feeding clams

dkling · 01-02-2009, 09:30 AM

I cant seem to find the rite answer to this Q, Do you , or do you not feed clams ? I just added my second one yesterday and the guy at the LFS sold me some phytoplankton. He says it is a very good idea to feed them. My first clam has been in my tank for over a year and have never added anything just for it.

thanks.
David

Loverotties · 01-02-2009, 09:43 AM

Under 3"-4" you need to feed,if it's bigger then that,it will get it's own food!

crvz · 01-02-2009, 09:48 AM

The story used to go that, for any clam 2" or smaller, it required some sort of supplemental nutrition. In my experience, this is an outdated recommendation that has since been proven false. I have never added phyto for any clam that I've owned (many started in the 2" range), and I would caution against doing so in your case. Very few things eat phyto, and while it's true that a clam will, I find that the amount of wastes added with phyto do not counter the benefit of clam nutrition. Personally, I wouldnt use the phyto (and I'd try to return it, as it has a pretty short shelf life).

crvz · 01-02-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Under 3"-4" you need to feed,if it's bigger then that,it will get it's own food!

I do not agree, as pointed out. This is antiquated info.

dkling · 01-02-2009, 09:56 AM

So I don't have to anything at all .Thanks

crvz · 01-02-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkling

So I don't have to anything at all .Thanks

assuming you have decent lighting. What kind of clam is it?

dkling · 01-02-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvz

assuming you have decent lighting. What kind of clam is it?

Well the guy at the LFS said it is a Crosea ,but I don't think it is. I'm pretty
sure that the clam I already own is a Corsea, and they do not look anything alike. I will try to get a couple of photos later. First I got a few errands to run .Thanks for the help.

crvz · 01-02-2009, 12:59 PM

mantle coloration can range quite a bit in the species, but some pictures should help. Croceas do need a good amount of light, so if it is make certain it's getting plenty.

dkling · 01-02-2009, 05:54 PM

Here are pics of both of the clams , the one on the sand is the new one.
+ 1 pic of whole tank

crvz · 01-02-2009, 06:08 PM

You've got two choices on the new clam, a derasa or gigas (based on the lack of scutes on the shell). Does it have any tentacles on the inlet siphon (the picture shows the outlet siphon)? If so, you've got a derasa, but otherwise you've got a gigas. I'm leaning towards a derasa, much more common. In either case, they're lower light clams that should do well down on the sand. The other one does look like a crocea.