{"product_id":"swan-mussels-fish-or-wildlife-pond-and-bog-aquatic-plants-1-10","title":"SWAN MUSSELS - Fish or Wildlife Pond and bog Aquatic Plants (1 - 10)","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\"\u003eBritain's largest native freshwater mussel\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe swan mussel (\u003cem\u003eAnodonta cygnea\u003c\/em\u003e) is the biggest freshwater mussel found in British waters, reaching up to 20cm across a smooth, olive-to-brown oval shell. It spends its life half-buried in the silt at the bottom of the pond, drawing water in through one siphon and pushing it back out through the other — quietly working through suspended algae, phytoplankton and fine organic particles as it goes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIt is one of the few pond animals that genuinely earns its place through what it removes rather than what it eats off the surface. In a mature, silt-bottomed wildlife pond, a small group of swan mussels helps take the edge off green water and adds a piece of native aquatic life most ponds never get.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease read the suitability section below before ordering.\u003c\/strong\u003e Swan mussels are not a substitute for a filter and they are not suitable for every pond. Sold to the wrong pond they will slowly starve, and we would rather sell you none than sell you five that die.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\"\u003eWhy keep swan mussels\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLive filter feeders.\u003c\/strong\u003e Each adult mussel processes many litres of pond water a day, removing suspended algae and fine particulates that mechanical filters pass straight through.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHost species for bitterling.\u003c\/strong\u003e European bitterling (\u003cem\u003eRhodeus amarus\u003c\/em\u003e) lay their eggs inside a living mussel's gill chamber. Without swan or duck mussels, bitterling cannot breed. If you keep bitterling, this is the missing piece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuinely native.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAnodonta cygnea\u003c\/em\u003e is a British native in long-term decline. Established, silt-bottomed garden ponds are a real refuge for it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong-lived and low maintenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e In the right pond a swan mussel needs no feeding and no intervention, and can live well over a decade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFascinating to watch.\u003c\/strong\u003e They plough slow furrows through the silt with a muscular foot, leaving visible tracks along the pond bottom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\"\u003eIs your pond suitable?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYes, if your pond has:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBeen established and biologically mature for at least 12 months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eA soft bottom — at least 8–10cm of silt, mud, sand or fine gravel for the mussel to burrow into\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eAt least 1,000 litres (1m³) of water per mussel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSome natural green water, algae or suspended organics — a slightly \"living\" pond, not gin-clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGentle circulation and good dissolved oxygen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo, if your pond has:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eA bare liner or concrete base with nothing to burrow into\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eA UV clarifier and heavy mechanical filtration keeping the water sterile and crystal clear — there will be nothing left in suspension for the mussel to eat, and it will starve over several months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBeen set up in the last year, or was recently drained and refilled\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLess than 1,000 litres, or is a preformed\/patio pond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eHeavy predation pressure from herons or corvids in shallow margins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBlunt version: a swan mussel in a filtered, UV-clarified koi pond is a slow death sentence, and a large mussel dying unnoticed in a small pond can foul the water badly enough to kill fish. If you are buying these to clear a green pond, a barley straw treatment, more marginal planting or a proper UV unit will do that job — a mussel will not.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\"\u003eCare at a glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" class=\"overflow-x-auto w-full pl-[var(--msg-block-inset,0.5rem)] pr-2 mb-6 print:overflow-x-visible\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"min-w-full border-collapse text-sm leading-[1.7] whitespace-normal\"\u003e\n\u003cthead class=\"text-left\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.6)] py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.6)] py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnodonta cygnea\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eSwan mussel, giant pond mussel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eTypically 12–17cm, up to 20cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e10–15+ years in suitable conditions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater temperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e2–24°C (fully hardy outdoors in the UK)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e6.8–8.0, neutral to slightly alkaline\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eUp to 25°dH — they need calcium to build shell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum pond volume\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e1,000 litres per mussel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubstrate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e8–10cm+ of silt, mud, sand or fine gravel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eNone required — filter feeder on algae, phytoplankton and fine detritus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003ePond floor, ideally 30cm+ deep, out of full sun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\"\u003eIntroducing your mussels\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eFloat the sealed bag in the pond for 20–30 minutes to equalise temperature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eOpen the bag and mix in pond water gradually over another 20 minutes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003ePlace each mussel by hand onto the pond floor, \u003cstrong\u003enarrow hinged edge down\u003c\/strong\u003e, at a slight angle into the silt. Do not simply drop them in — a mussel landing flat on its side may not right itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSpace them out rather than clustering them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLeave them alone. They will bury themselves within a day or two, and you may see nothing of them for weeks. That is normal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCheck occasionally that a mussel has not been lifted into the shallows or left gaping open on the surface of the silt. A shell that stays wide open and does not close when handled has died and should be removed promptly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFine with goldfish, orfe, rudd, tench, native amphibians, snails and all pond plants. Ideal alongside bitterling. Not recommended with koi, which will dig them out of the substrate, or in ponds stocked heavily enough that oxygen is already under pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA note on breeding: swan mussel larvae (glochidia) attach briefly to the gills and fins of passing fish before dropping off as juveniles. This is a natural part of the life cycle and healthy fish are unaffected, but it is worth knowing about if you keep valuable or already-stressed fish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lincolnshire Pond Plants Ltd","offers":[{"title":"10","offer_id":53804184076635,"sku":"swan-10","price":38.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"5","offer_id":53804184109403,"sku":"swan-5","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2","offer_id":53804184142171,"sku":"swan-2","price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1","offer_id":53804184174939,"sku":"Swan-1","price":5.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0861\/1590\/9979\/files\/shutterstock_2058282992.jpg?v=1786977893","url":"https:\/\/www.lincsplants.com\/products\/swan-mussels-fish-or-wildlife-pond-and-bog-aquatic-plants-1-10","provider":"Lincspplants","version":"1.0","type":"link"}