Freshwater clam / mussel question

gunther

AC Members
Jul 29, 2006
80
0
6
During my last collecting trip to a local river I came across a freshwater clam/mussel?? Interesting so I added it to the tank. Its the only one I have. Anyway it seems that a stage of their life cycle includes a parasitic period where they attach to fish in a cyst like fashion until they mature and drop off. Anyone have this problem in their tank? I don't want to get into something I can't get rid of. Cool pictures of him trying to dig in though........

fish 014.jpg fish 018.jpg
 
it should not attach to a fish, it doesnt have eyes.

they are filter feeders, feeding on anything organic floating in the water, mostly algae and bacteria.

it is a cold water invert, what temp do you have it at?
 
"it" doesn't attach, its larvae do during development. The spread into the water and act like parasite to fish skin and gills from what I have read but I know some members have them and I haven't heard of problems.
 
I may target feed him a mix of nutrients through a tube. Graphic-designr made some suggestions I will have to follow. Do you have any specific "recipie's"?
 
AquariaCentral.com