Flame Scallops

[squeezix]

What's the deal with these guys? Many LFS here in Florida stock them, but they get a bad rap on here. Are these animals hard to care for? Short lived in aquaria? What gives?

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
On average, flame scallop is a decoration that will last for 4 months. You will end up with two nice shells.

 

[Colin]

I know what you mean. I see them at the dealers from time to time and they are quite attractive in appearance and price. Yet they do not seem to last. I had a couple last several months only to suddenly die. As I write this I had one that seemed to have grown very big. Of course I can hardly see it since they seem to scoot right tom the back of the rocks and squeeze in where nobody can see them. Any way, I knew this big ass one was there because I could see its tentacles spreading out from the back of the rock like the rays of the sun. Today however, when I go to check on him, there is no sign of it, so perhaps I spoke tooo soon. I do have lots of tiny sea fans growing. I am setting up an EcoSystem style reef, so it will be interesting to see it scallops and sea fans do better in that kind of environment.

 

[JKurtz]

Hi Squeezix!
I'd have to agree with Seven Ephors on this. Flame scallops have an abysmal survival rate in captivity. From what I understand, the biggest problem in keeping these filter-feeders alive is providing the constant supply of suspended particulate food that they need. If I'm wrong, I hope someone here will provide the secret to success with these beauties.
Best of luck!

Jeff

 

[Casey1]

Had one and it lasted almost a year but I had to feed it with a syringe.. It's not worth it. and you're right most die from starvation and then your left with two shells..

 

[robbinson]

I have had 2 in my tank for about 4 months - so far so good - and they are beautiful to look at. I'll let you know if there is a sudden demise. Mine have lodged themselves in high water flow areas - presumably to attract particulate food.

 

[Anonymous]

Well said 7ephors. That has been my experience too.

po

 

[Marcosreef]

I've had one for over a year. Unfortunately, I got it when I knew absolutely nothing about reefkeeping. The LFS guy had no problem pawning him off on me without explaining its requirements.

Now I know better. (Reefkeeping that is...)

 

[naesco]

I agree. Best left in the ocean

 

[suckair]

I have had mine for 1.5 years now. I do feed phytoplankton to the tank on a regular basis that I culture myself. The system is quite established and every time I clean the glass the water is all nice and cloudy with yummy food.

Other than that I don't do anything special. They will move around from time to time but mine has been in the same spot for almost 6 months now.

Is a awsome animal but will often move to a spot where you can't see it! They have no dependance on light and filterfeed for all their food.

suckair

PS system is 120g with 60g refugium. MH lighting all around including on refugium.

 

[MadamePoisson]

You would think I'd learn by now! I haven't visited the LFS that is closest to me for some time now! Due to holding a grudge about a pair of Clownfish that surely had clownfish disease when I bought them! The store that I have been frequenting was out of frozen food, so I ran in to the very close LFS. Of course I had to look at everything! I just loved this beautiful Flame Scallop ($12)! I asked all about it...care, feeding, reef safe, lighting, etc. I was told to feed it DT's Live Phytoplankton (another $20) 2-3 times a week, and that it was very easy to care for and reef safe. I have not been thrilled to read all of the info that they are short lived and had to keep well fed! I will feel awful if it dies soon! Why can't I see something, come home, check out reefs.org posts, then go back?! :roll:

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
Someone told me that he does not feel bad about buying them because another idiot will surely buy it anyway. I hope you are not offended by his comment.

Well, never know. There are some incidences that the FS do very well. Maybe you are one of the lucky few. So check to see if you LFS will let you do an exchange/store credit, if not, I just want to say I wish you good luck.

 

[Reefguide]

I too had one when I started out and knew nothing about them... He would settle to the back of the tank and saw him only when I would get pissed off and move him back to the front of the tank.

Whats the deal with the electic scallops?? Sme thing?

 

[danmhippo]

What?! You guys never read the Advanced Aquarists articles? There was an article dedicated to these flame bivalves.

 

[Marcosreef]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... toonen.htm

Dan's right! :wink:

 

[MadamePoisson]

Thanks SO much for the info and link to Rob Toonen's fantastic article! Which by the way, I now have read many many other things he wrote...jumping from one link to another! Unfortunately, it seems as though I have a mature female, so her days are more than likely numbered already! I was warned by the LFS to never move her, so that was one thing they had right! She has attached herself to a cozy rock area I hope she feels safe! I do worry as I have a green brittle star in there! Also, my tank is built-in between my kitchen and family room, so it is viewable from both sides! I do have lots of hiding areas/caves though...in the rockscape. I am going to follow Rob's advice on the feeding! I hope I can fulfill her needs! It is so disappointing that so many LFS's do not keep themselves knowledgable on their business!

 

[MandarinFish]

I made the mistake of getting one; this will be my last.

I am putting the flame scallop in a high-flow, rock-laden, no-fish area where she will be safe and never need to move, where I can see her but fish cannot, and I can drop food into the flow that will blow right over her.

Having read the article, etc. let me ask which food products are best?

I am lucky to have an LFS on my way home from work that happens to carry an entire row of fish foods, top to bottom. Plus a freezer.

I can get baby brine shrimp, invert foods, zooplankton, phytoplankton, Liqui-Fry, filter feeder foods (made by the LiquiFry manufacturers), etc.

I also have a tank that is a little grungy, which seems to help the filter feeders.

I pose to the biologists out there, what product(s) would be best? What has proven successful as a pre-packaged food?

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

... the majority of food by weight in the gut of flame scallops I collected from the wild appeared to be phytoplankton in the range of 5-40 micrometers (mm – roughly 1/25 to 1/200th of a millimeter).

hi.
The quote above is one of the most useful info that will help you in determinating the type of food. So do you know anything that match the above?

 

[wombat1]

I'd try DTs, Tahitian Blend. I didn't read the article. DTs is live, so it's less likely to foul and pollute your tank if you accidentally overfeed. Expensive, but probably your best bet (and you can start your own culture with the bottle).
HTH

 

[MandarinFish]

Robin Goodfellow - I have *no* idea how fine the particulates are in planktonic foods.

There are many, many levels of knowledge in this hobby. I am 100% certain that I do not know and that someone else out there does know the relative sizes of planktonic foods. That's why I had to ask.

I mentioned that I have access to a wide array, because I can get zoo and phyto; dried, jarred in liquid, frozen, and fresh.

The key is the right products, and since I don't own nor use a microscope and am a HS teacher of history, multimedia, and English (not chemistry, biology, environmental science, oceanography, marine biology, etc.)...

you see my shortcoming (although this summer I am taking a Marine Biology class.. yeah).

That's why I wanted to see if anyone knew.

Culturing phyto is something I hadn't thought of and it sounds like a PITA, but I ultimately need to do anyway since I want to breed marine fish.

Yikes. Any other input? Other products or recommendations?