Are clams hard to keep?

rackyrane · May 10, 2008

I have been thinking about getting a clam for a while now. They are so pretty, but I have heard that they are hard to keep.

I have SPS in my tank and they are doing fine.
Do you think that I can keep a clam if I can keep SPS?
Thanks!

reef-lover · May 10, 2008

IME, clams that are under 3 inches are hard to keep, the bigger ones are easier.

Russellaqua · May 10, 2008

reef-lover said:
IME, clams that are under 3 inches are hard to keep, the bigger ones are easier.

I agree. Small clams are more reliant on food whereas larger clams are nearly entirely photosynthetic. They are also less likely to suffer from a pinched mantle, which is fatal.

ReeferRob · May 10, 2008

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone have any pictures of a pinched mantle?

If you have appropriate lighting for SPS, yes you can do clams. I have found them to be easy. Also if you have enough of them and advantage is they export nitrates for you! So Ive read.

Zoanuts · May 10, 2008

Over a few days "pinched mantle" can be deadly to a clam. There is an easy fix without dosing Meds. I read in Fatherree's book that a fresh water dip for about 30 minutes can be a good cure.

rackyrane · May 10, 2008

Well, I saw a site that had clams for 7.99, but they were only 2". My LFS has clams but they are around 70 bucks for little ones.

Russellaqua · May 11, 2008

I carry some ~3" crocea clams. I've had them for months without issue. They are similar to the pic below:

$39.99/each. 3 in stock.

The can be found at:
http://www.shop.russellaquaculture.com/product.sc?categoryId=6&productId=88

GMaquarium · Jul 30, 2008

Only go fo aquacultured clams, they are not hard to find these days. If fed and given ok lighting and water conditions they are very easy to keep

Stixbaraca · Jul 30, 2008

I thought all clams now were aquacultered?

GMaquarium · Jul 30, 2008

not not all clams that come in the aquarium hobby are cultured. Wild are still collected

Stixbaraca · Jul 30, 2008

Oh ok...I though wild colletion of clams was a thing of the past.

Nate82 · Jul 30, 2008

everythings still collected wild by shady collectors

oceanparadise1 · Jul 30, 2008

i have two and they are very easy, g taught me how to feed them and every since they have been flourishing

epicenter · Mar 16, 2009

Can someone explain to me what pinched mantel is. Perhaps this is why I lost a clam that was in the tank for over 2 years.

ZOABOY · Mar 31, 2009

How do you feed them ?

Sikryd · Mar 31, 2009

ZOABOY said:
How do you feed them ?

I feed DT's phyto or brightwell about 3x's a week for all my stuff, but the clams use it as well.
IMHO - They are photosynthetic so it is an issue that is gray at best.
Fatheree's book is the BEST on clams.

Hypertek99 · Mar 31, 2009

Yep for small clams feed Phytoplankton. If you get ORA clams they are all aquacultured. Becarful feeding the phyto. If you over feed that stuff you will get an algae outbreak.

Sikryd · Mar 31, 2009

Hypertek99 said:
Yep for small clams feed Phytoplankton. If you get ORA clams they are all aquacultured. Becarful feeding the phyto. If you over feed that stuff you will get an algae outbreak.

UNLESS you have a supa' skimma'!!! woot woot! lol

Hypertek99 · Mar 31, 2009

Bummer i'm skimmerless. haha

talon4x4 · Mar 31, 2009

Here is a great article to read about clams (actually the entire forum is clams, lots of good reading). Basically saying that small clams (~3") are not as difficult as everyone thinks. They don't need to be spot fed or have anymore special requirements than a clam over 3".

http://www.reefaquariumforum.com/tridacnid-clam-feeding-and-the-truth-t3482.html