Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Source for indigenous bivalves and other suitable

I am interested in finding a source for bivalves or other suitable benthos that could be used to improve water quality. I am located in central Florida and I will only consider historically indigenous fauna. Anybody out there who understands what it takes for clams/mussels to survive in ponds?

Do not know of a Florida source for fresh water bivalves or molluscs.

Tricker can supply bivalves, but there may be a problem with the difference of environments as Tricker is in Ohio. If you want to check it out---http://www.tricker.com/prod-s-clams.
You may have to check other private ponds in your area for possible availability of seeder stock.

There are no native freshwater clams found in N. America. Only mussels are native to N. America. There are a couple of introduced clam species found in FL, most notably the golden clam or Asiatic clam(Corbicula fluminea). That is almost always the species sold by aquarium supply stores including the above listed link. I would be highly surprised if there are any dealers that sell any native freshwater bivalves for any locality let alone FL.

Research the species native to FL, then you can source them from wild sources. Keep in mind that native mussels are parasitic to fish and their glochidia larvae attach to fish and parasitize them. Generally this isn't overly harmful to the fish but under heavy infestations it can be.

I also am not overly convinced in the ability of native mussels to truly filter pond water the way a pond owner would want them to...

I my state of Indiana it's illegal to possess any native mussels including the shells.

Thanks Cor the info guys. I'll check into the natural sources. Maybe somebody out there who has a pond or lake with some native muscles would like to part with a few; especially good if you are in the Lakeland area.

Seems like those aquarium stores shouldn't be selling non-native species. From what you said they have already infested natural waters. My understanding is that many species are already threatened here in Florida.

I went to a local park and raked for some, Most of what I got was tan colored claims. Thought they where native as they came from local park pond....Guess not. I did find some mussles too that should be native to florida. I used a sand flea rake for them.

CJBS2003 -----

Do the claims not have a arisitic life stage .....Only the mussles?

Correct, the Asiatic clams do not have a parasitic life stage. Only most of the native mussels.

What makes you unconvinced that the muscles filter pond water effectively?

I think they filter the water effectively, but I don't think there would be enough of them in the pond to make an impact on the water.

If there were, then the quantity of bivalves might become a problem themselves.