| Given the filtering capacity
of some freshwater mussels, your neighbor's pond may very well be "clear" because of the mussels
living within it. There are pond mussel species that could potentially "clean up" your pond.
Freshwater mussels in general are filter feeders - they feed on plankton and microscopic algae.
Dense "blooms" of these creatures will leave the water looking green and "murky."
Most freshwater mussels are relatively long-lived creatures, so you need not worry about your
mussels reproducing and thus, the need for proper fish hosts for the parasitic mussel larvae (glochidia).
However, mussels are safe for your fish. Even if the fish in your pond are appropriate fish
hosts, research has shown that glochidia will have little or no effect on the fish they
parasitize.
Freshwater mussels occur naturally in free-flowing (lotic) and still water (lentic) systems.
I am not sure what species of mussel your neighbor has. If you choose to "stock" your pond with
mussels, you will want to choose a species that is accustomed to still water systems (lakes,
ponds), and preferably, mussels that are native to the same watershed of your pond. In Pennsylvania, regulations prohibit the collection of mussels.
Several "pond" mussels are relatively common in the east and should work well in your
situation. The eastern floater (Pyganadon cataracta), giant floater (Pyganadon grandis), and
eastern elliptio (Elliptio complanata) are relatively large freshwater mussels that would be a
good choice. These species are relatively common in lakes and ponds of the east. They prefer
slow moving or still water systems with muddy or sandy substrates. They have a variety of fish
hosts including but not limited to common carp, bluegill and yellow perch.
Individual freshwater mussels have been known to filter as much as 0.5 to 1.25 gallons of
water per hour. You could base your stocking on these numbers. I do not know the dimensions of
your pond, but surely 25-30 of these large mussels would be a good start.
Steer clear of introducing the exotic zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and related quagga
mussel (Dreissena bugensis) into your pond - this is illegal in Pennsylvania and most states.
While these mussels are a hearty species that can live in about any aquatic situation, and are
known for their high reproductive potential and corresponding filtration rates, these exotic
species can easily take over your pond - and even worse, during a flood event they could leave
the pond and populate a local stream and wreak havoc on the aquatic ecosystem by out-competing
native mussel species and causing considerable damage to water intakes and other human
structures. The Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) is another exotic mussel that can cause similar
problems in aquatic systems.
Become familiar with the exotic species (view our Aquatic Invasive Species page) and native mussel species. Good luck with your project. |
