Keeping Rock mussels and oysters

Discussion in 'General Discussions and Advice' started by Stewart, 13 Oct 2008.

  1. 13 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #1
    Stewart

    Stewart

    Joined:
    6 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Has anyone been successful in keeping normal black/brown rock muscles or oysters, the type you find on the East coast? If you have, how long have you kept them alive for?
     

  2. Guest




  3. 13 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #2
    lindsay pollard

    lindsay pollard pipefish

    Joined:
    23 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    246
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    PLETTENBERG BAY
    Stewart ive had a black mussel in my tank for the past 6 months and its still going strong
     
  4. 13 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #3
    Mike

    Mike Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    12 May 2007
    Posts:
    7,859
    Likes Received:
    30
    Location:
    the Motherland
    Stewart, they are very good at removing excess nutrients etc and a a great asset to your sump, but they are delicate and need acclimatising slowly, if you need help with acclimatising, just ask.
     
  5. 13 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #4
    OP
    Stewart

    Stewart

    Joined:
    6 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Mike, any advice in acclimatising them please? Have you tried rock oysters? Which are hardier?
     
  6. 14 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #5
    459b

    459b Moderator

    Joined:
    12 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    10,416
    Likes Received:
    952
    Location:
    Cape Town
    ive kept black mussels without any trouble. I put them in when they were about 5cm long and didnt use any special acclimitization. I have a few in my sump and they doing well there, had them for about 8 months.
    Ive had oyster appear in my tank and they seem to do really well at first, however they always die/get eaten before getting really big.
     
  7. 14 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #6
    Mike

    Mike Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    12 May 2007
    Posts:
    7,859
    Likes Received:
    30
    Location:
    the Motherland
    The advice for any creature we add to our tanks is roughly the same, equalise the temp and SG slowly (much slower for inverts) by adding tank water to the bag, either by constant drip or by using a turkey baster adding little amounts every few minutes until balanced.
    I haven't tried them myself (i live in the UK so we can't use coastal mussels) but i know some reefers that have had success with oysters purchased from the supermarket.
     
  8. 14 Oct 2008 - Keeping Rock mussels and oysters
    #7
    Roy

    Roy

    Joined:
    25 Aug 2008
    Posts:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Buccleuch Gauteng
    I picked up a few "decorations" that washed up after some heavy seas a few weeks back. i added these decorations and found out that some mussels were alive and have been been in the tank for 2 weeks now.
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Keeping Rock mussels Forum Date
For sale and sellers not keeping to agreement General Discussions and Advice Monday at 09:26
Keeping powder blue tangs General Discussions and Advice 3 Jun 2017
Reef keeping club jhb Local clubs, frag swaps, meets. 30 Jan 2017
Reefkeeping OCD Full Tank Photo's 29 May 2016
Keeping more then one dwarf angel? Marine Fish Discussions 28 May 2016
anyone keeping a stylotella aurantium? Soft Corals 17 May 2016
Keeping a Sea Star Invertebrates 8 Apr 2016