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FAQs about Bivalve Mollusk Reproduction
Related Articles: Tridacnids,
Bivalves, Mollusks,
Related FAQs: Bivalves
1, Bivalves 2,
Bivalve Identification, Bivalve
Behavior, Bivalve Compatibility,
Bivalve Selection, Bivalve Systems,
Bivalve Feeding, Bivalve Disease,
Tridacnids, Tridacnid Clam Business, Tridacnid
Identification, Tridacnid Selection,
Tridacnid Compatibility, Tridacnid
Systems, Tridacnid Lighting,
Tridacnid Placement, Tridacnid
Feeding, Tridacnid Disease,
Tridacnid Reproduction, Flame
Scallops, | 
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Something in my liverock
>Hello.
>>Greetings! Marina this
afternoon.
>I am new to your site and it was recommended to me
by Mike at FFExpress.
>>Excellent, our thanks to Mike, though I
was under the impression that FFExpress is now defunct/bought out by
the Dr.'s (Foster & Smith). In any event..
>My name is Tom and I
have just recently (in my 4th week) set up a 65 gal salt water tank.
I have Live rock, mushrooms, green stars, green polyps, green
bubble, leather coral, a cleaner shrimp, algae eating snails, and
two clowns. I plan on getting a little more live rock and in time
more coral and a couple more fish and crustaceans.
>>Right, just
be sure to go very slowly, and quarantine ALL new additions, 30 days
is protocol.
>MY QUESTION is a center live rock piece I use for a
shelf has some organism that emits a little cloudy substance about
every 20 minutes or so.
>>Boring clam. No, not uninteresting,
boring as in mining. Completely harmless and nothing to worry
about. Actually, it means that your conditions make it quite happy.
>it has done this for about two weeks now and although it doesn't
seem to be hurting anything I am just curious about what it could be
and if it could hurt my tank down the road. I paid close attention
to where this little cloud came from and it appeared to come from
either the red growth in the rock or something underneath it. It
must be something small as I tried to use the turkey baster to suck
it out or remove it and nothing would budge. The cloud is a quick
short burst as if being blown out. It appears almost like a little
slimy and milky emission that disperses in the water then dissolves
away. I cant explain it any better than that.
>>You've explained
it very well. You have one of the goodies people hope for with good
quality live rock, and hope not to lose during the curing process.
>Like I said it has done this for a couple weeks now and I have
tested my water taken my water in to be tested and so far so good.
What do you think about this or do you know what it could possibly
be. Thanks for your time. Sincerely Thomas East
>>Right, I
really think it's a boring clam, and certainly nothing to worry
about. Have fun with him, they're odd little beasts! Best of luck
with your new endeavor, it appears that your setup is looking very
good (a bit unusual for many newcomers AND such new setups). Marina |
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Culturing the Thorny Oyster? How about Keeping it Alive? 7/18/04
Hi, great site. I read everything you had about the thorny oyster, and
have been searching the internet with only limited success.
<there
is not much info known/published on them for aquarium use... they are
extremely difficult to keep alive and most responsible aquarists leave
them in the ocean, or at least don't buy them>
I have become a great
fan of the thorny oyster and have decided I would like to have a crack
at spawning and/or culturing the animal.
<keeping them alive for
even a year would be a great feat in itself. Most hang in for some
months (a few over 6 months) before finally succumbing to
attrition/starvation>
I was hoping to find a source of spat or small
oyster seed and/or instructions on how to induce spawning.
<do look
into the fisheries data (use university libraries/databases for this) on
Tridacnid clams and other better studies bivalves. There is much info
there to be assimilated I'm sure. Gerry Heslinga is a pioneer here and
did some great papers on the sub-family Tridacnidae. Temperature,
salinity shock were used at times... also serotonin infections as well
as other hormonal treatments. Some bivalves will simply spawn just by
the sensation of an egg in the water (sacrificing a ripe specimen for
eggs top disburse). This all presumes that you can even rear your
oysters to be sexually ripe/ready, and frankly... no-one can clearly say
what it is that they eat in captivity or how to provide it. Bottled
phytoplankton is unlikely to be a solely adequate staple>
I have
three oysters from local fish stores. I have read everything I can find
on Husbandry of the Giant Clam, and a bit on Cultivating popular eating
oysters. Can you direct me to a source of oyster spat/seed for the
Thorny Oyster, and/or groups doing oyster raising locally in the US.
Thanks, Kevin Meade
<I share your admiration for this animals... but
as my third query of the hour from a person that bought an animal that
they do not know how to keep (what they even eat or if they can provide
it), you have honestly bummed me out mate. No hard feelings. but please
do consider the seriousness of the matter. If you are the one man that
knows how to feed and keep Thorny Oysters in captivity for a full
lifespan and not just a few weeks/months from purchase, then you need to
do the industry and science a favor by telling us how (with all due
respect here, sincerely). If not, I assure you that yours will be dead
inside of 12 months. I have no wisdom to share other than above here.
Anthony>
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