am i ready for a clam?

[celamb89]

Hello everyone!

I've always loved clams but have always been scared of their difficulty at least i believe they're difficult... So just want to know if im ready?

I have a 150 G tank thats 23" deep and has 6x54watt t5's, I know clams require a lot of light so i was thinking of having a clam that likes to sit on rocks so i can place it in the top 1/3 of the tank...

Current livestock:
1 orangeshoulder tang
2 ocellaris
1 sixline wrasse
1 scribbled rabbitfish

Corals
Dragon soul favia
lobo coral
birds nest coral
1 unidentified acro
1 prostrata coral
pulsating xenia

future livestock:
1 RBTA
1 diamond goby

CUC:
turbo snails


Im in Mexico so its hard to get a hold on some nice clams... the only ones i have found have been online so it will be impossible for me to inspect it for any infestations, i can only trust the seller which has sold me nice corlas before and in good condition but u never know

Also, do u guys feed ur clams? if so what?

thanks for the help!

 

[moliken]

you are fine, but how old is the tank? needs to be 6 months stable at least. and how old are the bulbs? you can get a maxima or crocea for the rocks. you can put a derasa or squamosa on the bottom sand. don't feed. your fish will provide all the nourishment clams need.

 

[celamb89]

This current tank is an upgrade from a 75gal, I changed tanks 10months ago and the bulbs are 9months. I will change the bulbs before getting the clam and I'm also upgrading to individual reflectors.

Thanks for the help! Can't wait to get a clam! They are amazing!!!

 

[moliken]

change the bulbs in groups, not all at once to acclimate the critters currently in the tank. get a few nice clams. check for snails and other pests, acclimate slowly and enjoy. we need pics.

 

[celamb89]

ok, i didnt know i had to change the bulbs by groups! thanks for the tip ill change them by pairs and mark them hehe dont want to get them all mixed up...

I just sent an email to the webpage here in mexico that have the clams, i asked about the size and overall health. I just have to trust i guess, anyway I would ask about the size since i read they seem to be hardier ::thumbsup::

 

[moliken]

yeah don't wanna burn anything w/ too much heavy lighting all at once

 

[celamb89]

I ordered my clam today its supposed to arrive tomorrow!

here is a pic

Its only 2.5" but its captive bred... they had another one that i liked and was 3" but didnt like the color that much so i decided to go for the one i liked the most regardless of the size.

So lets see how it goes!

 

[davidngy01]

your fine. sounds like a very nice tank...oh nice clam you ordered. I have two clams and love them....

 

[moliken]

that's a beauty. acclimate very slowly, a drip line is best, take an hour or more. inspect it very carefully all over, especially the bottom for pests. make sure to turn it in all directions under the tank water after exposing it to air. that's the only risk in exposing them to air, but most people think air is the issue. do you have a qt to put it in?

 

[celamb89]

that's a beauty. acclimate very slowly, a drip line is best, take an hour or more. inspect it very carefully all over, especially the bottom for pests. make sure to turn it in all directions under the tank water after exposing it to air. that's the only risk in exposing them to air, but most people think air is the issue. do you have a qt to put it in?

Ok so ill do a slow acclimatisation.. I usually do 30min for fish and 40min for corals but ill do a 1hour for the clam

Ill also check the clam for pests, im not going to qt but illl check it good... What if i find something like snails?? should i return it? treat it somehow? Please let me know so that i can act accordingly.

So if i understood correctly after exposing it to air i need to turn it in all directions under water so that any air that got trapped can exit the clam?

Thanks for the help! hopefully it will be a happy and healthy clam :thumbsup:

 

[celamb89]

I was just reading a few threads and ran into something...

will brittle starfish be ok with the clam? I have like 3 small ones that came as hitchhikers... I have no problem removing them and taking them to the LFS just need to know if they are safe...

 

[celamb89]

??? Just ARRIVED

??? Just ARRIVED

So they clam just arrived and i got it in the acclimatisation process and i noticed this like tube (periscope thingy) sticking out from the middle of the clam... the shell looks very clean all around and it started to open up almost instantly when it saw the light but that tube thing looks weird...
it sticks out between the lips of the clam and can move?? should i be worried??

if someone knows something please let me know before i introduce it to the tank..

Thanks

 

[moliken]

are you talking about the small siphon toward the rear, like in my pic?

that's the exhale for the clam to sift water through.
small brittle stars are fine, just as long as they arent snails instead. a picture will help

 

[celamb89]

Nope the only snails I have are turbo snails, which I believe are fine, but correct me if wrong. Other CUC members are hermit crabs and a crab I spotted today and am working on removing with a bottle trap. I also have/hear but havent seen is a mantis or pistol shrimp.
The brittle stars are like 3" from tip to tip and the center of it is under 1/2", so I'm thinking they're ok.

I'm at school right now but I'll post some pics of the clam and stars tomorrow morning! And the "periscope" does look like the exhale hehe thanks
The clam is a bit skidish and very reactive But is opening, I guess time will help it settle!

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[celamb89]

ok so the clam is in and seems to be doing good! It started to open up a little bit more but not close to what the pic at top but i guess time will help... I placed it at the top of the tan about 5" from the surface and it already attached itself which i guess is a good sign

Here are some bad pics :s sorry about that but my camera isnt working so the iphone had to do the trick

I couldnt find any brittle starts in the open since the normally hang out under rocks in the sandbed just filtering water but if i see one ill take a pic

please comment

thanks everyone

 

[celamb89]

UPDATE;

The clam is now really open hehe and it moved itself like 1" to an angled position... here are some pics, Im still having trouble with my camera so iphone pics sorry

 

[Mizdog]

I found that my clams did better with small feedings of phytoplankton every other day. If your clam seems to loose color and not grow over the next few months try some phyto!

 

[moliken]

i found that my clams have never been fed and do fine. what you advise is not any more valuable than my statement. have you kept any clam longer than 2 years? you are recommending feeding to recolor a clam, but for what reason and by what basis? do you keep a control group? my ipad works well if i hold it sideways in front of me. SO WHAT! my car runs fine on regular, yours may not. my dog can chew bones, that may kill yours, please do some real reading on feeding tridacnids. fatheree especially. you have posted essentially the same advice 3 times, yet it is blatantly incorrect.