Richard Periut wrote:
>
> Katra wrote:
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> >>On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 02:56:00 GMT, Richard Periut >
> >>wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Katra wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>Donna Rose wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>In article >,
> says...
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 23:51:37 GMT, Donna Rose
> > wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>I bought a batch of mussels recently and made a fantastic wine broth for
> >>>>>>>them. They were delicious, but they were a bit gritty.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>How does one assure that all the sand is removed prior to serving? Does
> >>>>>>>soaking them in sal****er for any length of time help? I seem to
> >>>>>>>remember something about oatmeal, but maybe I'm confusing this with
> >>>>>>>something else. Anybody have any ideas? And, would the same method work
> >>>>>>>with clams as well?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>Yes, but cornmeal is better. It also helps to plump them up nicely
> >>>>>>for the kill. I leave mine to soak overnight, I would not consider
> >>>>>>eating them without doing so first.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>Sheena
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>How much cornmeal? Say for three dozen mussels/clams. Cover with water
> >>>>>and add, what? A couple of tablespoons? A cup? TIA
> >>>>>
> >>>>>--
> >>>>>Donna
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>To purge salt water mollusks, they have to be kept alive...
> >>>>I just re-checked with dad since it's been a few years.
> >>>>
> >>>>Just keep them alive in sea water for 2 or 3 days and they will purge
> >>>>the sand from their systems on their own. They are kept fasting (no
> >>>>food) to do this.
> >>>>
> >>>>K.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>As a sal****er fish/reef/coral keeper, here are my 2 cents:
> >>>
> >>>These mollusks need to be in a non tropical water temperature, with a SG
> >>>which is similar to natural sea water; 1.020 to 1.023 (mind you these
> >>>values are temp dependent.) So I would go with the higher end, since SG
> >>>changes with higher and lower temp. Of course if you have a salinity
> >>>meter, then you don't have to worry about temp control.
> >>>
> >>>The other thing this creatures need is water movement. Part of their
> >>>extraction of O2 is through currents; let alone the fact that they are
> >>>filter feeders, and need said current to obtain food (which I'm not
> >>>going to get into, because it consists of a host of microscopic organisms.)
> >>>
> >>>So, it sounds not too practical to keep these creatures in the
> >>>aforementioned conditions.
> >>>
> >>>My advice (and I've been doing this for years,) buy some sea salt (the
> >>>synthetic one I use for my tanks is superfluous for this,) and a
> >>>hydrometer. Mix with cold tap water, and measure the specific gravity so
> >>>that it falls roughly with the aforementioned scale. DON'T add more
> >>>water or salt to these creatures, because they are very sensitive to
> >>>salinity fluctuations! Buy a cheap bubble stone and pump for your local
> >>>pet store, and aerate them well. Keep them 24 to 48 hours, and they will
> >>>purge their sand.
> >>>
> >>>When you rinse them in the end with cold fresh water (a shocking change
> >>>in salinity), it doesn't matter because they are on their way to mussel
> >>>heaven : )
> >>>
> >>>HTH,
> >>>
> >>>R
> >>
> >>That's very technical - I just put them in a large container of sea
> >>water (clearly one could make it if not by the sea) sprinkle a
> >>generous quantity of cornmeal on the top and leave them overnight. In
> >>the morning they are quite a sight with all the funnels sticking out.
> >>I shake the container while standing clear and when they are all done
> >>squirting, I drain the water, wash them off and proceed.
> >>
> >>They don't seem to need more than overnight and it is very rare any
> >>have been sandy after that. I have been doing this for at least 30
> >>years and all is well.
> >>
> >>Sheena
> >
> >
> >
> > See, this is the first time anyone has said to stand them in sea water,
> > THEN add the cornmeal! :-) Sounds similar to purging Escargot then.
> >
> > I'll have to give this a shot... Clams normally eat plankton, but I
> > guess they LIKE cornmeal if they are sticking out there mouths to
> > consume it???
> >
> > K.
> >
>
> Absolutely not! That's why they starve in inexperienced hands that keep
> them. They are filter feeders, and they need the proper sized particles.
>
> Richard
>
Okay... but we are talking about mollusks to EAT, not to keep as pets.
:-) I've found whole sandcrabs inside of some of the larger razor clams
that we used to dig in California. Those intake vents can be pretty
large. Surely cornmeal particles are small enough?
Just out of curiosity tho', what DO you feed the ones that you keep in a
seawater aquarium? And what would you feed a sea sponge? Brine shrimps?
K.
--
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