Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Fresh water mussels

Yesterday I found 3 opened mussel shells in a small area around the pond edge. And so I am guessing another otter has showed up. Am I thinking correctly? I have traps out but may need to move them. I have seen a shell from time to time over the last year and thought mussel's in a pond equaled good water quality is that true and if that the case and I have them in the pond, won't that also mean I have another food source for my Res/Shellcrackers? As you can see here, I know little about the mussels and what all eats them.

Setterguy,

Many mussels depend on fish as hosts for their larvae. They attach in their gills generally and use the fish's blood as a source of food. They don't do much harm to the fish. If in high water any fish may have entered your pond or if you have transferred fish that were already hosts this would explain how they got there.