RALEIGH, N.C. — Check your fish tank! If you recently bought moss balls for an aquarium, they may contain an invasive species known as zebra mussels and should be carefully thrown out immediately, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said Friday.
NC Wildlife says zebra mussels are harmful to fish and other aquatic wildlife, and can also clog water pipes and restrict water supply.
No cases have been reported so far in North Carolina, but the Wildlife Commission received notice that the moss balls were imported from Ukraine to a distributor in California. The distributor recently shipped the contaminated moss balls to pet stores nationwide.
A moss ball is a species of green algae that is formed into a ball and is two to five inches in diameter. Moss balls help absorb harmful nutrients in the water and limit the growth of undesirable algae.
Fisheries biologist Todd Ewing stated, “The Wildlife Commission has led a concerted effort to keep the species out of the state because of both the negative ecological and commercial impacts. It’s actually illegal to possess zebra mussels in North Carolina.”
If you recently bought moss balls, NC Wildlife says you should dispose of them by placing them in a plastic bag and freezing them overnight, boiling them or soaking them overnight in a bleach solution. The moss balls should then be bagged and disposed of in the trash. Living moss balls or untreated water should not be thrown away where they can reach sewage systems or streams or lakes.
To treat your aquarium, remove the fish and apply bleach solution and let it set for at least one hour before tossing the water down the sink or toilet. Filters, gravel and structures should also be disinfected.