How to feed a clam?

[daisybud]

I just got a clam yesterday. It opened up and has a large open mouth. Does that mean it is hungry or do they just do that. The LFS guy told me that they are filter feeders and I should put Kent Marine Micro vert food into the water. Is that they best way to feed a clam or does anyone have another suggestion?
Kim

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

They are filter feeders and eat Phytoplankton. Make sure that you have good lighting. If you have it in a standard Nano Cube, it might not have enough light. What species of clam is it? Also, if it is about 3" or less, it will require lots mroe feeding than the larger ones.

 

[TWallace]

Wide open mouth is known as gaping. Clams usually do it when they're stressed (like being moved from one tank to another or being shipped). It has nothing to do with hunger. You should post this in the Tridacnid Clams and Mollusks forum here. Many say clams over about 3" don't need to be fed as they can get all their energy from light. It's recommended that clams under that size get supplemental phytoplankton feeding (DT's Phytoplankton or other live plankton sources). I don't know what Kent Marine Micro Vert has in it, but if it's not refrigerated in the store, it's almost definetely dead.