Aquarium Ornaments and Base Substrate

If you live in an area where aquarium fish exporters are operating, you probably have contacted them already to investigate the possibility of selling live baby giant clams for use as aquarium pets. But you may not yet have considered that dead tridacnid clam shells of all species are in demand as ornaments for use in fresh water and saltwater aquariums.

At least two options exist for marketing clam shells as aquarium ornaments. One is to sell clean, dried shells. These are most popular for fresh water aquarium tanks, or for saltwater tanks stocked primarily with fish (also called “fish tanks”). The alternative is to sell shells that have been aged in seawater for a year or so (Figure 37). The aging process allows the shell surface to be colonized with a variety of reef organisms—bacteria, algae and benthic marine invertebrates—that are regarded as beneficial to those aquarium tanks displaying coral reef life, also called “reef tanks.” The aged giant clam shells perform all the same functions as the material called “live-rock,” the aged, dead coral fragments that form the structure of the coral reef aquarium display.

Clean, dry shells can be packed for export in cardboard boxes with newspapers as stuffing material. The main consideration is choosing the most economical shipping method for the volume of material to be exported. The cheapest rates are for whole shipping containers, which are 20 to 40 feet long and hold approximately 20 to 40 tons of cargo. Smaller volumes can be sent parcel post via ship or air. Be sure to investigate shipping rates carefully before quoting a price to the customer and to specify either that the quote includes the cost of freight and any applicable insurance or that the customer will be expected to pay the freight charge upon arrival of the shipment.

Aged clam shells destined for use in saltwater aquariums must be exported by air freight in order to minimize loss of living organisms on the shells. The shells can be packed moist in wet newspapers, then wrapped in plastic bags before being placed in waterproof foam shipping boxes. Be sure to check with the airlines for their specific packing requirements, which vary considerably from one airline to the next. For example, some airlines require waxed boxes, while others require polyethylene bags both inside and outside cardboard cartons.

In addition, clean, dried clam shells ranging from 1 to 3 centimeters in size can be used as the base material in fresh water or saltwater aquariums. A 3- to 7-centimeter layer of shells looks great on the bottom of the tank and serves all the same functions as a layer of sand, gravel or coral rubble.

Be aware, though, that this marketing option is by no means the most cost-effective use of small shells. Small clam shells for this purpose may sell for about $1 to $3 per pound wholesale, so they are obviously much more valuable when crafted into jewelry. But in cases where a surplus of small shells exists, selling them for virtually any price, just to move them off the lot, is desirable. It also makes better business sense than letting them accumulate and take up space that could be used for a more productive purpose.

Be cautious, however, that selling shells in bulk does not result in their being used for some other purpose, which would “cannibalize” another of your more lucrative markets. Suppose, for example, that the customer who buys a ton of small shells from you for use as aquarium gravel belatedly decides that he wants to get into the shell earring business. You've just sold him a lifetime supply of raw material, probably at such a low price that he could undercut you at the retail end.