[ry77]

Does anyone keep these? I have one and found that they are harvested from local waters and a close friend has a license to harvest them commercially. just wondering if anyone out there keeps them, has comments on them or is interested in getting them?

thanks.

[bigfish69]

Hi just to say if they come from these waters you would have to have a chiller on the tank to keep them in I think!!!...<(((><..Sal

[ry77]

there ok with out, the tank is about the temp. of our tidal and inland waters in the summer so they do fine. but thanks for raising that red flag just in case.

Do you live in mass too?

[Krazy]

you can get the live clams from your supermarket, I think they are saddleback clams, I'm not 100% on the name of them but they do the trick in your sump or refugium area's, take your time to acclimate them though, they are tough lil suckers, but they will filter out nitrates well and last a descent amount of time... I think they are like 30cents a piece at the market

[ry77]

there quahogs if you live near me and hardshell clams if you live just about anywhere else... there pretty tasty i might add.

[e_baer]

anyone know the breeding habits of them? maybe i can have a clam farm sump!

[Alicamo]

uhh well, not sure what your looking for but like i have a spiny oyster cause i dont have the lighting requirements of a cool looking clam. not sure if u wanted a janitor or a display critter but if your looking for a display there really awesome and i would recommend them.

....no one is allowed to eat him

[Alicamo]

heres a crappy pic, lights are off atm though...also the damn snails and hermit all rushed in to be in the shot

[Kevin W]

Originally Posted by Alicamo

heres a crappy pic, lights are off atm though...also the damn snails and hermit all rushed in to be in the shot

how long have you had the oyster?? I had one for about 6 months and then it just died in a matter of 24 hrs.

[Alicamo]

Not very long, a month maybe? I'm kinda crazy about feeding him though, been feeding him daily since I'm not sure how hungry he is lol. Any advise?

[Princess8077]

Sorry to reopen this but the title is what I was after.....

I bought 2 cleaner clams - one buried itself in a mater of a couple of hours. The other is still sitting on top of the sand and hasnt budged. It is closed up tight tho, so Im hoping it's alive.
I think dead/sick/dying clams open somewhat and if you touch them they dont respond or very little. Healthy clams shut quickly and firmly right?

[Alicamo]

I would give it a little while and see what it does, it may still be a little shaken from moving.
they do shut tight, but the speed is random depending on the situation so its not always fast.

[pete york]

sounds like a pretty good deal once they die you can just boil them and have some steamed clams

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by Princess8077

Sorry to reopen this but the title is what I was after.....

I bought 2 cleaner clams - one buried itself in a mater of a couple of hours. The other is still sitting on top of the sand and hasnt budged. It is closed up tight tho, so Im hoping it's alive.
I think dead/sick/dying clams open somewhat and if you touch them they dont respond or very little. Healthy clams shut quickly and firmly right?

It could take awhile. If it is dead and you have a good CUC they'll find a way to get that shell open. I had one sitting in the sump on the sand bed for over a week before it buried itself.

[sgarron]

I can use the clams from the supermarket? I was thinking of getting some cleaner clams online, but if I can skip the shipping that would be great. Does it matter which kind?

[pete york]

can u put them in ur main tank?

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by sgarron

I can use the clams from the supermarket? I was thinking of getting some cleaner clams online, but if I can skip the shipping that would be great. Does it matter which kind?

Probably. I cannot get them here, but I hear most people are having success, saving money and buying them locally.

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by pete york

can u put them in ur main tank?

Yep. I like mine in the sump, less to mess with them. However I also have them in my son's main tank.

[pete york]

what exactly do they do?

[Alicamo]

There filter feeders, so basically they help to lower nitrates by eating food in the water.

[ry77]

if you get them from a super market you should get quahogs (most people call them hard shell clams or steamers, but in coastal new england there quahogs) i would also quarentine them in a bucket for a few days and change out the water a few times also to keep any bacteria from getting into your tank as they live close to the shore often near public beaches. also make sure there alive, supermarkets arent the best place to go for seafood