Clam as a pet, advice needed

[Mervione]

Pinctada Maxima Mussel. Pinctada Maxima Clam. Pinctada Maxima WHATEVER. Remember I?m Swedish? That might mean that English isn?t my native language...

Hey, people are having Phasmidas as pets, what do they do? They are can almost only do the "Stay" trick too! And what about people with fishies? It?s the same thing. They keep them because they look nice and are fashinating. It?s the same with the clam/mussel/whatever. I happen to really like it and I don?t care that I can?t cuddle, play and walk with it in a leash.

This might be news but you can have other pets than a dog...

 

[Mikeyy]

Pinctada Maxima Mussel. Pinctada Maxima Clam. Pinctada Maxima WHATEVER. Remember I?m Swedish? That might mean that English isn?t my native language...

Hey, people are having Phasmidas as pets, what do they do? They are can almost only do the "Stay" trick too! And what about people with fishies? It?s the same thing. They keep them because they look nice and are fashinating. It?s the same with the clam/mussel/whatever. I happen to really like it and I don?t care that I can?t cuddle, play and walk with it in a leash.

This might be news but you can have other pets than a dog...

just having a little fun. I wish you much success. When you get a pic of your pet post it on the pet photo thread.

 

[Mervione]

Will do.

Is it clam or mussel or something else?

 

[Slraep]

Pinctada Maxima WHATEVER. Remember I?m Swedish?

Ohhhh...you mean a P. maxima oyster/scallop. Yeah, don't know how your goldfish is going to adapt to saltwater, but maybe he'll like the new tropical clime for a while(very little while).

How come we always end up picking on Swedes?? Mervione, forum members are only pulling your leg. It's all good natured. Life is tough, so anytime we can get a few giggles we go for them.

If you fancy a shellfish as a pet, or any pet, it is not enough for you to want one---but to ask if P. maxima would really be happy in your little saltwater tank? Anyway, I've found a great solution to people who want bivalves as a pet....

Here's a little fellow in the tank at PEI's Flexmussel's Research Centre(which is a little weird since they are restaurant too!!) that can be observed whenever you want, without all the fuss. Okay, it's a freshwater mussel, but close enough.

Mussel Cam

http://www.flexmussels.com/musselcam.html

Slraep

 

[Mervione]

Oh yeah, there?s oysters and scallops too... I think there?s only two words for those thingyspecies in Swedish, ostron (oyster) and mussla (mussel).

I didn?t take it seriously. I had fun reading their conversation too, and to answer.

And I don?t have a goldfish.

I will make sure it?ll be happy if I get one, that?s why I?m asking around. I?ve been googling a bit but it?s tricky to find information. I think it might be best to ask the staff in the petshop.

Thanks for the link btw.

 

[Mikeyy]

Ohhhh...you mean a P. maxima oyster/scallop. Yeah, don't know how your goldfish is going to adapt to saltwater, but maybe he'll like the new tropical clime for a while(very little while).

How come we always end up picking on Swedes?? Mervione, forum members are only pulling your leg. It's all good natured. Life is tough, so anytime we can get a few giggles we go for them.

If you fancy a shellfish as a pet, or any pet, it is not enough for you to want one---but to ask if P. maxima would really be happy in your little saltwater tank? Anyway, I've found a great solution to people who want bivalves as a pet....

Here's a little fellow in the tank at PEI's Flexmussel's Research Centre(which is a little weird since they are restaurant too!!) that can be observed whenever you want, without all the fuss. Okay, it's a freshwater mussel, but close enough.

Mussel Cam

http://www.flexmussels.com/musselcam.html

Slraep

I watched the video. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ not much of a plot line.

 

[Slraep]

.

And I don?t have a goldfish.

Sorry! I just realized it was another poster that mentioned his voracious goldfish!! Chomp. Chomp.

I wouldn't trust staff at any regular petshop to know anything. For P. maxima you would need a saltwater tank. Saltwater tanks need a lot of maintenance to look good. Lots of people are turned off by that. You'd have to get some info at one of those aquarium speciality shops. Personally I wouldn't want to do all that work for one oyster. If you want some fancy saltwater fish to keep it company, the whole set-up will cost you, in terms of money and time.

Slraep

 

[Slraep]

I watched the video. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ not much of a plot line.

That's the point! Tune in next year...you won't have missed much.

Did you tap on the glass?

Slraep

 

[Mikeyy]

That's the point! Tune in next year...you won't have missed much.

Did you tap on the glass?

Slraep

Nah I'm moving about as fast as he is this morning. besides I didn't want to disturb what he was doing.

 

[Pearling Technologies]

Sorry. Did not mean to offend re comments or banter. All in good nature I assure you. Just trying to work out if it is really a clam mis-labelled as Pinctada Maxima or what. Can't see how that they can firstly get a PM to sell, or get one to survive in a tank. Apologies.

 

[Mervione]

When googling Pinctada Maxima it don?t look like the thingy they had in the petshop. That might be because the pictures I find on google are mainly of the mother of pearl inside the shell. The thingy I saw looked more like this http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/IMAGEGALLERY/giant-clam.jpg . I think this confusion might be because I don?t know the difference between clam-mussel-scallop and oyster.

 

[Mikeyy]

That is a clam. You had it right the first time. Its not a oyster. Maxima is an oyster. Pearls can grow in many types of shell. But the pearl industry uses oysters for growing pearls commercially. Not clams or mussels. What you see in your pic is a giant clam.

 

[Slraep]

Well, that makes sense. The giant clam is found in the aquarium trade. It is a sessile creature, so you really are better off by saving time and energy tuning into the Mussel Cam once in a while.

Here's what WiKi has to say on the matter:

Conservation status

"The IUCN lists the giant clams as vulnerable. There is concern among conservationists for the sustainability of practices among those who use the animal as a source of livelihood. The numbers in the wild have been greatly reduced by extensive overharvesting for food and the aquarium trade. On the black market, giant clam shells are sold as decorative accoutrements, and the meat, called Himejako in Japan, is prized as a delicacy."

Oh Himejako
a lump on some sushi rice
you were awesome once

Here is a website with some dazzling T. gigas pics. The one of the giant clam spawning is so cool. Check out the two videos too.

http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/invertebrates_marine/Tridacna_gigas/GES001050.html?offset=0px

Slraep

 

[la_corsetiere]

When googling Pinctada Maxima it don?t look like the thingy they had in the petshop. That might be because the pictures I find on google are mainly of the mother of pearl inside the shell. The thingy I saw looked more like this http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/IMAGEGALLERY/giant-clam.jpg . I think this confusion might be because I don?t know the difference between clam-mussel-scallop and oyster.

I would LOVE to have one of those as a pet! They are actually quite responsive, particularly the ones I saw in French Polynesia, though they won't sit in your lap and purr when you scratch them behind the ears... I was always amazed that they would react when I put my hand in front of them, even at a bit of a distance, almost as if they could see me, but were totally complacent when fish swam in front of them. It was tricky to take photos of them, as they'd always retract when the flash went off. They do have personality, in their way, and of course are very beautiful. Of course, I'd really like to have a school of pet squid as well - also beautiful creatures, and quite friendly, though I did startle one and make it "ink"...

Sheri

 

[Slraep]

Oh they've got some cool videos on blue mussels too. Ever sit and wonder what a mussel's foot looks like when it goes for a stroll attaching byssal thread? You have? Okay then! Pretty interesting survival strategy for a thing that has no brain.

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/i...ilus_edulis/Mytilus_edulis_03.html?offset=0px

Slraep

 

[pattye]

Slraep,

Thanks a bunch for the link to the amazing videos and photos, they are terrific! The only way I will ever get to see something like that----

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

 

[Slraep]

Thanks a bunch for the link to the amazing videos and photos, they are terrific! The only way I will ever get to see something like that----

Hi Pattye,

You're welcome! What a fun site, eh? Ever wonder about the mechanics of a whelk? They go over the rocky sea bottom terrain with such EASE. And the video of the crab feasting on the whelk is priceless. He pauses to think and then snips the whelk out!

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_marine/Buccinum_undatum/

Slraep

 

[J Marcus]

It can be done!

It can be done!

Yes, it's true! One can grow these little mussels in captivity. Tell us now--do you see a future for yourself in Southern Idaho?

http://www.garf.org/news23p2.html

How about southern Oregon?

http://www.geothermal.org/articles/fish.pdf

Good luck!

J. Marcus
http://www.flyrodjewelry.com.html

 

[Caitlin]

I thought I'd trot out 100's, maybe 1,000's of images of tridacna gigas at live search images These are incredibly beautiful, stately animals and they will not drown you no matter what the urban legends say.

 

[Valeria101]

Not sure about Pteria or other mollusks, but Tridacna (other then Gigas) are fairly mainstream aquarium stock... Now, if only their pearls would be anywhere as colorful as the animals making them