Author Topic: Asian Clams on Craig's List what do you think? (Read 3293 times)

Jerry · « **on:** November 12, 2009, 12:48:50 PM »

this is the ad.

Large Fresh Water Clams for your fish tank and pond.

Each 3-4 inch Asian Clams. "STOP LOSING YOUR FISH NOW!!!These can be used in either ponds or aquariums and work well as a natural biological filter. They feed on fish waste and algae and maintain an overall cleaner clearer pond or aquarium. These are hardy clams and can survive huge temperature shifts and reproduce rapidly.Here you go guys the only way to keep your fish nice"n healthy... shipping is available.Pick up or ship is ok... ship is with USPS....

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2009, 01:53:07 PM »

Interesting.....you go first Jerry!

Jerry · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2009, 02:27:24 PM »

I would if I knew there was no problem. Are they edible? They eat fiish poop so not too sure at all.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2009, 02:56:23 PM »

Quote

They eat fish poop so not too sure at all.

I don't think you could pay me to eat them. Now if I didn't know what they eat that is another story.

Jonna · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2009, 04:15:57 PM »

If they reproduce so fast I wonder if they are legal in the state, just thinking if they got into the rivers and lakes. Also, I'd check about whether they carry disease, I have some recollection of fresh water clams being carriers, perhaps though it was if you ate them. Not me.

Jerry · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2009, 04:37:24 PM »

I wonder too. It is a local California ad. Which proves nothing. Maybe someone will know? I will try Googling it!
I did, nothing good, but they seem a lot smaller than those pictured.
Very invasive and in lake tahoe as well as Alabama, Arizona and more.

I found no info as far as food value.

Julles · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2009, 04:59:43 PM »

I'd be afraid of diseases.

karen J · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2009, 05:33:15 PM »

Jerry, does Ca have a cooperative extension that you could call? I'd be really skeptical... Ca is pretty strict about what you can import there. I tried putting freshwater clams in my pond way back when... and they died. After they died, they smelled really bad.

Now, if they were Asian crabs, I'd fire up a pot of boiling water and start clarifying the butter...

Jerry · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2009, 06:04:35 PM »

I wrote to the seller and asked. He said they were legal in California. I am very skeptical.
Tahoe is having problems with them.

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2009, 06:39:55 PM »

Does California have a Department of Enviromental Protection or DEP? If so, you could contact them for better info.

Marie Fisher · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2009, 07:11:24 PM »

Wonder if they'd eat our water lilies. Ad didn't say they were vegetarians tho. Hmmm!!!
Does anybody know.

Marie

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2009, 08:09:38 PM »

Marie, they can't eat water lilies unless the plants die and rot.

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2009, 06:17:51 AM »

Introduced clams and mussels are huge problems in the Great Lakes and in Lake Mead and other lakes around the country. There is no way I'd put some in my pond. I highly doubt they are legal.

Jerry · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2009, 06:29:21 AM »

I don't believe the seller at all. I am swamped for a few days but will talk to Fish & Game.

Mikey · « **Reply #14 on:** November 13, 2009, 10:15:38 AM »

My guess is that they are not poop eaters.... As far as I know clams filter water, pulling out planktonic organisms. I'm guessing that the aquarium variety of clams pull in small particles of uneaten fish food that is suspended in the water. In addition, don't clams live in sand or gravel? UhOh, this may lead to a rocked bottom discussion....

tranquility · « **Reply #15 on:** November 13, 2009, 10:29:41 AM »

Quote from: Mikey on November 13, 2009, 10:15:38 AM

My guess is that they are not poop eaters.... As far as I know clams filter water, pulling out planktonic organisms. I'm guessing that the aquarium variety of clams pull in small particles of uneaten fish food that is suspended in the water. In addition, don't clams live in sand or gravel? UhOh, this may lead to a rocked bottom discussion....

I was thinking the same thing...not to mention the whole disease factor....sounds to me like you would need an awful lot of those to make any sort of dent on waste from the fish and the plants...
Lawanna

frogman3 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 14, 2009, 07:54:26 PM »

I have two clams in my pond that look very similar but much larger. They came from the 1/2 acre pond where I work here in Ohio. Our fountain pumps went south and when the workers drug the floating platform out there they were. They told me they were native to Ohio but exceptionally large for that species. I took them home for conversation pieces. If I put them in a lily pot they dig one side in the mud. Otherwise they slowly roam around the pond and I mean slowly using the pure white tongue that comes out. It's quite amazing how they can sense your approach and quickly close. In other words I have to sneak up on them or they clam up.

So far they have been in my pond for over a yaer and no babbies that I know of.

CoolShades · « **Reply #17 on:** November 15, 2009, 02:52:33 PM »

A lot of partially correct info in this thread.

The mussels that cause problems in the Great lakes are Zebra mussels that hitch-hiked to the US in balast water from shipping. There are no natural predators in the US so they have multiplied and choke out water vents etc. with all of the manufacturing plants on the lakes this is a real issue. Yes you should check out the specific species before placing in a pond and check with local ordinances.

With that said my family has used them since 1992 with great success, first at our nursery in the Redlands (Southwest of Miami) and then up north in my 5 ponds. This really maintains a low algal growth with very clear water. I find the fish tend to eat them when they die, but they do reproduce that also indicates a healthy pond, i.e. the fish somewhat behave like bees by carrying around the larval stage (specific name I'll have to look up) before they settle and grow on a hard surface. Commonly on old shells is my observation. They do filter the water of detritous along with microorganisms including algae. For a 2000 gallon pond I started with 1/2 dozen mussels that are common in the creeks in the area. When I clean the pond I find a lot of empty shells, but I also find mussles growing on the shells, so I can't give you a number. In my pond they tend to hide in the anacharis beds.

Most clams and mussels are edible, but you are what you eat

. If you eat oysters think about the polutants around the beds and crabs really are scavengers. Being a carnivore this doesn't bother me so Jerry cook up some linguinni and bring the olive oil and lets have some good eats!

Gary

Julles · « **Reply #18 on:** November 15, 2009, 02:58:24 PM »

Frogman - yours are bigger than those in the photo? They must be HUGE!

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #19 on:** November 15, 2009, 03:13:22 PM »

Frogman, if I may correct you a little so we can educate those that don't know, that "tongue" is called a foot in bivalves such as clams, muscles, and oysters. They draw water in one tube, filtering out anything digestible, then spewing out everything else out the other tube. When a piece of sand gets trapped between tissue and the shell, a pearl could form.

Kittyzee · « **Reply #20 on:** November 15, 2009, 04:18:01 PM »

This is an interesting thread--and like Gary said, I believe I've read about the zebra mussels in Lake Erie causing problems. That being said--I've never had a problem dining on bottom feeders either--so break out the dipping sauce!!

Kris · « **Reply #21 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:27:58 PM »

I actually purchased some from William Tricker. I think I got them when my pond was too new. I bought 6 & just pulled the last empty shell from the pond this fall. I'm going to try a few more this coming spring. The fish seem to like to find them & eat them so I'm not really worried about how fast they reproduce - the fish will have a feast!

txpondnut · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2009, 04:37:19 AM »

I'm definitly interested in them if they keep your water clear and eat muck. Does anyone know how act around a bottom drain? If they got in there and stuck I'd hate to think about getting them out.

CoolShades · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2009, 03:38:30 PM »

I hadn't thought about bottom drains, but then again I don't have any. In this case I would not recommend mollusks, because of the potential of attaching in the pipes and eventually plugging them. I have only have experience in static ponds.

Gary

karen J · « **Reply #24 on:** November 17, 2009, 06:54:47 PM »

Quote from: CoolShades on November 15, 2009, 02:52:33 PM

A lot of partially correct info in this thread.

The mussels that cause problems in the Great lakes are Zebra mussels that hitch-hiked to the US in balast water from shipping. There are no natural predators in the US so they have multiplied and choke out water vents etc. with all of the manufacturing plants on the lakes this is a real issue. Yes you should check out the specific species before placing in a pond and check with local ordinances.

With that said my family has used them since 1992 with great success, first at our nursery in the Redlands (Southwest of Miami) and then up north in my 5 ponds. This really maintains a low algal growth with very clear water. I find the fish tend to eat them when they die, but they do reproduce that also indicates a healthy pond, i.e. the fish somewhat behave like bees by carrying around the larval stage (specific name I'll have to look up) before they settle and grow on a hard surface. Commonly on old shells is my observation. They do filter the water of detritous along with microorganisms including algae. For a 2000 gallon pond I started with 1/2 dozen mussels that are common in the creeks in the area. When I clean the pond I find a lot of empty shells, but I also find mussles growing on the shells, so I can't give you a number. In my pond they tend to hide in the anacharis beds.

Most clams and mussels are edible, but you are what you eat . If you eat oysters think about the polutants around the beds and crabs really are scavengers. Being a carnivore this doesn't bother me so Jerry cook up some linguinni and bring the olive oil and lets have some good eats!

Gary

That is good information. First, we have the non native zebra mussels in our lakes here in Northern Illinois, and let me tell you they hurt when you step on them. They're everywhere, and they're bad.

Second. native species (that occur naturally in YOUR locale) should be fine. Why wouldn't they be?

Third, I'm a carnivore as well, so instead of olive oil I'll bring the butter and the genuine pork lard.

landey1230 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2009, 06:55:33 PM »

So, did you buy them Jerry?

Jerry · « **Reply #26 on:** November 18, 2009, 12:48:34 PM »

Nope. I have my hands full for a few days. I need to vacuum my empty pond and clean the filter pads. Then maybe it's a good time to experiment? Shubunkins form Wal-Mart were fine.

I think my turtles are ok, but have only seen one lately. I did pick up a dead goldie off the bottom. It didn't float because it was half eaten. I assume the turtles did that.

I am working nights for 2 days (Big Love)

frogman3 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:52:41 PM »

Yea, pretty big. The largest weighs 1/2 lb. This was taken two summers ago before adding to my pond. I would not mind having more if I could find some natives. I have not really researched them to find out the exact species. I fish a lot and zebra mussels are a very expensive problem for the great lakes and are expanding their range through the river systems to other inland lakes.