Clam/mussel ID and can I feed to my fish

[Rtc/tsn]

Your 'clam' is not a clam but a native freshwater mussel, family Unionidae.
I don't know where you are located, and this make thye id somewhat uncertain, but from the looks of it, it appears to be a FatMucket (Lampsilis radiata, also known as Lampsilis siliquoida, or even L. radiata siliquoida).
Although fish will certainly eat it if given to them, and the possibility of introducing parasites that will affrect your fish is quite small, you should NOT DO ANY of this, and instead, you should return the fatmucket to the creek, and not collect any more. Instread, be happy that the creek where you found it is still healthy enough to support this, and hopefully other species of freshwater mussels.

FW mussels are probably the most endangered group of freshwater animals in the US. Although some species are quite common, such as the fatmucket, their populations, the very habitats where they live, and their genetic diversity is severely imperiled. Their reproduction involves stages where their larvae (glochidia) are parasitic on fish, wwith some species having very specific (unique) fish species used as suitable hosts, whereas some are somewhat more generalistic. But this is another source of imperilement, as in many cases, the mussel populations, the fish hosts, and the habitats themselves are imperiled, primarily due to human activity (mainly pollution and habitat modification).
Furthermore, there are severe restrictions in a number of states against collecting these mussels (of course very difficult to enforce), and these restrictions are for good reasons and corresponding to their severe imperiled status.

Again, please do the right thing - Return the mussel to the creek if still alive, be proud that your creek still harbors these beautiful animals, and admire them at their home when you see them in the creek. Cheers to you!

I’ll release it back where I found him today thank you.

 

[FJB]

Good for you! I am glad it is still alive and you can feel good about it.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Good for you! I am glad it is still alive and you can feel good about it.

I never knew they were endangered. If I knew I wouldn’t have taken it in the first place but today when I go fishing I’ll put him back

 

[Deadeye]

If you are interested in clams there are plants of freshwater clams sold for ornamental purposes! Many are very attractively colored.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Hyriopsis Bilata (Shark Fin Mussle) Information

Anybody have any info on the Shark Fin Mussel. I can’t get a single tid bit of info out besides the size.

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

Posted asking what these were. F FLA . Most likely similar to the Shark Fin Mussel I was looking at.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Hyriopsis Bilata (Shark Fin Mussle) Information

Anybody have any info on the Shark Fin Mussel. I can’t get a single tid bit of info out besides the size.

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

Posted asking what these were. F FLA . Most likely similar to the Shark Fin Mussel I was looking at.

Yea I read that thread last night. Deadeye I’ve never seen clams or mussel for sale for aquarium use except once in Kentucky. I’m wanting something to clean my tank. Could I add plants and remove my filter so that it’s a self sustaining ecosystem other than me feeding pellets

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Yea I read that thread last night. Deadeye I’ve never seen clams or mussel for sale for aquarium use except once in Kentucky. I’m wanting something to clean my tank. Could I add plants and remove my filter so that it’s a self sustaining ecosystem other than me feeding pellets

No! Just let the guy go. Mussels and Clams are better suited for ponds. Plus they need colder water.

 

[Deadeye]

Yea I read that thread last night. Deadeye I’ve never seen clams or mussel for sale for aquarium use except once in Kentucky. I’m wanting something to clean my tank. Could I add plants and remove my filter so that it’s a self sustaining ecosystem other than me feeding pellets

I’ve only seen them online.
No way for plants or filter feeders to be sustaining as a filter except with minimal stocking in large tanks, like a few guppies and shrimps in a 60.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

No! Just let the guy go. Mussels and Clams are better suited for ponds. Plus they need colder water.

I’m letting the mussel go today when I’m fishing. I’m wondering if there’s any plants or snails I can add to my tank to be able to take my filter out so that I have an open plug in spot on the extension cord and to save money on filter media. Not really wanting snails because they reproduce like crazy and don’t want them to take over the tank

 

[Kolton13]

I’m letting the mussel go today when I’m fishing. I’m wondering if there’s any plants or snails I can add to my tank to be able to take my filter out so that I have an open plug in spot on the extension cord and to save money on filter media. Not really wanting snails because they reproduce like crazy and don’t want them to take over the tank

Don’t take any plants from ponds. Parasites and diseases are carried through them. You can buy some anarcharis bunch or Java moss to help a bit. Or some floating plants like frog bit or duckweed.