Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ... - eXtension

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage 25The acrylic bases (Figure 23) used for these lamps are distributed by a Californiacompany called Venus Displays. Contact Venus directly for a price list and catalog. Wefound the 3-inch, square acrylic base to be the most practical for giant clam lamps; however,other sizes are available. The base unit includes the 7-watt lamp, socket, wire and switch, andcost about $4.50 each wholesale in 1994.Use paired shells in the 12 to 15 centimeter size range for making these lamps.Process the shells by chemical bleaching, followed by an acid dip. Grind the base of the shellpair, near the byssal opening, until flattened. Then grind out a circular opening about 3centimeters in diameter, through which the bulb will pass. After rinsing and drying the shellpair, glue it carefully to the acrylic base using a hot glue gun. The base can accommodate asmall sticker identifying your company; better yet, consider attaching a printed “hang tag”that bears a little background information on giant clams.T. squamosa shells (Figure 24) make the most beautiful shell lamps. Unfortunately,they are considerably more difficult than the other species to clean properly, and the flutes orscales on the shells are prone to chipping, which lowers the value of the finished product. H.hippopus shells, on the other hand, are much easier to clean and have the added advantage ofbeing virtually indestructible. In our opinion, they are the best all-around species for giantclam shell lamps.The value of giant clam shell lamps seems to be closely linked with the richness ofthe colors in the shells. Clam farmers can and should influence the colors of the shells inland-based tanks by culturing herbivorous fish with the clams. One hypothesis for whichthere is good supporting evidence says that certain pigments in the waste products of the fishare deposited in the protein matrix of the clam shells, creating the rich yellow and reddishbrownhues one finds in T. squamosa and H. hippopus, respectively. Good herbivorouscandidates for polyculture with clams are rabbitfish and surgeonfish. If you are a clam farmerand have not discovered this already, try fish-and-clam polyculture to see if it does notenhance the color and value of the shells you produce. As an added benefit, it will alsogreatly reduce algal fouling in your tanks.June 1996