Local freshwater clams?

Post by **krisw** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 2:23 pm

Good read. Thanks Sean.

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 2:34 pm

I wonder how they'd do in a sump?

As long as they aren't Zebra mussels I'd be inclined to give them a try.

Post by **krisw** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 2:38 pm

Does your sump have any gravel/sand for them to burrow? I'd assume that they would prefer to not be out in the open....

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 2:58 pm

Refugium.

Post by **krisw** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 5:29 pm

Any help on identifying this would be greatly appreciated. (Picture below)

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:52 pm

That's an asiatic clam.

Post by **krisw** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:03 pm

Not to be dense, but that's the non-parasitic ones you posted a link to before, right?

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:25 am

John K · Post by **John K** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:44 am

I've heard back from Frank>>>

<<In the creek near my house I spotted several open shells of what seem to
be Freshwater clams. The shells are white with brown/black streaks of shell
that seem to be peeling off. The shells are quite similar to ones that can
be found all along the Patuxent/Potomac Rivers here in Maryland.>>

Are they clams or mussels? See
http://www.pompestoncreek.org/pcei/pict ... ter%20Muss
el%20and%20Asiatic%20Clam.jpg for a pic of the two (you may need to
cut-n-paste the link)

<< If I dig along the Creek bed, would I find some live ones? Can they be
kept in the aquarium? >>

You might be able to find some live ones, and yes they can be kept in an
aquarium.

<< This is the same creek, by the way, in which I found the crayfish I asked
you about. It has nearly doubled in size in a little over a month.>>

Great! Any idea as to the species?

<< Has anyone else ever tried to keep these local freshwater clams in their
tank? If so, any negative experiences? Would they stay alive? >>

Clams (and freshwater mussels) can be kept in aquaria. The trick is feeding
them. They are filter feeders, and can process quite a bit of water per
hour. Most clams and mussels, I feel, starve to death as the hobbyist can
not provide enough food. I find that OSI Micro Food and OSI Artemia diet are
excellent foods for these animals.

<< Are clams burrowers? Would they disturb my live plants with their
burrowing? I think they would be a cool addition to my tank.>>

They do burrow and, depending upon the size of the animal, they could well
disturb some of the shallow-rooted plants.

<<What exactly do they do?>>

They sit and filter the water. Not much else.

Frank M. Greco (phrankg@...)
Visit http://www.franksaquarium.com
The Freshwater Crustacean Farm

John K · Post by **John K** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:45 am

And this was another posting on the same thread>>

>> They do burrow and, depending upon the size of the animal, they
could well disturb some of the shallow-rooted plants. <<

FWIW, they never bothered any of my heavily-planted tanks. Though
they can bury themselves amazingly quickly, they seem to prefer bare
spots, and they don't appear to move a lot once they're under.

According to this page:

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pag ... _water.htm

...the freshwater clams commonly sold in pet stores are "Corbicula
fluminea - a highly invasive species that is rapidly spreading in US
waters - displacing native species."

An Asiatic species, apparently. So they might not be "local," even
if they're in your backyard.

Local freshwater clams?

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