Steamer clams in sump?

jasonrusso · Jul 1, 2018

I have a 210 predator tank with a puffer and eel. From time to time I buy a couple of oysters, mussels, clams, etc. It's good for the puffers teeth and every one seems to like it.

Today I bought 3 steamer clams. I opened one up and the puffer devoured it. Usually I leave them in the fridge, but this time I put them in the sump. I was surprised to see them both wide open with the necks extended. They are very much alive because as soon as I touched them they closed up.

Of course this got me thinking, will these be good filter feeders? Should I get more and toss one in the tank from time to time?

Do steamer clams need light like a deresa (or other fancy clams)? Can I put some in my reef tank (no predators but would help with nutrients)?

DesertReefT4r · Jul 1, 2018

They will most likely die after a short time. They are most likely a cooler wayer clam that lives in the sand and is a heavy filter feeder. There is normally not enough food in our closed system tanks to support these animals long term, at least not without heavy phyto feeding.

OrionN · Jul 2, 2018

Only photosynthetic organism are net user of nutrients. All non-photosynthetic animals are net producer of nutrients.
I keep clams and oysters in my sump to keep them fresh so I can feed my tank, not use them as filter. I get oysters from Corpus Christi bay and put them in my sump. They do live there for a long time, weeks. I think my fish love fresh oyster much better than the frozen ones. I think it is healthier for them too.

jasonrusso · Jul 2, 2018

It's been a day and they seem happy as a clam [emoji4]. I picked one up to see if it was alive and it started squirting water. I guess it was alive!

I am not planning on keeping them long term, like you said, I'm using them to feed the fish. I just thought it would be better to put them in the water other than slowly dying in the cold fridge.

I know that they produce waste, but I also think that they are eating some fine particles out of the water. I have a ton of feathers in the sump so something is in the water.

Dsnakes · Jul 2, 2018

jasonrusso said:
It's been a day and they seem happy as a clam [emoji4]. I picked one up to see if it was alive and it started squirting water. I guess it was alive!

I am not planning on keeping them long term, like you said, I'm using them to feed the fish. I just thought it would be better to put them in the water other than slowly dying in the cold fridge.

I know that they produce waste, but I also think that they are eating some fine particles out of the water. I have a ton of feathers in the sump so something is in the water.

Buy more than 3 and the grocery clerks might think you have a date!