Looking for something a little different for your freshwater aquarium? The Avocado Clam (Scabies crispata) is a peaceful freshwater mussel known for its beautiful olive-green shell, raised texture, and bold zigzag pattern. Every clam has slightly different markings, giving each one its own unique look.
These unusual bivalves spend most of their time partially buried in sand or fine gravel, quietly filtering microscopic suspended particles from the water. They make an especially interesting addition to established planted aquariums, shrimp tanks, and peaceful community setups.
Although they help filter suspended material, Avocado Clams should not be purchased as a replacement for aquarium filtration. Most aquariums are too clean to provide enough natural food, so regular supplemental feeding is important for long-term success.
Why We Like Them
- Beautiful green, tan, and dark zigzag shell pattern
- Completely peaceful toward shrimp, snails, plants, and suitable fish
- Naturally burrows into soft aquarium substrate
- Unusual freshwater invertebrate that you do not see every day
- Each clam varies naturally in coloration and pattern
Recommended Care
Scientific name: Scabies crispata
Common names: Avocado Clam, Green Grid Clam, Ornamental Mussel
Family: Unionidae
Care level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Temperature: 68–80°F
pH: 6.5–8.0
Aquarium size: 10 gallons or larger
Substrate: Sand or smooth, fine gravel
Water flow: Gentle to moderate
Diet: Microscopic suspended foods, phytoplankton, powdered invertebrate foods, fine algae and organic particles
This species is a freshwater unionid mussel from Southeast Asia and is recognized for its olive-colored shell with distinctive V- or W-shaped markings.
Feeding
Avocado Clams are filter feeders and require food that remains suspended in the water column. Feed a very fine powdered food, liquid invertebrate food, phytoplankton, or another suitable microscopic food several times per week—or more frequently in especially clean aquariums.
For targeted feeding, mix a small amount of powdered food with aquarium water and gently release it upstream from the clam using a pipette. Temporarily reducing mechanical filtration during feeding can help prevent the food from being immediately removed. Avoid overfeeding, as excess food can affect water quality.
Tank Mates
Suitable companions include:
- Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp
- Peaceful nano fish
- Corydoras and other non-predatory bottom dwellers
- Freshwater snails
- Peaceful planted-community fish
Avoid puffers, crayfish, large aggressive cichlids, loaches known to eat mollusks, and other animals that may damage or consume the clam.
Important Care Information
Do not keep these clams in newly established or extremely sterile aquariums. A mature aquarium with stable water conditions and a consistent source of microscopic food is strongly recommended.
Avoid copper-based medications and sudden changes in temperature, pH, or hardness. Check the clam periodically; a dead clam may remain closed or hidden and can quickly affect water quality. Never release this animal into local waterways.
As a member of the Unionidae family, this mussel’s natural reproductive cycle involves microscopic larvae called glochidia that temporarily attach to compatible fish hosts. Successful reproduction in a home aquarium is unlikely, but this is worth knowing when keeping unionid mussels with fish.
Please Note
You will receive a healthy clam selected from our available stock. Shell color, pattern, shape, and size will naturally vary. The photos show representative animals and not necessarily the exact clam you will receive.
Available for local pickup at our Convoy District location or shipping nationwide.
