Clams and mussels can also produce pearls, but that is a much rarer occurrence. Do the pearls feel dense and heavy for their size? White is the most common, followed by pink. They are also considered as a delicacy in some places. If possible, ask locals or tour guides if it is safe to eat the clams in the area. Pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a bit of food, a grain of sand, bacteria, or even a piece of the mollusk's mantle becomes trapped in the mollusk. These pearls do not exhibit the same traits as those produced by their bi-valve, mollusk cousins (aka, saltwater oysters or freshwater mussels). So remember, freshwater clams are edible, but they can also be toxic. They are known to sit still with their shell closed, so you may think that they are dead. This creates a material called nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl. Even if you’re in the outdoors, it’s still important to make sure that the food you eat is clean. Or light and hollow? Pearls are formed by saltwater or freshwater mollusks—a diverse group of animals that includes oysters, mussels, clams, conchs, and gastropods. Generally, clams do not move about. Many forms of bivalve mollusks can create pearls including clams, abalone and mussels, but the majority are produced by oysters. Clam pearls are very rare and are considered collector pieces. Dead or Alive? Culturing involves surgically opening each oyster shell and inserting an irritant in the oyster. Prior to setting up your aquarium for pearl oysters, research the type of oysters you want to raise and establish a habitat that most closely matches their natural environment. As oysters grow, an internal organ called the mantle uses minerals from … Clams can produce pearls but they are not the type of pearls that you would see in a jewelry store. SAVE CANCEL. Pearls are the result of a biological process -- the oyster's way of protecting itself from foreign substances. Freshwater clams do not like salt and they will close up tightly as to not let any saltwater in. Most pearls are made by oysters, and they can be made in either freshwater or saltwater environments. Can you spot any variations in body color or overtone, or are the pearls all exactly the same? Once opened, the clam's body parts are exposed. A well-equipped gem testing laboratory can distinguish natural pearls from cultured pearls by using gemological X-ray equipment to examine the center of a pearl. Answers.com ® Categories Animal Life Mollusks Clams Oysters and Scallops Does a clam or an oyster make pearl? A clam is a mollusk that burrows its way into the sand along a body of water and whose delicate parts are protected by a hard outer shell. Gemological identification. Fewer than half of the oysters may survive this process. depth, glow, and varying rates of light return, or do the pearls have a "plastick-y" shine? How Do Mollusks Make Pearls? The oyster or mussel slowly secretes layers of aragonite and conchiolin, materials that also make up its shell. They are non-nacreous pearls known as calcareous concretions. They could be planted in the mussel, and harvested like an agricultural crop. already exists. Freshwater Pearls are Unique and Affordable. Clams can be cooked in the shell or removed from the shell first for use in various dishes. science math history literature technology health law business All Sections. Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell or damage to their fragile body.