Swan mussel question

[Anyanka]

My brother has recommended swan mussels to me as a method of dealing with the debris at the bottom of my pond, such as dead leaves etc. I am generally apprehensive of putting any living things in the pond, though, as it has a thriving newt population, tadpoles, snails, and all sorts of other pondlife, all of which arrived there without any help from me. I usually clear out debris manually in late autumn.

I'm curious to hear other people's opinion & comments on this. - The pond is middling size, by the way, perhaps 8-10 square metres, with a maximum depth of about 50-60cm, and sloping sides.

thanks!

[Jez]

After reading your thread I googled Swan mussels! You may want to do the same?!? From what i have read it says they can die quickly, so i'd be concerned about decomposing mussels at the bottom of your pond doing no favours in keeping your pond clean!

P.s Hi and welcome to WAB!

[Anyanka]

Thanks for the welcome, Jez. I had googled swan mussels before coming here and was hoping for more personal experience. The 'frequent death' bit I found seemed to refer to keeping them in a fish tank rather than a pond. Obviously, if they do die off a lot then that rather undoes all their good debris-eating work.

[Stewy]

A few years ago when I was a lad I got some out of a lake that I was fishing (I know I shouldn't had) and put them in our pond, they were dead within a week.

[coasty]

I would say the chances of getting any to survive long term are quite remote they are a very sensitive creature that doesnt like changes in enviroment

[Anyanka]

Thank you, that's exactly what I needed to know. I'll leave things as they are, which is my natural inclination anyway.

[dottie30]

Hi there I currently have 8 in my pond.I introduced them about a month ago.I top up the pond regularily with fresh water.So far they are alive and feeding

[dottie30]

Ive also introduced ram head snails.They also feed on debris and are fast breeders.

[Gill Catton]

I think mussles almost certainly require some sort of flow if only to draw water past them so that they can feed (they are filter feeders I believe). I have recorded them in rivers and canals which although sluggish did have some sort of flow. I have never found them in ponds.


I do see them in Garden centres from time to time I wonder where they get them from..........

[dottie30]

Hi Gill.I have a large pond pump that is excellent in my pond-with a fountain.This creates alot of airation.Also as I said I introduce water regularily and this so far has created a huge fish breeding cycle.The mussels are feeding as I check daily.But it might be advisable to introduce the snails as they are fairly bullet proof.Cheers Janette

[Anyanka]

There's no pump in my pond, so I'll definitely give the mussels a miss. I've got ramshorn snails though.

[coasty]

There is a large shallow park lake near me with a large population of mussels, The lake has no flow only some wind generated drift so they will survive in still water,,,,

Andy