How Do Freshwater Mussels Reproduce? A Detailed Explanation of the Freshwater Mussel Reproductive Process

Freshwater mussels are a common animal in freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers; their meat can be eaten and can also be used as feed for poultry and fish, so how do freshwater mussels reproduce?

1. How do freshwater mussels reproduce?

During the breeding season, the female mussel releases mature eggs through the genital pore into the mantle cavity of its body, then the male mussel's mature sperm is released from the vas deferens through the genital pore into the suprabranchial cavity, and then discharged through the excurrent siphon into the external water body. The sperm enters the female mussel's mantle cavity with the water and combines with the eggs waiting to be fertilized, completing fertilization. The fertilized eggs then undergo embryonic development on the left and right outer gill lamellae of the mother mussel.

2. How are freshwater mussels farmed?

1. Farming methods: At present, freshwater mussel farming mostly uses suspended culture and cage culture. Suspended culture methods include single suspended culture and string culture, in which two or more mussels are suspended on one line. The number in cage culture depends on the size of the cage (net cage, net clip), and generally it is suitable when each mussel can touch the bottom of the cage.

2. Stocking density: For pearl-producing freshwater mussels, it is generally 800-1200 per mu in ponds and 600-800 per mu in open waters. The specific farming density depends on body weight and plumpness. Physical, chemical and biological factors such as water flow and water depth should be increased or decreased appropriately according to mussel size.

3. Strengthen water quality management: When raising freshwater mussels in closed, still waters without flowing water, high temperatures, shallow water or low pressure can cause oxygen deficiency and mussel death. Therefore, water must be added and changed in time, or water quality must be kept fresh and oxygen content sufficient, so as to avoid slow growth of mussels and pearls under oxygen-deficient or low-oxygen conditions.

4. Remove attachments: After pearl-producing freshwater mussels have been suspended for a period, large amounts of attached mud and organisms (such as algae, freshwater sponges, Carchesium, etc.) often grow on the suspension cages, net bags and mussel bodies, affecting the growth of the pearl-producing mussels, so they must be cleaned regularly. From April to October, rinse once every month.