Snail and Mussel ID
#1 Guest_jase_*
Posted 03 June 2008 - 11:20 AM
There were a lot of large, healthy looking snails, which I believe to be the same as what I found on mud flats in the Connecticut River (between NH and VT) in 2006. From the number, they were obviously breeding. Some specimens were up to 50% larger than what I have here. The pond owner doesn't know where they originally came from -- it was her mother's pond for several years. There were *tons* of these on the Connecticut river mud flats (if they are the same), which makes me suspect they may be an exotic invasive. They clearly feed by burrowing through soft substrate.
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She believes the mussels may have originally come from Lake Champlain. They had survived in the pond for at least 2 years. Sorry, no pics of dead/empty shells available.
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Can anyone make an ID on these?
I intend to put these in my own pond, but that won't be dug for at least a month. Suggestions on how to hold them until that point? If they're exotics, I don't want them. I'm right on a very pristeen brook trout stream which feeds the Winooski, so I don't want any risk of introducing something that doesn't belong. (Obviously I'll take a lot of care to reduce the chances of a pond overflow to near zero). How do I euthanize them humanely?
Of course I know not to collect mussels, but these came from a garden pond that was being drained. What's the correct thing to do in that case? Can't release, so... euthanize? Or is it okay to try to keep them?
#2 Guest_jase_*
Posted 03 June 2008 - 11:32 AM
#3 Guest_ashtonmj_*
Posted 03 June 2008 - 11:45 AM
#4 Guest_jase_*
Posted 03 June 2008 - 12:11 PM
Given that the pond was drained, the liner removed, and the hole filled with 3' of dirt, I think they'll have a *much* better shot at surviving pretty much anywhere else.The mussels would have just as good a shot at long term survivability in a dewatering pond as they would being held for a few months in an inadequate system.
What's the native habitat? Do they want clean water or silty/turbid? Like I said, they clearly survived several years in a garden pond, so I assume they don't need a fast/clean stream.
I'll do some research on what the laws say. VT is very small, so our laws are less developed/specific than many other states. I'm in touch with state biologists, though, so I'm sure I can turn up some answers.
If I need to, how does one go about euthanizing a mussel? Hammer? Freezing?
Edited by jase, 03 June 2008 - 12:11 PM.
#5 Guest_ashtonmj_*
Posted 03 June 2008 - 12:32 PM
#6 Guest_jase_*
Posted 03 June 2008 - 05:15 PM
Anyone know what the snail is?
#7 Guest_Newt_*
Posted 04 June 2008 - 05:52 PM
#8 Guest_CHBGator_*
Posted 03 July 2009 - 11:02 AM
#9 Guest_ashtonmj_*
Posted 03 July 2009 - 04:14 PM
#10 Guest_diburning_*
Posted 16 July 2009 - 01:55 AM
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