I live in ohio and found a clam?

Question

ok i found it in the grass in the last question people said return it where stupid people it was in a cup of water and im sure it alive it kinda bright looking what is some info like care info on this what people said mussel and it freashwater

Answer 1

Wild caught specimens are never as well adapted to aquariums as species that have been bred for generations for aquariums. They can carry parasites and infect other fish in the tank with them, and if where they live in nature isn't similar to aquariums - where high nitrates can occur - they can die very quickly. All in all, it's likely the clam will die, especially if you've never kept clams before.

You likely have a freshwater mussel, which are golden in color and as adults get up to 2" across. They are sold in the aquarium trade, though they are uncommon, and can live for a few years in an aquarium. They are filter feeders, so you can't feed them directly - they're more like the cleanup crew's cleanup. The one you found should be kept in water resembling your local creek water - the temperature, hardness and cleanliness should be mimicked as closely as possible to give it a good chance of survival.

The aquarium should be at least 10 gallons, with a filter. It should be kept in a well established cycled tank, and don't keep it in pure tap water - chlorine is added to drinking water and will KILL your clam. It's best to return the clam to the wild, or give it to a fishkeeper with experience in keeping clams. They are not beginner-level.