Flame scallop lifetime in aquarium
- Thread starter Bojan
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crzy4reefs
New member
i just lost my 2 scallops, had them for 6yrs both of them.
i will probably get some more later on, after we sell our house and move into our next one.
i will probably get some more later on, after we sell our house and move into our next one.
critterkeeper
New member
Keeping them alive for more than a few months is exceptionally rare, even in large systems.
I'm amazed that someone was able to keep two alive for 6 years, as Rob Toonen says they have a maximum lifespan of 4 years, usually only 3.
"Given an average lifespan of about 3 years, even with ideal aquarium conditions an animal that is something on the order of 2+ years of age at the time that you purchase it is unlikely to last very long! Thus, if you select the largest flame scallop available at the local retailer, it is almost certainly a mature female, and may already be old enough that its days are numbered no matter what conditions you provide in your aquarium."
You can read the rest here:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/toonen.htm
I'm amazed that someone was able to keep two alive for 6 years, as Rob Toonen says they have a maximum lifespan of 4 years, usually only 3.
"Given an average lifespan of about 3 years, even with ideal aquarium conditions an animal that is something on the order of 2+ years of age at the time that you purchase it is unlikely to last very long! Thus, if you select the largest flame scallop available at the local retailer, it is almost certainly a mature female, and may already be old enough that its days are numbered no matter what conditions you provide in your aquarium."
You can read the rest here:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/toonen.htm
critterkeeper
New member
My own experience -
I used to run a retail shop about 9 years ago and imported quite a few of them - maybe several dozen. They never stayed in the shop long, so I couldn't tell you how long they lived in other peoples' tanks.
I'm sure I tried at least 3 or 4 myself though, not knowing any better back then, and as best as I can rememeber they all did pretty much exactly what Toonen says. They used to all want to hide! I clearly remember having to find them and move them back to the front of the rock, tryng to find some spot where they would stay put. But, they usually wouldn't. I did manage to get one big one to stay under a piece of rock, kind of like an overhang that was ony a couple fo inches off the bottom, but the rest refused to cooperate.
All died within a few weeks to months, depsite the fact that I had a very successful 140 reef tank. My corals were growing from halfway up the rock all the way to the surface, literally.
I used to run a retail shop about 9 years ago and imported quite a few of them - maybe several dozen. They never stayed in the shop long, so I couldn't tell you how long they lived in other peoples' tanks.
I'm sure I tried at least 3 or 4 myself though, not knowing any better back then, and as best as I can rememeber they all did pretty much exactly what Toonen says. They used to all want to hide! I clearly remember having to find them and move them back to the front of the rock, tryng to find some spot where they would stay put. But, they usually wouldn't. I did manage to get one big one to stay under a piece of rock, kind of like an overhang that was ony a couple fo inches off the bottom, but the rest refused to cooperate.
All died within a few weeks to months, depsite the fact that I had a very successful 140 reef tank. My corals were growing from halfway up the rock all the way to the surface, literally.
janakaybravo
New member
I enjoy mine. He sits where I can see him and the peppermint shrimp stay next to him all the time. I've had him seven months, feed phytoplankton and Liquid Life. I hope he lives a while longer.
cutsupremetrib
In Memoriam
bought a small one today will let y'all know how it does 
rharr21
Premium Member
I have tried several and especially like the electric ones. They have never lived for more than a few months. They seem to do well when you can feed them directly and quickly decline when you don't. They have a talent for getting way back into your live rock where you can not feed them or see them too well and then they die.
janakaybravo
New member
I know. I thought mine was dead for sure. Then I had to rearrange my rocks and he scared us all by zipping out. He then settled in a spot I can see him and can get the food to him. I try to target feed him twice a week with DT's and Liquid Life. I know I've had him at least 6-7 months. There's a peppermint shrimp that stays next to him all the time and he drags food down there too. Jana
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