Pearl oyster culture
It can be roughly divided into three stages. Now, taking cultured mussels as an example, it is briefly explained.
(1) preparation stage.
First of all, we should cultivate and select animals that produce pearls. Because all kinds of pearl-producing animals have different requirements for the environment, it is necessary to choose excellent varieties suitable for the environmental conditions in this area. In farms, because a large number of pearl-producing animals are needed, artificial breeding is usually needed. It generally takes 2-3 years from larva reproduction to usable individuals. For young shellfish, this directly affects the secretory function of cell aggregation, the viability of individuals and the quality of beads.
(2) Pearl culture operation stage. Divided into the following two situations.
1. Cultivation of seedless pearls: the operation is divided into two stages: production and implantation.
The preparation of the membrane includes removing the outer skin of the membrane at the edge of mussel shell to make cell fragments, processing and repairing them into 5mm square fragments, cleaning the front of the cell fragments, and spreading the glass plate upwards. Add maintenance liquid for later use. Insertion is to insert the prepared small cells into the connective tissue of the mantle of pearl oyster, and the epidermal cells form vesicles, which secrete nacre to form pearls.
2. Nucleated beads: The difference between nucleated beads and seedless beads is that beads need to be prepared. The core of freshwater cultured pearls can be made of glass, agate, marble and other materials, but it is best to use shells as the core. Then after bleaching, polishing and washing, cleaning and disinfection for later use. After the pearl nucleus is prepared, the process of inserting nucleus and sending cell pieces is completed. Small pieces of cells with nucleated beads only need 2mm square and are sent with pearls. In addition, if the mold spits out after inserting the core, you can also insert a small piece of mussel without the core.
The best season to insert pearls is late spring and early summer, and summer and autumn are the peak season for mussels to secrete pearls.
(3) Cultivation of pearl mussels.
Pearls, whether seedless or nucleated, should be returned to the pearl farm after the operation. The environment of the farm has a great relationship with the growth rate of pearls, with regular water flow and sufficient oxygen content. Food is abundant, the water temperature should be 18 ~ 25, and the pH value should be about 7 ~ 7.5. In this environment, shellfish have strong metabolism, strong ability to secrete mother-of-pearl, fast wound healing and not easy to die. In a suitable cycle year, the insert can form nacre within 10-20 days, and begin to secrete nacre within 25-30 days.
Pearl mussels are cultured in pearl farms by suspension, cage or ground planting. In the process of breeding, management must be done well to prevent mussel diseases and other dangerous events.
The above is the answer to how to cultivate pearl oyster, hoping to help farmers who are interested in cultivating pearl oyster.