Marimo Moss Balls still banned?

Has anyone heard any news on the Marimo Moss balls zebra mussels infestation crisis that was going on in February last year? I’ve been trying to do some research, and some sources are saying they’re fine to buy again because theres a federal certification or something that stores are required to have to prove that the moss balls don’t have zebra mussels anymore, and other sources saying some places were faking this???
Just wondering if anyone was keeping up on that and could steer me in the right direction as I want to add a marimo moss ball to my future goldfish tank!
i plan on going to my local pet store to ask questions there as well but i figured there was no harm in asking here as well.

 

I haven't looked into that fir some time, but i don't recall seeing any marimo balls in the stores since back then, either.

 

I've seen them in stores near me in New England, U.S. then again, i don't recall seeing them taken off shelfs at the box stores near me but all my lfs stopped keeping them. i frequent about 4 different fish stores and none had them and still don't.

 

I will have to make a point to look. Kinda want one in at least one of my betta tanks. Since petsmart and petco usually the only places i see them at and havent seen since at least february last year, i kinda quit looking.

 

Ive been to petco recently and i think i remember seeing them but i could be totally miss remembering. Ive got about an hour and a half before my local store opens and I can call to ask them about it. Will let you know what they say!
So! I just called and the worker said that they are selling them again, but my current location is sold out, but will be getting another shipment of them on friday!

 

the only thing related to moss balls ive seen at petco is a ball made of java moss, except java moss is ruined for me because i always think, ¨what could be in the java moss?¨ and that always freaks me out.

 

petsmart doesn't have them and haven't for some time. i haven't heard if the mussel issue is the cause but I've also not heard if they're getting them back in. i work at one in California and the only thing I've seen is moss on a wire sheet, buce on a wire sheet (which is new and only $10 for a nice amount of buce), and small potted betta plants that look like anubias. none of the "cup" plants have any pests like snails in them. only thing that might is if you get any plants from the fish tanks. the moss is a toss up though as I've seen other plants growing out from the moss in a couple cups, but that's it. moss also isn't labeled so you can get java moss, Christmas, weeping, etc and wouldn't know unless you know what to look for (I've seen all three of those types at my store).

best bet, if you're willing, is checking online. etsy has a few good fish/plant sellers who might have safe stuff available. or check other aquarium plant websites to see what they have.

 

You could always quarantine them if you buy from somewhere on a bare bottom tank , assuming they are like most molluscs , if you don’t feed the tank and just have low flow filter ( or no filter ) they’d eventually die off with no food . I know it’s not that simple with invasive species but if you treated with copper ( again assuming fish only tank ) then quarantine a while after with repeated wc’s could be okay.

I’d not even chance it with snails or shrimp in the tank ( or the tank you treat ) though itself. Just buy an Anubias plant if you wanted something living in the tank.

In my very personal opinion , moss balls are a disappointing “plant” , for what you’d spend on a couple of moss balls you could get a beautiful Anubias or stem plant without the risk.

i don’t know if a plant dip would eradicate molluscs but they are said to be sensitive , but so are moss’s and algae ( which is what moss balls actually are ) so you may treat and end up with dead algae balls ..

 

You could always quarantine them if you buy from somewhere on a bare bottom tank , assuming they are like most molluscs , if you don’t feed the tank and just have low flow filter ( or no filter ) they’d eventually die off with no food . I know it’s not that simple with invasive species but if you treated with copper ( again assuming fish only tank ) then quarantine a while after with repeated wc’s could be okay.

I’d not even chance it with snails or shrimp in the tank ( or the tank you treat ) though itself. Just buy an Anubias plant if you wanted something living in the tank.

In my very personal opinion , moss balls are a disappointing “plant” , for what you’d spend on a couple of moss balls you could get a beautiful Anubias or stem plant without the risk.

i don’t know if a plant dip would eradicate molluscs but they are said to be sensitive , but so are moss’s and algae ( which is what moss balls actually are ) so you may treat and end up with dead algae balls ..

I’ve watched a bunch of moss ball care videos, specifically for the marimo moss balls and I’m pretty sure they don’t need a filter, just a little rolling around if you want them to keep their shape. I think they’re pretty cute, and I’ve heard goldfish like to roll them around which is why I was looking into them. I’ve called my local petco and they said they only carry java moss balls, so I’ll probably get one of those and a few other plants.

 

I just meant for the qt to see if they are infested.

but if you’ve got goldfish you’ve likely got a filter anyway

 

I was just about to ask this same thing lol. I haven't been to any big chain pet stores lately, but the local store I went to yesterday didn't have any. I also figure sales and demand for them went down anyway because of the outbreak, maybe making them rarer to find.

I’ve watched a bunch of moss ball care videos, specifically for the marimo moss balls and I’m pretty sure they don’t need a filter, just a little rolling around if you want them to keep their shape. I think they’re pretty cute, and I’ve heard goldfish like to roll them around which is why I was looking into them. I’ve called my local petco and they said they only carry java moss balls, so I’ll probably get one of those and a few other plants.

Did you end up getting some java moss balls?