Swan Mussels

Swan Mussels (Anodonta cygnea )

Care level: Easy
Max Size: 20cm
Diet: Filter Feeder
Temp: 2-24°C
PH: 6.8 - 8.0
Purchase size: 10cm+

Swan Mussels are a large species of shellfish commonly found in ponds across the UK, Europe and Northern Africa. They are a great addition to established wildlife ponds as a means for biodiversity and solution to green water issues as they extract algae, zooplankton and bacteria from the water when feeding. For this reason, they are best suited to unfiltered wildlife ponds where food is plentiful for them, whilst heavily filtered and pristine ponds may not provide sufficient nutrition. They are often misunderstood as a functional addition to ornamental ponds, with many mistakenly believing that they will contribute to the cleaning of the pond. However, they are not a substitute for filtration and do produce their own waste also. The mussels need to have a substrate at the bottom of the pond or aquarium as they bury themselves, leaving only the tips of their shells exposed to allow feeding and breeding.

These mussels can be kept in aquariums, but additional measures may need to be taken to keep them fed with phytoplankton and fine powdered or liquid foods. If the mussels breed, their larvae go through a parasitic stage, attaching themselves to certain fish and feeding on their mucus before dropping off and finding a spot in the substrate to settle and develop into adult mussels.

Please note that all mussels are sensitive to fish medications, particularly those that contain copper.

If you have any questions about this snail and whether it's suitable for your aquarium, please contact us and a member of our friendly tropical team will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.

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