Swan Mussels – Native Pond Filter Feeders for Wildlife Ponds

Swan Mussels (Anodonta cygnea)

A fantastic native species that helps improve water clarity by naturally filtering suspended particles from your pond. Swan Mussels are particularly beneficial in wildlife ponds and larger ornamental ponds, where they quietly filter water and feed on naturally occurring microscopic organisms.

They are an excellent addition throughout the year, although during the colder months they will naturally become less active. Please allow them time to settle into their new environment.

Our Swan Mussels are supplied at approximately 5-6 inches in length and are suitable for ponds, lakes and very large aquariums. We recommend 2 mussels per cubic metre of water.

Mussel Care

When your Swan Mussels arrive, inspect the bag to ensure they have travelled well and that the shells are intact.

Float the unopened bag in your pond for approximately 30–60 minutes to allow the water temperature to equalise. After this, gradually add small amounts of pond water to the bag before gently placing the mussels onto the pond bed, preferably in a sheltered area out of direct sunlight. They will naturally position themselves and may partially bury into the substrate over the following few days.

It is perfectly normal for Swan Mussels to remain tightly closed after transport. A mussel with closed shells is alive and simply recovering from the journey. Please allow at least 24–48 hours, and sometimes a little longer, before assuming there is a problem.

The clearest indication that a Swan Mussel has died is when the shell remains wide open and does not close when gently disturbed. Healthy mussels will keep their shells firmly closed until they have recovered and feel secure in their new environment.

Swan Mussels are filter feeders and do not require supplementary feeding in a well-established pond. They naturally feed by drawing water through their incurrent siphon, filtering plankton, microscopic algae and organic debris before expelling cleaned water through their excurrent siphon.

Occasionally you may see a muscular "foot" extending from the shell. This is perfectly normal and is used by the mussel to move and bury itself within the pond substrate.

Please note: Swan Mussels are sensitive to many aquatic medications, particularly treatments containing copper, and these should not be used in ponds containing mussels.

Preferred Water Conditions

• pH: 6.6–8.1

• Temperature: 2–25°C

• Suitable for ponds, lakes and large cold-water aquariums.

Packaging, Delivery & Live Arrival Guarantee

To minimise transit time, live livestock is normally dispatched Monday to Thursday.

Our Swan Mussels are professionally packed in fish-safe bags containing fresh water and oxygen, before being placed inside a sturdy cardboard box for maximum protection during transit. Unlike many suppliers, we do not ship mussels wrapped in damp paper towels, helping to reduce stress and maintain excellent water quality throughout their journey.

All live livestock is shipped using Royal Mail Tracked 24 Small Parcel. This is normally a next working day service; however, delivery times cannot be guaranteed and occasional delays within the Royal Mail network are outside our control.

Hot Weather Policy

To protect the welfare of our livestock, orders will be held whenever forecast temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C during transit. Orders will be dispatched as soon as temperatures return to a safe level.

Live Arrival Guarantee

We proudly offer a Live Arrival Guarantee on all live livestock.

To qualify for this guarantee:

• The parcel must be received on the first delivery attempt.

• Someone must be available to accept delivery. If the parcel is left unattended, left in a safe place, with a neighbour, or is not opened promptly after delivery, our Live Arrival Guarantee is void.

• Mussels must be given at least 24–48 hours to recover before they are considered to have a problem.

• Any issues must be reported within 48 hours of delivery.

• Photographs of the unopened bag, packaging and livestock must be provided before opening wherever possible.

Once your mussels have been introduced into your pond, responsibility for their ongoing health passes to the customer. We cannot accept responsibility for losses resulting from water quality, oxygen levels, pond conditions, medications, predators, incorrect acclimatisation or any other factors outside our control.

Please ensure you have researched the requirements of Swan Mussels before purchasing to ensure your pond provides suitable conditions for their long-term health.