Freshwater clams?

Crat

Crat

AC Members
Apr 19, 2009
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Hi everyone, I am considering a freshwater clam or two for my 125 gal, maybe even one or two for my 55. I am wondering how these guys are? I think they are neat and would be a good addition after I get my sand in the tank. (Changing over to industrial silica from a bunch of assorted color epoxy gravel, I was in a hurry to get the tank going after I bought it, so I just used what substrate I had available. **** my lack of patience.) Anything special I should know about them? How are they to keep? I'm a newbe at inverts so any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance AC!

Peace,
Caleb
 
Please do massive amounts of research before buying these that are notorious for dieing in the tank and spoiling the water. They are filter feeders so often times they need to be supplemented with green water. They will bury themselves and aren't really seen that often in the tank.
 
I thought about them too awhile back and decided in order to keep the clams healthy and alive,the tank would look horrible.The are filter feeders,as petluvr mentioned,and in order for them to eat,the water either has to be filthy,or you have to directly feed them with a syringe,and doing it this way does not insure they will actually eat.I have heard the only way to know if they have died is when there is a ammonia spike in your tank.
 
I have a Golden Asian in my tank from unknown source that I found by accident when I replanted the tank. As far as I can tell it's still alive. I don't feed it and my tank is very clean so I have no idea what sustains it.
 
i once had two clams they were ok but, they can casue a little plant uprooting. For mine they would come out of the ground when they died which was a great benefit for me.
 
A gentleman in a local fish forum told me of a horror story where he took a local species of mussel into his tank. When the mussel reproduced the larvae latched itself onto everything -- glass, substrate, and fish. Needless to say, it was a mess to clean and the larvae irritated the fish.
 
The more I find out about them the more I'm thinking "No way". Thanks for the input everyone, I think I'll stay away from the clams.

That's a strange story there about the native mussel there. No good at all.
 
ChilDawg said:
crackedglass over on AquaBid also recommends that they be fed with Golden Pearls.
Click to expand...

Golden pearl might be a little large for a clam, phytoplankton or even champagne yeast might be a better food source.

JuanitoW said:
A gentleman in a local fish forum told me of a horror story where he took a local species of mussel into his tank. When the mussel reproduced the larvae latched itself onto everything -- glass, substrate, and fish. Needless to say, it was a mess to clean and the larvae irritated the fish.
Click to expand...

Yeah mussels are a PITA. And kinda illegal in some states
 
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