Green freshwater mussel - Cristaria tenuis

The pretty Green Freshwater Mussel (Cristaria tenuis, synonym: Cristaria discoidea) originates from rivers and wider streams in East and Southeast Asia, where it is very widespread. Its shell is of a shimmering green, and its quite impressive size of up to 12 cm makes an aquarium of at least 80 cm length necessary.

In its native country it is a very popular edible mussel, and the genus Cristaria is also used for freshwater pearl production. The Green Freshwater Mussel is persistent when properly fed in the aquarium and has proven to be quite hardy.

Cristaria tenuis is usually bisexual, but the sexes cannot be distinguished externally. In very rare cases it is hermaphroditic. For reproduction fish are needed, where the larvae settle into the gills, where they grow. The mussels prefer certain fish species (often carp-like), therefore reproduction in the aquarium is quite unlikely.

The Green Freshwater Mussel needs a proper current. The aquarium should not be too clean, because mussels feed on suspended matter in the water. With a special mussel food the mussel can be fed well and is then quite long-lived in the aquarium. During feeding the filter should be turned off. Mussels can also be kept very well in filterless aquariums. In this case, a flow pump should be running in the aquarium to ensure good circulation of the water. When it is filtering, it has its shell open a small gap, just enough for the funnel-shaped siphon to peek out, through which it draws in the water. Since mussels like to dig in a bit, a substrate that is not too thin, such as sand or fine gravel, works well.

Green freshwater musselssocialize well with most fish, dwarf shrimp, fan shrimp, dwarf crabs, snails and also with other mussels . Large-armed shrimp and large crabs have developed impressive techniques for prying open and eating mussels, and mussels should generally not be kept with them.

The Green Freshwater Mussel prefers temperatures of 22 to 28 °C and likes its water a bit harder rather than too soft. It sifts the water for planktonic food. We recommend feeding with a microfine ground dust food especially suitable for mussels 1 x daily. Without this feeding, the risk of the Green Freshwater Mussel starving to death in the aquarium is unfortunately very high. The dust food is best given selectively with a pipette . Please turn off the filter for a few minutes when feeding the mussel so that the food ends up in the mussel and not in the filter mat.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.