Saltwater Aquarium Guide -- Scallops & Oysters

Scallops & Oysters:

Members of the bivalve class, scallops, oysters, and mussels belong to the Limidae, Pectinidae, Ostreidar, and Mytilidae families. All have a two-part shell with a hinge and foot, and have no true head. Found in most marine environments, those that burrow into the substrate usually have an enlarged foot and one intake and one exhalant siphon. Oysters have a smaller foot and secrete byssal threads that anchor them to rocks or other structures. Some species of oysters have a high commercial value for their ability to make large pearls, but are rarely offered in the aquarium trade. While they are not considered social, they are often found in large clusters of individuals.

Some bivalves have primitive eyes located along the edge of the mantle or at the ends of the siphon. These eyes are always blue, and they respond to light and shadows. They require a sandy substrate or a large rock formation to find comfortable spots to rest and feed. Specialized foods and pristine water quality are required to successfully maintain these organisms in the home aquarium.

Bivalves are filter feeders, requiring food designed for these types of invertebrates. This makes them somewhat more demanding in the home aquarium than their cousins the Tridacna Clams. They require supplementation with phytoplankton, and organic foods (Marine Snow or Selcon) provided by using a small pipette/straw to dispense the food upstream of its location. Each callop or oyster needs to be fed individually.

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