Freshwater clams (mussels)

Many moons ago I kept a few of these in my tank that I found locally in the rivers and lakes around here. I removed them however after the largest one died and quickly fouled the tank. It was a smaller tank but it required me to break the tank down completely to get the others out and clean everything.

The biggest problem I can see with them is feeding. Being filter feeders and retracting and/or shutting anytime something large came near them makes things a little difficult. The ones I had also buried themselves into the sand so it was difficult to know how they were doing until I found the tank cloudy and foul smelling.

When I kept them I didn't have access to the things we do now. There are lots of specialty foods for filter feeders available so it may be easier to feed them than it was when I kept them.

You're right about the parasite thing. I'd be cautious of placing them in a tank even if the chances of them breeding and reproducing is small.

I wouldn't attempt them due to what was mentioned. By the time you know one has died, the water has been 'fouled'....

Not a good idea. They do not live long for most people, and don't contribute much to a tank. They won't do well in a gravel substrate, and contrary to a currently circulating myth, they do not help clean your tank. Simply put--our tanks are too clean of food in the water column to feed them and too dirty in nitrogen for them to thrive. Many are also protected, so knowing where they are coming from would be very important. A few species are even endangered, making possession a serious violation. And, of course, should they be released into the wild, there's an even bigger concern regarding the introduction of non-natives wrecking the local ecology.

Agreed. The non native zebra mussel is really taking it's toll on the Great Lakes area and is spreading fast.

Yeah, Zebra Mussels in a lake for a couple years and no more big algae blooms! Hmm...cure for green water? :idea2:

Claims are kind of boring, they don't move much . What do you think about some shrimp, or crayfish?
www.bluewhippet.net

I once kept a swan mussel and some European bitterling. The female lays it's eggs inside the mussel through a long tube and then the male fertilizes them. It was the most fascinating thing.