Keeping Clams

[SharonFay]

Just found out that there was a clam forum over here so hear I am.

Have read something about keeping clams but I want input from some of you folks that have kept them with success.

I have a 90 gal with 2 - 250 MH , 10,000K with PC actinic. Tank has been up for about 6 months. Have 6 fish that are suppost to be safe with clams.

1 Yellow tang
2 clown fish
1 6-line
2 yellow tail damsels ( I would like to get them out)

Ammon. 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates <10
Ca. 410
Alk 10.2 dkh

Use RO/DI for top off.

Few corals.

Can I keep crocea's with this lighting? I read that they require a lot of light.

We don't have a good LFS in the ,so going to have to shop online. Any suggestion?

Also, I have read some thing about feeding and some say feed and some say you don't have to?? confusing

Thank.

 

[melev]

Sounds like you are ready for a clam!

I don't know about croceas, but I do love my maxima.

I feed DT's Live Phytoplankton every other day. I've had my clam for 5 months under PC lighting (!!!). You should have even better success from your tank's parameter readings and lighting.

 

[SharonFay]

That is a beauty. Do you buy it from a fish store or online. I really want to give them a try.

 

[melev]

I bought from Joy at Harbor Aquatics. She and her staff drove down from Ohio (or somewhere north) to Ft Worth, Tx for the MACNA conference last September, and this was one of at least 100 she brought along.

I simply couldn't wait any longer, and I'm ecstatic it has lasted this long. Clams seem to be very difficult to care for, and many are lost in this hobby (from what I've read), plus I don't have MH lights yet. So to have this guy for this long sure feels good.

 

[Peabody]

Melev is the exception, and not the rule with those PC lights

It sounds like you have a GREAT tank for a clam!

The best thing you could do is read "Giant Clams" by Daniel Knop. It's worth reading every word. After reading a lot of posts here, I bet many fewer clams would be lost if people had read the book first (especially about lighting, but that doesn't seem to be a problem with your tank )

Your water params are great, just make sure they stay stable, temp, SG, etc. I would, however bump up the calc to above 450 and the alk a little higher. My clams suck up the calcium so I keep my calcium at 470 and 12dkh. (Corals and clams growing like i can't believe ) I would at least get your calc up to natural sea water levels, and preferably a little higher.

For sources, there are none better than www.clamsdirect.net and www.eastcoastclams.com Dr. Mac (www.drmaccorals.com) get's great clams too, but I feel his prices are a tad high, not that much though, they are all over 3 inches....

Which reminds me, you should get a clam bigger than 3 inches to start, as they are less dependant on phyto feeding.

Oh, as for type, croceas are the most difficult. I would start with an "easier" one. Derasa and squamosa clams are pretty hardy. You would probably be fine with a maxima too. I'd try your hand at keeping a non-crocea first. Trust me, you will want more and more clams

Best of luck!
Jeff

 

[firechild]

Personally I think clams are much easier to keep than many other aquarium organisms provided you follow a few basic guidelines. Firstly lighting, which you have enough for any species, needs to be adequate. Calcium, alk and salinity have to be relatively stable and within the genaral accepted levels for marine aquaria. However clams are not especially fussy about exact levels. Low non-zero nitrates are good as clams, like corals, need some nitrates to sustain a healthy population of zooxanthellae. Zero nitrites and ammonia is needed. Finally clams like low flow so as not to disturb the mantle too much, high flow will cause them to close which will most likely result in starvation and possibly bleeching.

I think you could go for any species and be successful. If you buy a crocea or maxima, place it on rocks and if you buy any other species, place them on the sand (you may want to put a small rock or shell under the sand for them to attach to otherwise they might wander).

Finally, as mentioned, get yourself a copy of Giant Clams by Daniel Knop...fantastic book.

 

[melev]

Melev is the exception, and not the rule with those PC lights

I know. I really wanted to be good and buy a Derasa, but all they had were HUGE! Like a small football, which would've filled the rest of my 29g completely.

You'd have see the fish swimming inside the innards of the clam at that point. :lol:

I felt like a real "bad boy" buying that maxima, but it was that or nothing, and I'd been thinking about a clam for months. As people were buying them up, I was all caught up in the moment. I must have asked 10 people around me what they thought, and they all reluctantly said if I kept it up high it should be okaaay.

However, the clam liked it better on the substrate. It's made of CC, so maybe it's quietly sucking the calcium out of the stuff.

I'll see about getting that book, guys.

 

[RonN]

Yes I would agree that your tank should support clams if it is stable.

Like Peabody states, read Daniel Knop book not just once but twice. It is still one of the best reference books out there on Giant Clams. Have ordered the new book that Robert Fenner and Anthony Calfo are coming out with this month and has a good chapter on Clams.

As far as online vendors, I have received 4 orders from www.clamsdirect.com and just placed another one. Not saying that there aren't other good one out there but have been very pleased with there clams and their customer service can not be beat.

Ron

 

[SharonFay]

Thanks for the information. Did go to clams direct site and they do seem to have some very like looking clams. They also have Daniel Knop book, so I ordered it.

Thanks again and I am sure I will be asking more questions.

 

[SharonFay]

Picked up our clam order at Fedex this morning that we purchased from clams direct.com

Wish I had a camera so I could take some pictures of these beautiful clams. Bigger than what expected.

Forgot to ask Barry about how long we should wait before we can add anymore. Any suggestions?

 

[toddpolish]

SharonFay-
I have a 90g too...
what's your canopy like? how tall is it?

how high are your lights off the surface? do you have any pix?

any info would be helpful for me. thx

 

[SharonFay]

The canopy is 12" and we fans in it for cooling. We hope to be getting a new camera soon so no pictures now.

 

[SharonFay]

Just a up date on my clams I received last week from Clams direct.

They are doing very well and now I want to get more. Should I wait or is it ok to get more?

 

[Peabody]

It's an addiction, huh? Well, it's a bit early to assess your long term clam success, but in your case, I think you would be OK to get more. Just be careful where you get them from....many people lost all their clams last year after introducing a single infected clam with the mysterious clam disease. I never heard of anyone getting an infected clam from clamsdirect.com He gets them from a different source than the other SoCal importers that got the infected ones. Good luck!

 

[RonN]

Sharon,

You should be fine but I wouldn't get to many at once, they will compete for food. Are you feeding anything ?

As far as clams direct, I have had 4 orders from him and some of his clams have been in my tank for 6 months and I have not lost one yet. Knock on wood. But then again I am very careful about putting a lot of stuff in my tanks. Other things can also bring in diseases as well and from what I have read, clams are very senitive.

Ron