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06-17-2002, 08:43 PM
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bluffton, SC
Posts: 12
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pearl farming
So that someone doesn't think this is a stupid question, try to think it through.
It seems to me no problem for members on this board to maintain consistent water temperature, chemistry, etc., sufficient enough not just to maintain but propogate corals. I certainly don't see oysters being any more difficult, probably less so. Given consistent water quality, the proper oyster, and an abundance of time (yes, at least several years) is there any reason why someone couldn't culture pearls in a home aquarium? Now, I'm not thinking of this as a way to make a fortune, or even a profit. I just see having some oysters in an aquarium that may be growing pearls as adding a new dimension to an already interesing hobby. If this sounds like a hairbrained idea, feel free to say so--but also say why. Forge |
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06-17-2002, 09:59 PM
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Governor
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Watertown,SD,USA
Posts: 1,502
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i think pearls form from all the sediment that they sift, i dont know if you could make this happen in a tank
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06-18-2002, 06:54 AM
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#3 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bluffton, SC
Posts: 12
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Hmm....My understanding is that the majority of pearls available today are not the result of sediment sifting, but of human interference. I believe small irratants are forcibly implanted into the oyster, then left in the sea to grow. There is some work involved in taking care of the oyster, but I wouldn't complain about spending time on my tank.
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06-18-2002, 10:22 AM
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Governor
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Watertown,SD,USA
Posts: 1,502
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i was kind of just guessing, so your probably right.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if you got this to work. good luck  |
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06-20-2002, 08:54 AM
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#5 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Ft.Worth,Tx.,U.S.
Posts: 11
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The filter feeding of the oyster is for its own livlihood and sustanance. The injected material for the irritation neccessary for the formation of the pearl. This is a project that would take a good sandbed,lots of water movement and plenty of the right nutrients for the oyster to thrive to be able to produce a pearl. If you could keep the oyster happy and healthy then I see no reason why it wouldn't develope one. I think it does take a certain type of oyster to produce a nice quality though. They would probably be difficult to obtain.
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Ed |
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06-21-2002, 11:58 PM
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#6 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8
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Here is a link for information on setting up a tank for oysters...nothing is said about pearls...but the water needs appear to be brackish-too low on salinity for a normal reef....It would still be an interesting experiment....
good luck bob http://www.mdk12.org/practices/suppo...b/aquarium.htm Last edited by old salt; 06-22-2002 at 09:58 PM. |
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06-22-2002, 12:03 AM
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#7 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Indiana
Posts: 8
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Here is a link for information on setting up a tank for oysters...nothing is said about pearls...but the water needs appear to be brackish-too low on salinity for a normal reef....It would still be an interesting experiment....
good luck bob http://www.mdk12.org/practices/suppo...b/aquarium.htm |
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06-27-2002, 11:48 PM
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#8 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: NJ
Posts: 36
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Do pearls really form from a grain of sand?
Contrary to popular belief, pearls hardly ever result from the intrusion of a grain of sand (inorganic material) into an oyster’s shell. Instead a pearl forms when an organic irritant becomes trapped in the mollusk.
An organic irritant can be a result of injury or an intruding parasite. The animal senses the foreign object and coats it with two materials—a mineral and a protein—that results in mother-of-pearl, the substance called nacre (NAY ker).
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Bill |
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