Save scallops from LFS?

[Aquarianna7891]

I walked into my LFS today, and saw they had just gotten in about 5 flame scallops. This store is one of those that doesn't know what the heck they are doing (ex. They said that their $75 bleached Acro was suppost to look that way, and that NO lights were fine for them).

So I'm wondering if I should try to rescue some of the scallops- I'm confident the LFS could do no better than the worst. So what do they require? Food? Light? My tank has been up for about 8 months, and I have successfully been keeping LPS and some softies for about 2 months.

Or should I just abandon the whole idea? I just hate to see beautiful creatures in the hands of idiots

Thanks
Anna

 

[RicksReefs]

unfortunately, if you buy them the 'idiots'
will see that they sell & buy more.

 

[isseym328]

I've kept one before. It's kind of a pain because you have to direct feed these suckers. I fed them phyto and that seems to keep them happy. If you don't feed them everyday they just start shrinking and shrinking until you just get an empty shell. That's what usually happens at the lfs. But if you got the time they are pretty cool for a reef tank.

 

[firechild]

I agree totally with Rick.
Another problem is that they are so hard to keep alive that they would probably end up dying in your tank. Flame scallops aren't photosynthetic like tridacnids and rely on heavy feeding on phyto. Maybe have a word to the LFS and if they are willing to listen, all the better.

 

[Aquarianna7891]

Thanks for your input- I suppose I will not be buying them. Hopefully someone w/ the experience to properly care for them will be the one to purchase them.

As to talking to the LFS- I've tried, and they refuse to listen to me. Amazing how some people will pay lots for livestock, and nothing for the equipment to keep it with. Maybe a phone call will help. If you have any ideas of how to help set them straight, let me know!

Thanks for your info-
Anna

 

[BradM0138]

Anna-
I have had a flame scallop in my tank for over a year now. It has actually seemed to increase in size. It seems they like nutrient rich water. I keep a tank with tap water changed weekly instead of RO or DI water. This has also produced good results with the ever challenging Goniapora Coral. I rub a cube of frozen brine between my fingers over the scallop two or three times a week. So my advice is ......if you use tap water in your tank, give it a try! They are beautiful creatures! -Brad

 

[Aquarianna7891]

Hmmm, sounds like a promising idea. Anyone else had success with this method?

BTW-where might I be able to get some frozen brine shrimp? Local stores don't often have a wide variety of food

 

[RooFish]

You can order frozen food online if you want.

Speaking from experience, DO NOT BUY IT, even if you save one, you'll doom more. I work in an LFS, and I'm sure weve been called dumb, you buy, we get more, someone else buys, we get more. Its a vicious cycle that involves lots of dying hard to keep animals that should be left in the ocean. Please, while some people can do it, most people can't, and the LFS will take you buying one, and buy a replacement.

Or you could do it, and sign the death warrant on others.

 

[OscarBeast]

I am not for LFS selling hard to keep creatures, but if they are going to be bought and sold regardless of what you do, they may as well go into the hands of someone that is going to care for the creatures and give them the best possible chance of surviving. It is possible that thought your experience; you may find a way to better maintain these creatures in an aquarium.

 

[Aquarianna7891]

I almost see a discussion coming on-

However, I have decided not to go for it. On a student's budget, I'm afraid I don't have the resources to try and feed it a plethora of various foods that it may or may not accept, nor the time to experiment. I'll just hope that they go to someone who knows what they are doing!

However- here is a question for RooFish:

You say you work in a fish store. If your systems were inadequate, and you didn't have any idea about it (or were not willing to upgrade), what could a customer say that might make you change your mind about how you keep aquaria? I really would like to attempt to get my LFS on the right track, just don't know how to do it.

Once again, thank you all for your input- maybe I'll try my hand at keeping a scallop another day.

Anna

 

[RooFish]

Mostly they just need someone who knows what they're doing to start working there. I know I hear a lot of really odd ideas ( that neon tetra and the oscar will be good friends, sure the trigger and harlequin shrimp will live well together etc) so I don't listen to a lot of customers. I know its bad, and they do have legit ideas, the majority of the time I think I know the right thing. Thats really what separates good LFSs from bad, whether or not the staff knows anything.

If you did present a good argument and provided some proof, you might illicit a change, but chances are they'll pretend to go along with it and stay the way they are.

 

[RooFish]

side note, LFSs are all about making money, so buying stuff just makes them happy. Aside from a few concerned individuals, they don't care what happens to the livestock after its out of their tanks.

 

[mracroman]

I agree these are hard to keep, alot of work and they will most likely die.
And dont jump on the LFS they are correct a dead acro does only need NO

 

[Aquarianna7891]

*sigh*
Too bad Animal cruelty doesn't apply to fish and inverts. Maybe one day...