fresh water mussels?

**mitcore** · 11-16-2007, 12:36 AM

i saw a post with a pic of fresh water mussels
are they really that good on filteration
and where do you buy them, i really havent seen them in the ACT
also what are their water stats?

thanks guys

**Kuli_Loach** · 11-16-2007, 12:43 AM

Yes I would also like to know about them, I wouldn't mind having a couple in my hatchet tank.

**jeffs99dime** · 11-16-2007, 12:46 AM

one problem with bivalves is that they are closed the majority of the time and it is very hard to tell if they are alive or not. if they are dead, they will pollute the water and kill all your fish. i know it's negative but i just wanted to let you know before you put them in your tank

**Kuli_Loach** · 11-16-2007, 12:49 AM

Are they sensitive or something? Anything you can do like tap them to see if they are alive or not?

**jeffs99dime** · 11-16-2007, 12:52 AM

far from it. usually they are found in seriously polluted waterways and thrive in it. if they are not tank raised, you run the risk of introducing disease that the mussels may have picked up when they were in the wild

**Kuli_Loach** · 11-16-2007, 12:54 AM

No I don't want none from the wild, I would order then from some where online. What is the average life span on these and since they are not sensitive thus they shouldn't die easy, is that not a big factor on having these in a tank?

**Algenco** · 11-16-2007, 12:54 AM

They also stay buried a lot, so you never know when one has died. Everything I've heard is they are not worth the risk.
They don't filter enough water to be beneficial, mostly they are used to keep the substrate stirred. Malaysian trumpet snails will do that without the risks.

**jeffs99dime** · 11-16-2007, 12:56 AM

i personally do not recommend any bivalves to anyone. there's too much risk in an aquarium setting. and what algenco stated is also a factor

**Kuli_Loach** · 11-16-2007, 12:59 AM

Ok but MTS over populated really fast and easy though don't they? What is another good invert to stir the substrate? I have a couple ramshorns in there to keep the algae a little lower.

**mitcore** · 11-16-2007, 01:04 AM

wow what a response
though i am not sure if they are a good thing or not LOL
what are these snails you are talking about?
can they go into a community tanks
which would be better my 3ft or 4ft? see below