"To aid in the investigation and prevent potential spread, we immediately paused the sale of all Marimo aquarium moss balls at Petco locations and on, and placed them in quarantine," officials said. "We were approached by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding an investigation into a potential link between Marimo aquarium moss balls and wild zebra mussels," Petco officials said in an email to the Times Free Press on Friday. On March 6, national chain PetSmart issued a notice to customers stating, "We are voluntarily withdrawing the Marimo aquarium moss balls listed below due to invasive zebra mussels being found within a variety of moss ball products."Īnother national chain with stores in Chattanooga, Petco, also warned customers away from the products and said they were working with wildlife officials.
to purchase, possess or transport zebra mussels. However, consumers should always be cautious about products purchased online. Most major pet stores have already pulled these products from shelves, officials said. The products, "Betta Buddy Marimo Ball" and similarly described products, were imported and have been distributed nationwide in the U.S, according to state and federal officials. State and federal wildlife agencies are warning pet and aquarium store owners and their customers about the finding earlier this month of invasive zebra mussels in aquarium products known as "moss balls."Īccording to federal officials, reports of zebra mussels in moss balls have come from 21 states, including Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Virginia in the Southeast.
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