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New clam: Questions


lkoechle

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So, I'm possibly doing a trade with a frag of my rainbow monti for a 1.5" clam. It looks to be a maxima from the photos, I'll ask him more questions when we confirm the trade and set up a pick up place.

 

It's my first clam and I know they can be tricky, especially the little guys. Personally, I think this one of the best ways for me to try it. I can't afford a larger clam, and if it fails (which I severely hope it doesn't and thrives and grows instead), I won't feel like I've lost much since it was a trade.

 

QUESTIONS:

 

  • Where/what is the best resource for clam care? I'm looking for something relatively all inclusive, the internet is full crazy info.
  • Best food to feed it? I have read that the trick with the little clams is they are mostly reliant on filter feeding, what would be the best food for this and how often should I feed? Every day? Once a week?
  • In the photo he's got the clams on the sand bed (there are two clams, but I'm only after one), but I read maxima's are rock boring. Should I purchase a clam hammock for it to attach to? How do I encourage it to attach and where in the tank should I move it to?

 

Sorry if these are "noob" questions. Preliminary googling hasn't turned up much and this is a slightly impulsive thing for me (impulsive as in I'm used to taking months to research something, so possibly having it in a week or two, is very fast for me). Thanks!

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They like sandy bottoms so a clam hammock with sand in it or a plastic cup with rubble and sand in it will be fine. A clam that small will be fine even on a frag disc. With sand.

 

It is unclear what they actually do eat from all that they filter but phyto has been found in their gut. So dosing phyto is one thing to do. They also like dirty water and ammonia especially so fish poop is a good thing. Stirring the sand bottom often to get the crap in the water column is also good.

 

Plenty of light goes without saying. But gentle flow.

 

Good luck, look forward to pictures.

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They like sandy bottoms so a clam hammock with sand in it or a plastic cup with rubble and sand in it will be fine. A clam that small will be fine even on a frag disc. With sand.

 

It is unclear what they actually do eat from all that they filter but phyto has been found in their gut. So dosing phyto is one thing to do. They also like dirty water and ammonia especially so fish poop is a good thing. Stirring the sand bottom often to get the crap in the water column is also good.

 

Plenty of light goes without saying. But gentle flow.

 

Good luck, look forward to pictures.

Thanks. So I should put a hammock in a tub with sand for it to attach (with said tub in the tank) and then move it? I like the idea of a hammock so if I do need to move it, I don't risk damaging it.

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jedimasterben

Small clams that are large enough to be sold (and expected to survive lol) do not rely on filter feeding. Give them plenty of light, a good source of ammonia, and they'll be fine. :)

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Small clams that are large enough to be sold (and expected to survive lol) do not rely on filter feeding. Give them plenty of light, a good source of ammonia, and they'll be fine. :)

Good source of ammonia? You mean plenty of fishes pooping in the water?

 

I was going to say, "plenty of fishes giving it ATM?", but I'm glad I didn't.

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jedimasterben

Good source of ammonia? You mean plenty of fishes pooping in the water?

 

I was going to say, "plenty of fishes giving it ATM?", but I'm glad I didn't.

LOL! While I don't think a bunch of fish doing that would be a good ammonia source, it would sure be a funny sight to see! :D

 

Ammonia can be food broken down by either fish, inverts, or just broken down in the water column, it will eventually end up making ammonia. Clams will use nitrate, as well, but prefer ammonia directly (the nitrate they take in they reduce to ammonia).

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Small clams that are large enough to be sold (and expected to survive lol) do not rely on filter feeding. Give them plenty of light, a good source of ammonia, and they'll be fine. :)

I understand differently. Their mantles are not large enough to absorb enough light needed for their nutrition that is why smaller clams rely on their filter feeding.

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01b582f516acc6022001748c68af131b.jpg

 

The plan was to frag it this weekend if he wanted it, might still frag it. But I have lot of zoas I need to do, so I probably won't because I'm lazy. lol

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