsuccessfully. Anyone who succeeds can become fairly wealthy.