Must you feed clams?

[bean3178]

The LFS told me that once a clam is about 2.5-3" that they become primarily photosynthetic and that they don't need to be fed. Is this true?

 

[GuidoSarduchi]

I think that is a matter still open for debate. I think it is more like over 4-5 inches.

I still doesn't hurt to feed them IMO.

 

[bean3178]

I put a few squirts of Marine Life Phyto w/Cyclopeeze in a cup of saltwater and spot feed the clam with a plastic syringe twice a week. Think that's adequate? The clam seems to be doing fine.

 

[jda]

They will need to filter food out of the water when they are below 3" for sure. They cannot get enough energy from photosynthesis.

The food will need to be small enough for the clam to use it. Cyclopeeze is too big. Phytoplankton, especially nanochloropsis, is perfect size. Live phyto is best. If you feed dead phyto (marine snow, phytoplex, etc.) it can clump together and become too big.

Clams will look OK until a few days before they die. Once they start looking bad, it is usually just a matter of time. The only way to treat a clam is to give it proper requirements since they are not able to tell you when they are unhappy.

If your clam is over 3", then you probably don't need to feed it. They still need some nutrients from the water, but a normal amount of junk in your tank can keep it fed.

 

[bean3178]

My crocea clam's shell is about 3". He is about 5" long when open. I've been trying to get a hold of DT's, but the LFS has been out. I'm going to add that to the diet.

 

[Scuba Dog]

Yes the feeding isshue is a debate...IME feeding the baby maximas is very bennifical...they seem to grow faster when I feed them more often...This time of year I tend to be busy with work and holiday home projects thus my aquarums specal needs fall short...only have been feeding my babys about once a week and They have really slowed down there growth.....So yes Ill say definitly yes to feeding 1 to 3 inch clams....where the cut off is Im not sure...but the last article I read on crocea and maximas is that they loose the ability to filter feed at a certain size....but the cut off size inst quite known for a fact yet...

 

[greenfroggiespawn]

what bout derasa? i feed tank golden pearls, the smallest size.

 

[M.Maddox]

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