Critters in Oysters

NTANTIQUES said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have
been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I
went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking,
oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about
1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with
my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a
temporary home. I realize that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've
never heard of anyone finding anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway,
I tossed it and was a bit hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't
another creepy critter in that one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the
garbage & we had to make do with chocolate. NT

EWWWWW! This is why I don't eat raw *anything*. But seriously, I have no idea what those critters
were. Never heard of such a thing.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(NTANTIQUES) said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have
been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I
went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking,
oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about
1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with
my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a
temporary home. I realize that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've
never heard of anyone finding anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway,
I tossed it and was a bit hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't
another creepy critter in that one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the
garbage & we had to make do with chocolate. NT

Ew.

One more good reason to never eat raw oysters. ;-) I bread them in cornmeal and deep fry them!

Raw oyster. Ew.

K.

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(NTANTIQUES) said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have been
enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I went to
spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking, oysters are not
supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about 1/2 inch long with
pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with my oyster. Can only
asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a temporary home. I realize
that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've never heard of anyone finding
anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway, I tossed it and was a bit
hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't another creepy critter in that
one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with
chocolate. NT

Shame.

eat.epicurious.comindex.ssfOpen ↗

Best,

Marc

This from NT...

Quoted message said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for

Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the
mean crawlies tonight. As I went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what
you've been drinking, oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy
looking creature about 1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully
gully in there with my oyster. So much for oysters...

the rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with chocolate.

Quoted message said:

NT

**************************
I may never eat again......................

Susan

"NTANTIQUES" wrote...

Quoted message said:

A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about 1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs
was doing the

hully gully

Quoted message said:

in there with my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted

and was

Quoted message said:

using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a temporary home.

My experience was: I put the oysters in a sink with saltwater and left for a while. When I returned
there was a bright red worm, looking like a millipede, swimming around in the sink. It went inside
an oyster. Those oysters got steamed, a treatment that improves the flavor and controls 'pets'.

"NTANTIQUES" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for

Valentine's

Quoted message said:

dinner w/DH. Have been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years,

but

Quoted message said:

got the mean crawlies tonight. As I went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No
matter what you've been drinking, oysters are not

supposed

Quoted message said:

to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about

1/2

Quoted message said:

inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully

gully

Quoted message said:

in there with my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea.
oyster as a temporary home. I realize that oysters

are

Quoted message said:

vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've never heard of anyone finding anything inside
an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl.

Anyway, I

Quoted message said:

tossed it and was a bit hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned

if

Quoted message said:

there wasn't another creepy critter in that one too. So much for

oysters...the

Quoted message said:

rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with chocolate. NT

Oh my God! That's one of the worst stories I've ever heard! But, on a good note, chocolate isn't a
bad thing...... kilikini

NTANTIQUES said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have
been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I
went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking,
oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about
1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with
my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a
temporary home. I realize that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've
never heard of anyone finding anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway,
I tossed it and was a bit hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't
another creepy critter in that one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the
garbage & we had to make do with chocolate. NT

Could of been a type of worm (not the type seen in your backyard,) living its early stages.

Check out: images.google.comimgresOpen ↗
001388.jpg&imgrefurl=marinewildlife.co.ukMWPAKerry05Open ↗
ZJ47skJ:&tbnh=64&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doyster%2Bworm%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-
8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

Any resemblance?

Rich
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Dum spiro, spero. (Cicero) As long as I breathe, I hope.

On 15 Feb 2004 08:18:45 GMT, [email hidden] (NTANTIQUES)

Quoted message said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have been
enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I went to
spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking, oysters are not
supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about 1/2 inch long with
pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with my oyster. Can only
asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a temporary home. I realize
that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've never heard of anyone finding
anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway, I tossed it and was a bit
hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't another creepy critter in that
one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with
chocolate. NT

Big mistake.

It is not temporary at all. The oyster crab never has a hard shell, because it lives its life inside
the oyster.

George Washington was said to be inordinately fond of them. I don't know how many he could get. They
were numerous enough to be a commercial luxury in NYC at the end of the 19th C.

I have only encountered them once, two of them to be exact. I wa smaking chowder so I tossed them in
at the end. My wife and I each had one.

The flavor was startlingly like celery.

I would love to find enough to make something out of.

Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

The sound of a Great Blue Heron's wingbeats going by your head

jmcquown <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

EWWWWW! This is why I don't eat raw *anything*. But seriously, I have no idea what those critters
were. Never heard of such a thing.

The first time I ever ate an oyster (20+ years ago) was in Fécamp, France. The first one was
wonderful, but as I went to eat the second one, a very small hermit crab got up from where it had
been lurking under the oyster, and walked off the plate. Surprised, I pointed this out to my
companion, who then explained that the oysters I was eating were in fact still alive, and you could
see them contract when you squirted lemon juice over them. Didn't put me off then, doesn't put me
off now. At least I know they're fresh if they're still moving!

Quite honestly, I thought this was normal....isn't it?

Jo

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In article <[email hidden]>,

(MrAoD) said:

(NTANTIQUES) said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have
been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I
went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking,
oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about
1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with
my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a
temporary home. I realize that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've
never heard of anyone finding anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway,
I tossed it and was a bit hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't
another creepy critter in that one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the
garbage & we had to make do with chocolate. NT

Shame.

eat.epicurious.comindex.ssfOpen ↗

Best,

Marc

Wow. That was a kewl link. ;-) Think I'd draw the line tho' at eating live and wriggling ones!

And I eat steak tartar....... I just have limits. It's, like, gotta be dead at least! LOL!

K.

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(MrAoD) said:

(NTANTIQUES) said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

creature about 1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully
in there with my oyster.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with chocolate.

Quoted message said:

Shame.

eat.epicurious.comindex.ssfOpen ↗

I still don't fancy 'em, but got laughed at the first time I recoiled from a tiny crab inside an
oyster shell. They are considered a delicacy, cooked or raw.

And raw oysters are *supposed* to be alive when you eat them. And why shucking them is such a pain
-- the critters are hanging onto their shells. If the shells aren't tightly closed, the oyster is
dead. *Those* are the ones you put in the garbage.

"Katra" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]

(NTANTIQUES) said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters

(snip)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about 1/2
inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with my
oyster.

(snip)

Quoted message said:

Ew.

One more good reason to never eat raw oysters. ;-) I bread them in cornmeal and deep fry them!

Raw oyster. Ew.

K.

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Quoted message said:

,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katra at centurytel dot net>,,<

cgi6.ebay.comeBayISAPI.dllOpen ↗ =katra

K,

Have you ever had them grilled? My brother takes the oyster and drowns it in garlic butter, adds
some breadcrumbs, some grated mozzarella and some chives and grills them up. They have a wonderfully
smokey flavor and are, oh, so tasty!

kili

kilikini said:

"NTANTIQUES" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040215031845.25802.00001795@mb-
m23.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have
been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the mean crawlies tonight. As I
went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what you've been drinking,
oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy looking creature about
1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in there with
my oyster. Can only asume it was a crab who'd molted and was using the $1.00 ea. oyster as a
temporary home. I realize that oysters are vulnerable to a variety of other sea life, but I've
never heard of anyone finding anything inside an oyster shell other than grit or a pearl. Anyway,
I tossed it and was a bit hesitant when I picked up the next oyster...damned if there wasn't
another creepy critter in that one too. So much for oysters...the rest of 'em went into the
garbage & we had to make do with chocolate. NT

Oh my God! That's one of the worst stories I've ever heard! But, on a good note, chocolate isn't a
bad thing...... kilikini

NOTE: Chocolate is on sale everywhere as this is the day *after* Valentine's Day!

In article <QgMXb.73124$fD.960@fed1read02>, "Orion" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

This from NT...

Quoted message said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for

Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the
mean crawlies tonight. As I went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what
you've been drinking, oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy
looking creature about 1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the
hully gully in there with my oyster. So much for oysters...

the rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with chocolate.

Quoted message said:

NT

**************************
I may never eat again......................

Susan

If only we were Klingons...... ;-D

K.

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Quoted message said:

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Darkginger said:

jmcquown <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

EWWWWW! This is why I don't eat raw *anything*. But seriously, I have no idea what those critters
were. Never heard of such a thing.

The first time I ever ate an oyster (20+ years ago) was in Fécamp, France. The first one was
wonderful, but as I went to eat the second one, a very small hermit crab got up from where it had
been lurking under the oyster, and walked off the plate. Surprised, I pointed this out to my
companion, who then explained that the oysters I was eating were in fact still alive, and you
could see them contract when you squirted lemon juice over them. Didn't put me off then, doesn't
put me off now. At least I know they're fresh if they're still moving!

Quite honestly, I thought this was normal....isn't it?

Jo

I don't think hermit crabs qualify as "wormy looking creatures" but maybe I'm wrong. Either way, I
don't want to eat it or anything like it 🙂

Jill

In article <[email hidden]>,

Darkginger said:

jmcquown <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

EWWWWW! This is why I don't eat raw *anything*. But seriously, I have no idea what those
critters were. Never heard of such a thing.

The first time I ever ate an oyster (20+ years ago) was in Fécamp, France. The first one was
wonderful, but as I went to eat the second one, a very small hermit crab got up from where it had
been lurking under the oyster, and walked off the plate. Surprised, I pointed this out to my
companion, who then explained that the oysters I was eating were in fact still alive, and you
could see them contract when you squirted lemon juice over them. Didn't put me off then, doesn't
put me off now. At least I know they're fresh if they're still moving!

Quite honestly, I thought this was normal....isn't it?

Jo

Ew.

K.

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Quoted message said:

,,<Cat's Haven Hobby Farm>,,<Katra at centurytel dot net>,,<

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Frogleg said:

(MrAoD) said:

(NTANTIQUES) said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for Valentine's <snip> creature
about 1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully gully in
there with my oyster.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with chocolate.

Quoted message said:

Shame.

eat.epicurious.comindex.ssfOpen ↗

I still don't fancy 'em, but got laughed at the first time I recoiled from a tiny crab inside an
oyster shell. They are considered a delicacy, cooked or raw.

And raw oysters are *supposed* to be alive when you eat them. And why shucking them is such a pain
-- the critters are hanging onto their shells. If the shells aren't tightly closed, the oyster is
dead. *Those* are the ones you put in the garbage.

Got myself a nasty knife cut shucking oysters once, and yes I was wearing a glove. Yes, they are
supposed to be alive but I don't fancy eating anything still moving.

Where my parents live in the South Carolina low country when the tide goes out you can literally
see the oysters in their beds and hear them 'clicking'. Dad used to wade out and pick them. I'd
never eat one.

Jill

il Sun, 15 Feb 2004 03:56:21 -0600, "jmcquown" ha scritto: [snip]

Quoted message said:

I don't think hermit crabs qualify as "wormy looking creatures" but maybe I'm wrong. Either way, I
don't want to eat it or anything like it 🙂

Jill

I'm with you. I did find this on the net though.

"Frequently, the novice oyster shucker will encounter a golden-brown "worm" within the oyster's
body. The initial reaction is to throw the oyster away, thinking it is parasitized. However, the
"worm" is an enzyme complex formed by the oyster itself when it has been actively feeding. Thus, it
could be considered a mark of freshness. Red and green worms that live outside the oyster's shell
sometimes wander across the shucked oyster meat. They may be startling, but should not interfere
with the enjoyment of the meal." It came from this page:
tpwd.state.tx.usoystbro.htmOpen ↗

--
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Quoted message said:

"Orion" says:

This from NT...

Quoted message said:

Snagged some Blue Point oysters at a reliable upscale market for

Valentine's dinner w/DH. Have been enjoying these raw on the halfshell for 40 years, but got the
mean crawlies tonight. As I went to spear a nice plump oyster, I noticed movement. No matter what
you've been drinking, oysters are not supposed to wriggle. Not a good thing. A pale, fat, wormy
looking creature about 1/2 inch long with pale, almost invisable crab-like legs was doing the hully
gully in there with my oyster. So much for oysters...

the rest of 'em went into the garbage & we had to make do with chocolate.

Quoted message said:

NT

**************************
I may never eat again......................

Susan

Search: <Stylochus ellipticus>

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