Does anyone in the US aquaculture clams or are they all grown somewhere else and imported?
Not to my knoweledge all are imported AFAIK. Marhsall Islands is where the ORA facility is I beleive. I know of someone (personally) who owns a facility culturing these and fish in Hawaii.
If no one here is doing it, why is this?
Mainly, the cost to have a clam farm inland. Im sure there are many other reasons, but this is probably No. 1. It is alot different than having a coral prop. facility. Also, see below.
What is involved in culturing clams?
Selecting breeding stock, parasite control, disease control, grow out (takes a long time!), suitable water source, shipping + packing, exporting issues, lighting, and feeding. Clams are only kept in hatcheries on land until they are 2-3 CM's. After this, they go into the ocean hatchery, where they are grown to the appropriate size for the appropriate market. This [the ocean hatchery phase] is another reason Inland culture is not seen.
Clams up to 3" in size require copious amounts of phytoplankton, as well as intense light. Larger clams will benefit from Phyto very much as well, but it is not as necasary IMO/E.
How long does it take them to grow to a sellable size?
According to Daniel Knopp; it takes years for the first adult clams to be sold. Up to this point there is no income yet the investment continues. T. crocea takes longer than most of the other species to grow to a suitable size. For aquarium use, it can be in the 2-3 Inche range (and up) and for the Japanese restaraunt market they must be much larger.
I highly recomend the Book Giant Clams by Daniel Knopp.
John
