choking a clam

[gatordustin]

Considering getting a crocea clam and have heard about clams choking from filtering particles too large for there gills.

I feed my tank mysis, cyclopeeze, formula 1, as well as blast my rocks with a powerhead once a month to clear them out. All these things have the potential to be filtered by the clam.

Would like to hear opinions from clam owners about this? I just find it hard to believe that as popular as the clams are, that everyone removes there clams before using cyclopeeze (or other food) or blasting rocks. Are there other alternatives beside removal...such as getting the clam to shut before any sort of particulate storm?

Thanks for the help.

 

[bencozzy]

my hippopus has never choked, i feed cyclop eeze, it usually closes it intake syphon a good bit or just closes up completely until its all out of the water

hope that helps

 

[gatordustin]

thanks bencozzy,

the clam closes up on its own by sensing the cyclopeeze storm? that's suprising but good for your clam.

 

[Electrobes]

most clams with close up if there is anything they don't like flying around. If you have a sand storm happening in your tank, they will close up, but will still get some sand inside of them.

When when I fed golden pearls to the tank, my clams would close up even farther than they usually did when the lights cut out.

 

[gatordustin]

So what I'm getting from the two answers so far is that sand/particulate storms could kill a clam, but that they should close up to protect themselves? Is there anyone out there that can honestly say they killed their clam from blasting rocks, stirring sand, feeding cyclopeeze, etc?

 

[Electrobes]

prob not. I personally have not seen it in my own tank, nor have I met/spoke to another clam keeper who experienced it. Though it could happen, its pretty rare to find, and its diffult to assess only because there are many other things that could kill a clam.

 

[d4a2n0k]

You blasting detritus off your rocks is not going to compare to a sandsorm in the wild. Same thing with Cyclop-eeze. There are plankton particles of all sizes floating around the ocean.

In other words, theres nothing to worry about.

You will see them purge themselves quite often during the day.

 

[JR719]

I blast my rocks and also feed cyclopeeze. Neither my Squammy or my dersa have any problems. Don't worry about it. They will be fine.