Can a oyster live without it's pearl ?

Question

Can a oyster live without it's pearl ?

Answer 1

oysters form pearls in response to irritation.  Not all oysters will have a pearl in them

"cutlured pearls" the irritant is purposefully placed in the oyster.

Answer 2

In fact, they live BETTER without a pearl.

Answer 3

They live without any pearl. Pearl was an accident when a foreign object entered in an oyster. The immune system wanted to protect the oyster from foreign object and built hard shell around it.

In the beginning people used to get them by accident then found out how they can get pearls and began inserting foreign objects as an industry.

Answer 4

To remove a pearl, the oyster would have to die by having it's shell opened I assume.

Answer 5

Not all oysters have pearls

pearls are formed when a foren body enters a oyster so the body reacts to stop it damaging its insides by putting a protecting coating on it (the pearl)

removing this with out damaging the internal organs would actually be beneficial to the oyster.

this is what happen with "farmed peals" which the farmer inserts a foren body waits for it to produce a coating. removes  the pearl and adds another body all the while keeping the oyster alive

so short answer: yes it can

Answer 6

It is not like pearl is the heart of oyster or sth. Pearl is a by-product of a protective mechanism of the oyster when foreign particle enters the oyster.

Answer 7

Of course they can. They were not born with them. In fact a pearl is just made by accident and some don't even have pearls. They get pearls by a foreign body going in the oyster and the oyster makes a coating around it. Thus creating the pearl.