What does one feed clams?

[Mario]

Any help here from the experienced aquarists?
(Size 3 inches and above

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Light.....:splitspin...I also occasionally feed my tank with phyto...Which type of clam are you trying to house ?

 

[KathyC]

As a basic rule of thumb, clams of that size don't require feeding at all. (smaller ones require feeding) As Closet mentions, they live off light..and whatever is circulating in the water column..like fish poop Not really much of a reason to add phyto as that green film you wipe off your glass every now & then..that is phyto (homegrown of course!)

Best to keep stable water parameters and your clam should remain as happy as a ...errr..clam


What kind of lighting do you have Mario?

 

[Mario]

As a basic rule of thumb, clams of that size don't require feeding at all. (smaller ones require feeding) As Closet mentions, they live off light..and whatever is circulating in the water column..like fish poop Not really much of a reason to add phyto as that green film you wipe off your glass every now & then..that is phyto (homegrown of course!)

Best to keep stable water parameters and your clam should remain as happy as a ...errr..clam


What kind of lighting do you have Mario?

Hello Kathy...hey I used that line on here before too...(Happy as a Clam)

I lost several clams unfortunately over the last six months. It may have been temperature which was 83 Degrees or ALK. I only have three left now and they dont seem to look well...half extended.

trace phosphate, no nitrate, 1.024 salinity, refugium, I use 10ml of Part A and B on a 26 gallon tank a day. Alk is 3.5mg/dl and CA is 300mg/dl

Regards
Mario

 

[inkblue]

pHyto = hype :shhh:

 

[KathyC]

You Ca is too low for a tank with clams in it, as it is very important to them so they can thrive.

Still would like to know what type of lighting you have

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Light and Nitrates

Make sure your Ca, Mg, and Alk are all in good standing. If you have fish (that will not pick at them) they are creating all the food your clams need)

 

[jrobbins]

wait, is this the same tank that had like 20 clams in a 26 gallon? if so i would think overstocking was the issue.

 

[Mario]

You Ca is too low for a tank with clams in it, as it is very important to them so they can thrive.

Still would like to know what type of lighting you have

Kathy
MH 150watts Current fixture. Change bulbs every 6 months 10K

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

in the wild,
predator/parasites are clam killer no. 1

in captivity, parameter swing is clam killer no. 1 and not enough light killer no. 2

 

[Master Shake]

phyto plankton, they are fister feeders. They are not photosynthetic before 3 inches so they need phyto, after 3 in, it is still good to keep up with the phyto.

 

[Mario]

in the wild,
predator/parasites are clam killer no. 1

in captivity, parameter swing is clam killer no. 1 and not enough light killer no. 2

Ok. I have had these things for about 2 years or so...and over the last 6 months, they just decline. No idea why...its frustrating
Especially as other animals are thrving...(

 

[Mario]

phyto plankton, they are fister feeders. They are not photosynthetic before 3 inches so they need phyto, after 3 in, it is still good to keep up with the phyto.

I remove the clams that are declining and put them in aseperate container and feed them the phyto. All they do is 'cough' up a few dark green pellets. They however seem to rejuvenate a little I must admit.
I am afraid I will be making a 'casket' for them in a few days.

 

[sil3ncio]

want to sell some? how much?

 

[Awibrandy]

Mario, has the cal, and alk always been that low? Or is that something more reason?
As it has already been stated by a couple of peeps you need to raise the calcium and alk. The lighting is fine, and they do not need to be fed phyto. My clams seem to be happy, and I do not target feed them. I feed the tank Mysis, Rod's Food, Cyclopeeze, Frozen cube of Formula 1 & 2, and I add Selcon, VitaChem & Garlic Extreme.

 

[rookie07]

It could be pyramidle(?) snails...if they could have hitchhiked into the tank on some new rocks, or in new sand?

 

[e.muehlbauer]

Have you checked the clams at night with a flashlight? That's how you would find pyramidellid snails. The clams that decline and die....is there algae growth on the shell under the mantle? That algae is a killer.

 

[bad coffee]

James Fatheree says you don't really need to feed small clams. It doesn't hurt them to be fed, but their lives don't depend on it.

Clams accept the zooxanthallae very early in development, long before we get them in our tanks. Light is all they need to produce food.

My 4year old clams just up and died. One day they were fine, the next they were dead. The only thing I could trace is my CA level. My kalk reactor ran out, and I wasn't dosing. Other than that my tank was spot on.

Mario, I'd get your CA level up over 350 as a first step.

B