Abstract: Holders (10) for growing individual oysters each including a cup-like member (12) having a lip (20) defining a cylindrical cavity (16) of a size sufficient to allow a seedling or juvenile oyster to be at least partially, and preferably completely, placed therein prior to the juvenile oyster's setting with the oyster's hinge located at the cavity's rear. At least one aperture (24/26; 124/126) is formed through the cavity's bottom and side walls with dimensions sufficient to prevent the seedling or juvenile oyster from passing through the aperture(s) but large enough to allow the oyster spat to initially anchor itself to the holder by growing into the aperture(s). The holder further includes a flared, radially extending, shelf extension portion (14) into which the lip of the cavity leads. The shelf portion along with the higher, underside side of the lip directs the growth of the growing oyster's shell over the shelf as it grows up past and outside of the walls of the cup-like member.