need some info on this clam please

[Kona26]

I bought this clam when I very first started...I have do not know anything about it .... as I started salt water like a newb and didn't looking to what I was getting....but I have not seen it for a few months...and just found it behind my rock work. my question is ...what kinda clam is it...what dose it eat...what kind of light dose it need....just really anything about it ... thank you...it has red feelers and a tounge that sticks out the side...the body used to be white and if remember bigger..(do they shrink..) thanks again...I can try and get more pics if need be

 

[Aerosol]

It looks kind of like a flame scallop. I don't really know anything about taking care of one.

 

[gogo7]

lima scabra... the electric flame scallop. impressive that you've had it for a few months... judging from the tissue loss, it's on its way out. they eat lots of detritus, a variety of live phytoplanktons and zooplanktons. you can watch them eat if you look at them from the right angle... they waste away without plenty to eat. what size is it?

 

[Kona26]

about 1.5 in. It has been in the tank for I would say almost a year....but it made its way behind my rock work...I just found it tonight...and my wife was able to reach back and get it. I think it was stuck behind the rock...was wedged in. I am hoping to fatten it up .... I don't want it to die...we have had it for a while.

 

[gogo7]

that's good. if it's been there that long, it must be eating good, they waste away after about three months...i grow phyto and have tried these a few times with no success. usually when all the flesh looks 'torn' from the shell on the inside, it's done. you shouldn't be able to see the inside of the shell.
try some phyto liquid diet if you feel the need to feed it. but i think its doing good. thats a while for these animals. congrats

 

[Noah 123]

That is not a clam, it's an electric flame scallop. A very difficult animal to keep.

The bivalve group includes oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. Scallops are much different than clams, and are probably the most unique bivalve. Especially flame scallops with their bright 'flame'.

Buying something without knowing anything about it was a huge mistake, and you will know if something is a clam as they look like this:

Anything else is from a different bivalve family.

 

[Calappidae]

Could be a regular flame or electric flame scallop. Very difficult NPS animal to keep..

 

[pagojoe]

That is not a clam, it's an electric flame scallop. A very difficult animal to keep.

The bivalve group includes oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops. Scallops are much different than clams, and are probably the most unique bivalve. Especially flame scallops with their bright 'flame'.

Buying something without knowing anything about it was a huge mistake, and you will know if something is a clam as they look like this:

Anything else is from a different bivalve family.

Bro, he's had it for a year lol. As noted, they are difficult to keep, because of the feeding requirements (they can only use particles of a very specific size). The Limidae are actually clams, not scallops. They are called scallops but are actually File Clams. Tridacnids are also clams, but aren't very closely related to the majority of true clams (and neither are limids, for that matter).

Cheers,



Don

 

[Kona26]

he was one of the first thing we put in the tank after it was cycled...(not knowing) I had not been introduced to RC or PNWMAS at the time. It had is little spot for a long time...then I got ich and put all my stock back in QT.....at that time I re did my rock work and couldn't find him for almost a year...untill the other night. we spotted him behind the rock work wedged...we got him out and moved to the front of the tank in a small cove. He is still really bright but it looks like his shell is smaller. ... and trust me I learned my lesson about looking into what I buy before I buy it.

 

[Kona26]

what was it eating..?

what was it eating..?

here are some new pics..

 

[Kona26]

So to be honest...I have not seen if for some time...so the only food I put in my tank was for the fish...So is it eating other things in my tank or the food i put in..? Right now I am trying to find out how it can still be alive. I see a lot of post about how people can keep them and they starve. I would like to find the food source so I know if I should start feeding it something or let it keep doing its thing....and what do you think about the pics..dose it look healthy..? it has gotten alot whiter and the red has really came back after we moved it.

 

[Kona26]

So correct me if I am wrong but I think noah 123 says its a scallop and pagojoe says its a file clam..? it is a clam right...or are they one in the same..? sorry for the weird question...this is turning into class time..lol

 

[Calappidae]

File clam and flame scallop are the same thing

They are called file clams cause they are textured like a file folder, and flame scallop cause.. well.. look at it! Electric scallop is another breed where they have a flashing blue line around the rid of their mouth (barely noticable IMO)

But the point don was trying to make is they're misnamed.. they are NOT true scallops, just called them, they're normal clams.

 

[Kona26]

thank you for the info. I know it sounds bad...but I want to make sure I know what I have. it was one of the first things we bought...and I couldn't find it for the longest time.

 

[Kona26]

another quick question...do they sometimes get stuck..? the more I look at the place he is in now...it looks like he is un able to open up all the way...

 

[Calappidae]

Yes they wedge themselves, they're fully mobile so he'll move if he don't like that spot. Never try to detach them as you'll hurt their foot.

 

[J2T]

I too made a noobie mistake and picked up an electric flame scallop back in January not realizing how specific their food needs are. Mine also moved and is wedged in behind my rock work and cannot be reached but he is still going strong back there 6 months later so he is obviously getting what he needs. Just unfortunate that he isn't visible because they are really pretty creatures.

 

[Kona26]

yes they are...I was lucky that he was not footed...so we where able to move him back to the front of the tank. His light flicker is getting brighter by the day. I think he his feeling a lot better. going on a year and half

 

[pagojoe]

Yeah, yours is Limaria fragilis. They don't accidentally get wedged, they hide intentionally, but always in a place where there is enough current to bring food particles to them. The only way you find them in the wild is by moving rocks. They look impressive when you put them in a tank, but will just about inevitably find a place to hide. A year is a long time to keep one alive.

Cheers,



Don

 

[Kona26]

How long do they live..?