Don’t be shellfish, what is your experience with clams?

[Peace River]

Don’t be shellfish, what is your experience with clams?

Please share your experiences with clams. Did it work out? Was it painful failure for both you and the clam? When most people are talking about corals and fish, clams often don’t get the spotlight. This is the thread to talk about clams so please don’t be shellfish, please tell us about your experiences. Do you have any tips or tricks to share about keeping clams? Maybe you have some thoughts about keeping them healthy and helping them if they are not healthy. For many, keeping clams is somewhat foreign and an area that is unfamiliar so please consider coming out of your shell and helping us understand the world of clams! If you do feel like a foreigner to clams, what are your questions?

Photo by @PacificEastAquaculture; https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/clams.311659/

 

[revhtree]

I've never been able to keep a clam long term. But honestly I would love one day to be able to keep a massive Giga clam! They suck up the trace elements but they are beautiful and amazing!

This was from a FB group where a member, Josh Hill, donated this beast to the Denver Aquarium.

 

[KQuillan]

Years ago, before I knew any better, I had a clam that did amazing in my tank and with me. It would spit at me every time I put my hand in the tank. Had it for about three years before I had to sell the whole system due to a divorce and move. I still miss that clam. Anyway, got a very small maxima a couple of months back and thought it was doing good. Fed roids one day and maybe just a coincidence, but the thing declined, and I just couldn't save it. I thought even bringing it up closer to the light would help. It was too far gone

I am going to wait before trying again. I'm just not there yet.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Before my break from the hobby I kept several Maxima clams. Loved the colors - gold, blues and purples in varios shades and patterns. I will definitely add one or two once I get up and running.

I found them to be fairly tolerant of small tank parameter fluctuations and good filter feeders. Proper lighting was most critical for success.

 

[flashsmith]

In my experience the bigger the better when decide to try one. I never had much luck with tiny aquacultured ones. Get a bigger one to start they are much more hardy and forgiving and they don't need nearly the par to thrive. I've never had a small one last more than a few months. I think feeding live phyto also goes a long way to being successful keeping clams.

 

[revhtree]

Years ago, before I knew any better, I had a clam that did amazing in my tank and with me. It would spit at me every time I put my hand in the tank. Had it for about three years before I had to sell the whole system due to a divorce and move. I still miss that clam. Anyway, got a very small maxima a couple of months back and thought it was doing good. Fed roids one day and maybe just a coincidence, but the thing declined, and I just couldn't save it. I thought even bringing it up closer to the light would help. It was too far gone

I am going to wait before trying again. I'm just not there yet.

Just seems like there are so many variables that can cause decline that it's hard to pinpoint.

 

[HankstankXXL750]

I love clams, but they never loved me lol. Tried two and lost each one. Looked great for a while then faded away and nothing I did changed that. Then I read about worms coming up out of the sand and causing them to die, so the next one I tried I put on a half of one that I lost. Have had it going strong for about a year now. So if someone is going to try one, maybe place it on something other than the sand. I’ve seen that people use the putty for gluing rock work and make an impression with their clam and use the impression as a base.

 

[KQuillan]

In my experience the bigger the better when decide to try one. I never had much luck with tiny aquacultured ones. Get a bigger one to start they are much more hardy and forgiving and they don't need nearly the par to thrive. I've never had a small one last more than a few months. I think feeding live phyto also goes a long way to being successful keeping clams.

I have heard that now from several people. That is the (next) route I am going to take. Thank you for this.

 

[bud_rick]

I run a mixed tank with a hob filter, no skimmer and a very small dose of nopox. Since a clam is a filter feeder would they help export the nutrients from the tank by eating the bacteria that builds up from carbon dosing?

 

[ReeferHD]

i'd say ive had a good experience with clams, it's in my name after all, but recently i lost a few due to vermetid snails and filefish pecking at their mantle. Now that those are gone i picked up a 7" gigas from my lfs, its doing quite well now that there are no predators. Its already opened more than it was at the lfs.

 

[shakacuz]

i am confident in my ability to keep clams! currently own two, a crocea and maxima. hoping to delve into the sand dwellers eventually!

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a clam in my tank. It is my second clam.
1st one sold due to a tank break down and break from the hobby.
Currently, my clam is almost 4 years old.
Current pic which is actually February 2022 and one from when I bought it at a show in March of 2019.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I think it would be neat to one day in the future have clams in a tank. Maybe when I get a bigger house and can afford a bigger tank I would consider putting a clam or two into a tank!

 

[LPS Bum]

Many years ago I kept a Crocea. I had it for years under metal halide lighting, and it did great. Wound up trading it to my LFS when I moved. I've tried a couple of clams since then, under LEDs, and have never been able to keep them long term.

Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not...

 

[CdubsMixReef]

I learned the hard way that keeping clams Isn’t the issue it’s the inhabitants you have in your tank, I brought some live rock from a a website (not this one) and there ended being a crab that I don’t know the name but his house is s turbo snail shell. Long story short got a gold maxima and in the morning the crab was picking at the mantle, next time even though crab is gone I’ll be putting clan on a 3inch piece of pvc and a clam hammock on top. Live and learn.

Many years ago I kept a Crocea. I had it for years under metal halide lighting, and it did great. Wound up trading it to my LFS when I moved. I've tried a couple of clams since then, under LEDs, and have never been able to keep them long term.

Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not...

 

[CdubsMixReef]

I learned the hard way that keeping a clam Isn’t the issue it’s the inhabitants you have in your tank, I brought some live rock from a a website (not this one) and there ended being a crab that I don’t know the name but his house is s turbo snail shell. Long story short got a gold maxima and in the morning the crab was picking at the mantle, next time even though crab is gone I’ll be putting clan on a 3inch piece of pvc and a clam hammock on top. Live and learn.

 

[Waters]

I struggled with placement every time I tried any clams. Either couldn't find a suitable place on rockwork or they would just blow (or get knocked over) on the sand. Tried multiple clam cradles....they were all ugly.....so I gave up :-(

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I loved my derasa and now have a new love w the

squamosa. Aquacultured specimens give a great boost to possible success in the home system.

 

[rc4kinu]

I’m would say I’m pretty good in keeping clams. They are (five) doing well and survived multiple disasters over the that killed all corals. Somehow they and my fish all did ok. I bombard my tank with Radions AB template at peak midday at 100%. I check for parasitic snails nightly. When I get a new one I brush their shells with a waterproof electric toothbrush and use Reef Delete UV on shells daily to kill anything else.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I’m would say I’m pretty good in keeping clams. They are (five) doing well and survived multiple disasters over the that killed all corals. Somehow they and my fish all did ok. I bombard my tank with Radions AB template at peak midday at 100%. I check for parasitic snails nightly. When I get a new one I brush their shells with a waterproof electric toothbrush and use Reef Delete UV on shells daily to kill anything else.

That Noae is cherry.