Healthy Pond: I Have "Jelly Balls" In My Pond!

"Jelly Balls" are not found in every are more common than most people realize.  These gelatinous balls to rocks or sticks on the pond can break loose and float on the water surface.

These "Jelly Balls" are a primitive colonial invertebrate known as (common name is moss animals).  They are firm and slimy to the touch and can range from golf ball to basketball size. They are not fish or frog eggs, a form of algae or lake bacteria.

Even though they appear to be something out of a science fiction movie or from outer space, they are completely harmless to you and your pond. Where do they come from?  Most commonly, they attach to animals that travel from one to another.

They are filter feeders that sieve food particles out of the water using retractable tentacles.  Freshwater feed on many varieties of diatoms and Planktonic Algae, keeping water clean. They are not an indication of water pollution. They seem to prefer a -organic pond bottom and are a useful indicator of water quality.  

"Jelly Balls" are occasionally a nuisance in water pipes, drinking water purification equipment, sewage treatment facilities, and cooling pipes in power stations.

Physical removal is the only known way to clean your pond of "Jelly Balls".  They are preyed on by snails, insects, and fish. No aquatic herbicide will affect these balls. But, do not fear, if you do nothing they will begin to disappear in the late fall when drops to 61 degrees F.

Please feel free to email me or post questions you may have and I will respond accordingly.

Next Steps:

To visit our online here

To Request our product catalog click here

To learn about lake weed analysis click here

FarmingForWildlife.com, "Jelly Balls" What are those things in my pond? Don Keller/Barry Smith

Marks , Moss Animals by Graves Lovell

- the free encyclopedia

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"Jelly Balls" are a primitive colonial invertebrate known as bryozoa (common name is moss animals). They are firm and slimy to the touch and can range from golf ball to basketball size. They are not fish or frog eggs, a form of algae or lake bacteria.

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