Wild Clams
- Thread starter cpagego
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monicaswizzle
Premium Member
Well, I am not an expert, but here are a few things to consider:
1) I assume you found these clams in the ocean. If they aren't salt water clams, forget it.
2) It is probably illegal to bring them back to the US. You might want to check into that. Mexico is pretty strict on not removing some of their native species.
3) Most of the clams that people add to their fishtanks are "wild" clams. If you collect them yourself it probably is about the same risk of parasites as if you buy them from a dealer.
4) Wild salt water clams (the giant clams) are not doing well in the wild due to habitat destruction and over harvesting for food and other uses (including our fun hobby). You might want to leave a wild population alone for others to enjoy.
5) The resource conscious marine hobbyist generally advise against purchasing/collecting ANY wild salt water clams due to the trouble they are having in the wild and the fact that many people don't have the right amount of light/nutrients and kill them shortly after adding them to the tank.
6) So, if you do decide to collect them/already did, make sure you give them adequate care (see the clam forum on this site) and enjoy them. If you decide you really want to have clams, but don't want the ones from Mexico, I would advise ordering aquacultured clams from an outlet like Drs. Foster and Smith. IME, the aquacultured clams are every bit as beautiful as the wild ones, but you tend to get a much younger/smaller speciman for the same price that would buy a bigger one from the wild. Lots of this hobby is about patience, so it isn't a bad thing to sit and watch a clam grow.
Have fun and take all my comments with an ocean of salt. I only know what I read and manage to remember.
1) I assume you found these clams in the ocean. If they aren't salt water clams, forget it.
2) It is probably illegal to bring them back to the US. You might want to check into that. Mexico is pretty strict on not removing some of their native species.
3) Most of the clams that people add to their fishtanks are "wild" clams. If you collect them yourself it probably is about the same risk of parasites as if you buy them from a dealer.
4) Wild salt water clams (the giant clams) are not doing well in the wild due to habitat destruction and over harvesting for food and other uses (including our fun hobby). You might want to leave a wild population alone for others to enjoy.
5) The resource conscious marine hobbyist generally advise against purchasing/collecting ANY wild salt water clams due to the trouble they are having in the wild and the fact that many people don't have the right amount of light/nutrients and kill them shortly after adding them to the tank.
6) So, if you do decide to collect them/already did, make sure you give them adequate care (see the clam forum on this site) and enjoy them. If you decide you really want to have clams, but don't want the ones from Mexico, I would advise ordering aquacultured clams from an outlet like Drs. Foster and Smith. IME, the aquacultured clams are every bit as beautiful as the wild ones, but you tend to get a much younger/smaller speciman for the same price that would buy a bigger one from the wild. Lots of this hobby is about patience, so it isn't a bad thing to sit and watch a clam grow.
Have fun and take all my comments with an ocean of salt. I only know what I read and manage to remember.
I've had a hard clam from stone harbor new jersey in my deep sand bed in my fuge for about a year. still alive to this day and no strange parasites that I've discovered. I actually had 2 in the sand bed, but ran out of crustacean food one time so I cracked open a clam. my purple reef lobster and coral banded shrimp loved it.....and ya can't get any fresher than that!!
BeginnerReefer
New member
^^ypur clam is probably afraid to be made into soup!!
reefscape15
New member
I really would have to encourage people to NOT buy or collect wild caught clams. Also i believe that the majority of clams in our tanks today are aquacultured. They have been overcollected and measures need to be taken to ensure a healthy future for them in the wild.
