Feeding Littleneck clams to Butterfly

[julie180]

My copperbanded went on a hunger strike and I discovered he would eat clams from the grocery store. Do I need to be concerned about bringing in some types of disease or parasite with the clams? If its a possibility, what would you suggest to keep the risk to a minimum.

Thanks

 

[snorvich]

they are freshwater clams? If so, no problem. I freeze mine, however, but not for that reason.

 

[julie180]

Not fresh water clams.

 

[ThRoewer]

Of course there is always a chance to import some pathogens with live or even frozen foods. But the chance of catching something from cold water inverts that can survive in a tropical reef tank are less likely than you fish dying of malnutrition. So if it was my fish I would take a chance with feeding him the clams.

Something you may try first is to make a mix of some frozen foods (Mysis, brine shrimp) and some clam meat and bake it a little bit inside the clam shell. The idea is to make the food mix stick to the shell so that the fish can pick it from there. And the baking does not only let the food dry and stick to the shell but also kills whatever pathogens might be on the shell or in the meat.

BTW: is this a new fish that has never been eating or was he heating before and stopped?

 

[julie180]

Sorry, I thought I mentioned, I have had him for 5 years. Hes always eaten frozen food, although, he is a very picky eater, has to find just the right piece. Now he tried to get the food, but misses, its almost like he can't see, but he swims just fine and acts as curious as ever.