Clam reproduction

[Justin James]

Well I was wondering if clams will reproduce in an aquarium. Is there a difference between male and female or are they both? Is there any chance of survival after a spawn?

 

[mbbuna]

clams have both reproductive organs. there is very little chance of any survivors from a spawn, in fact there can be substantial harm to your system after the spawn from die off of the gametes

 

[Justin James]

So when they spawn they release eggs and sperm right? So now when the two come into contact and the eggs are fertilized do they become planktonic and float around in the currents of the ocean or do they nestle down into the bottom? Is it impossible to raise clams in captivity?

 

[mbbuna]

only fully mature clams will release eggs. immature clams can only release sperm. if you have a fully mature clam and it spawns naturally, it will release its eggs first then 10 or 20min later it will release sperm. if they fertilize they will remain planktonic for a few days. it is not impossible to raise clams in captivity. however on the hobbyist level it is impractical and improbable. heres how the clam farms do it.

http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/ctsa/publications/lagoon/Lagoon.htm

http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/ctsa/publications/GCManual.html

 

[Opcn]

Impellers will chew the plankton up in your system unless you run from your tan diretly into a kriesel with some phyto and some high light.