Asian gold clam

Care at a glance

The Asian gold clam is a golden-brown bivalve that half-buries itself in the sand and draws in water through a siphon to filter out suspended particles. It is often marketed as a natural water purifier, and it does work, but only as long as there is enough to filter.

In a clean, plankton-poor aquarium it slowly starves, and a clam that dies unnoticed under the sand can foul the water badly; so check regularly whether it is still alive. Outside the aquarium this species is invasive in many countries, so never release it or its tank water into the wild.

Good to know

• Filter feeder — needs fine suspended food
• Digger — needs fine sand
• Needs a mature, stable tank

Related species

• Horned nerite snailClithon corona
• Thai micro crabLimnopilos naiyanetri
• Electric blue crayfishProcambarus alleni
• Japanese trapdoor snailViviparus malleatus
• Giant freshwater shrimpMacrobrachium rosenbergii
• Marbled crayfishProcambarus virginalis