pulling clams out to feed???

[teog]

Hey I have 3 2inch maxima clams that I have from ORA. Since I bought them 3 weeks ago I have been pulling them out and placing them a bowl and feeding them DT's in there.

Since I have a 315g tank i figured this would be cost effective oppose to dosing the tank a bottle a week.

I pull them every other day and leave them in there for 30-45 minutes. When I place back into the tank there mantles are full extended in the bowl and they seem fine.

Will the clams get enough to eat this way until they get big enough to eat on there own? I have a 5inch squamosa that lives in the tank that does fine and I have never dosed the tank.

Thank

 

[holeinone1972]

Sounds pretty good to me teog.

Once they are about 3" I do not think you will need to do this anymore.

They are getting something from your lighting, and would probably make it, but dosing them the way you are is a much safer bet.

Best of luck, Rob

 

[Peabody]

Sounds great. That's what I do with my 2 inch maximas. They have put on a CM of shell in the last month too!

After 3 inches they don't need the massive feedings. But it might be a good idea to give your tank a little phyto once in a while. Clams still need to eat when they are big too

 

[tricky]

We bought a couple clams from the same lot, both are 1 1/2 to 2" maximas. We have bowl fed them once, they really seemed to enjoy it, too. :spin3:

How often should they be fed in this manner?

Rick

Proud Member of ORCA

 

[Peabody]

2-3 times a week seems fine
Best of luck!
Jeff

 

[clamster]

There's RC posters who had good results with a "feeding hat" made of 2 liter coke/pepsi bottles to trap the phyto over the infant clams until they are done feeding.

My memory failed me. 1.5-2'' clams are not ready for photosynthesis yet, are they? Would someone refresh me on when a clam is actually ready to photosynthesis?

 

[firechild]

clamster,
The general rule is 3" but this will vary depending on species, growth rate and water conditions (ie nutrients in the water allowing reproduction of zooxanthellae).