any idea how long fresh water clams can remain alive out of water?

Question

just curious ... with dropping lake levels in South Carolina, a lot of them are appearing in the sand and rocky areas on the side above the water line. while there are also a lot of shells and dead ones (shell open and either nothing inside or it is obvious that the tissue inside is dead and starting to decay or be eaten by insects) there also seem some which are intact and otherwise look viable (shell closed, in relatively damp soil which has only been out of water for a few hours to day or two and cooler temperatures)

any chance that these are still alive? I throw them back in just for the fun of it. (don't suggest eating them ... pollution, algea, bacteria aside ... dead or dying shellfish is not worth the risk ...)

Answer 1

There are chances that some of them are still alive since clams can survive in a relatively moist and cool temperatures. Clams have open circulation.They have two way siphons which maintains the constant circulation of the water maintained by the beating of a multitude cilia inside the tube and in the gill chamber. Their siphons could get any available water available but some of those clams could had been weakened possibly.

If completely out of water, they could not survive long- just an hour or a few until the water in their circulation is depleted. However, once weakened, clams are beyond recovery even if placed in a most suitable environment.

How about trying this: Place those clams in a basin of water and you will get an answer to your question. Dead clams float on the water and those still alive sink.