Clams care?

[nmb7895]

I like interesting, non-fish species in my aquarium. I adore my snails and shrimp.

I happened to notice you can actually keep clams! I never knew you could keep freshwater clams...

I have a few questions
- How big of an aquarium do they need? Would a 25 gallon (tall) be good enough for 1? It's fully cycled, and has been for a week and a half. I wouldn't probably get the clams for awhile, since I have no idea where to get them. Assume it will be 2 months before 1 is added
- Where do I get them? The chain pet stores don't seem to have many inverts, but I didn't check my LFS yet.
- Do I need special substrate. Right now I just have generic aquarium gravel I got at the pet store. Would that be okay, or would it have a hard time burrowing?
- What would I feed it? Do I drop flakes in its general direction? Does it eat whatever's in my aquarium, like my snail? My aquarium is about a month and a half old, would that make a difference? I don't mind having to special feed it if need be, that's no big deal.
- Do they attack fish? For some reason in my head, I picture a cory swimming into the shell to explore, and having the shell snap shut onto it. I don't think that happens, does it?
- Are they easy? I'm not the most experienced aquarium keeper. I only keep small, easy to care for fish.


I haven't really found any good articles on the Internet on freshwater clams. They seem really interesting, but forums seem to either think they're a pain, or are super easy...

[Cyberra]

I don't know much about clams, but from what I've read sand would be best for them to burrow into, and the tank needs at LEAST six months before there are enough little critters lurking in the water for the clams to feed on. But then, as I said, I know very little about clams, so I could be wrong *shrugs a bit* Clams are filter feeders; I can't see them attacking or even snapping shut on a fish.

[DrNic]

Freshwater clams can be an interesting addition to a tank. You just have to keep an eye on them. If they die they can really foul a tank quickly. For a few dollars though they might be worth a try.

See below for answers to your questions.


- How big of an aquarium do they need? Would a 25 gallon (tall) be good enough for 1? It's fully cycled, and has been for a week and a half. I wouldn't probably get the clams for awhile, since I have no idea where to get them. Assume it will be 2 months before 1 is added
I'm not sure what the minimum size for clams would be. I would make sure you have fish in the tank first to get everything well established. 25G should be find I think.
- Where do I get them? The chain pet stores don't seem to have many inverts, but I didn't check my LFS yet.
Drs. Foster and Smith sells them online at their Live Aquaria webiste. Check here ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])
- Do I need special substrate. Right now I just have generic aquarium gravel I got at the pet store. Would that be okay, or would it have a hard time burrowing?
I tried keeping them in standard gravel at one point and they didn't do very well. I've been told that they do well in sand, and the best in sand with peat/dirt below it. It make a great substrate for plants but is soft enough for the clams to move around in a bit.
- What would I feed it? Do I drop flakes in its general direction? Does it eat whatever's in my aquarium, like my snail? My aquarium is about a month and a half old, would that make a difference? I don't mind having to special feed it if need be, that's no big deal.
They don't require any special food that I'm aware of. Clams are filter feeders and will simply get small organic particles of organic mater from the water. Many people I know that have clams will put baby brine shrimp (live or freeze dried) into their tank once a week or so. The calcium from the exoskeleton of the shrimp is good for the clams shell.
- Do they attack fish? For some reason in my head, I picture a cory swimming into the shell to explore, and having the shell snap shut onto it. I don't think that happens, does it?
The don't attack fish on purpose that I'm aware of. In a case like you describe they may accidentally close on a bottom dwelling fish however it seems unlikely. For the most part they will close up when they feel a fish getting near. I doubt it would be a problem. When I kept them in the past I didn't have any bottom dwellers in the tank however so I can't say for sure.
- Are they easy? I'm not the most experienced aquarium keeper. I only keep small, easy to care for fish.
They seem pretty easy, however they also can be trouble if you're not careful. Like I mentioned at the top, if the clams die they can foul the water and make a horrible smell. When people keep them in well manicured tanks they also have a tendency to die faster. Weekly water changes for example deplete nutrients that the clams need to feed on.
Hope this helps.

[nmb7895]

Fish have been in the aquarium since I got it. I err... cycled with them in it.
I also read on the net that some people drop in salt water plankton into their water?


If I order 1 online it'll cost 35 dollars, and they have a 25 dollar minimum.

Let's see if I can work this out somehow. I need 3 more neon tetra, and I was looking for a new piece of driftwood. I'm going to look around and see if I can hit 25 dollars, and even so the total will be around 50 dollars for a clam and 3 tetra...

But WOW, 35 dollars shipping! I can understand taking special care for an Arowana or something, but a clam? Is there some kind of free shipping coupon or something? Why would anyone pay 35 dollars shipping on a 3 dollar fish?

[850R]

But WOW, 35 dollars shipping! I can understand taking special care for an Arowana or something, but a clam? Is there some kind of free shipping coupon or something? Why would anyone pay 35 dollars shipping on a 3 dollar fish?It's a shame you feel that way about the clam before you even get it.

No free shipping coupon. Do you really want your LIVE stock shipped at a bargain rate & velocity? Really?

Most are probably not paying 35$ shipping on a 3$ fish - they are paying 35$ shipping on at least 25$ worth of stuff they want to arrive alive.

I'd wager few people order the absolute minimum amount required when shipping as it's not especially a good deal as you noticed.

[jetajockey]

I don't know much about clam care apart from a few stories about people trying and failing.

As far as shipping goes, try to find a place that ships priority. A lot of priority packages reach their destination in 2 days, especially if sent on saturdays. If you must have the fish overnight, try to find a seller in-state as that reduces the express shipping cost dramatically (~$10 less usually) . Nearly every fish I've had shipped in has been priority though, the only time I do express is for really rare fish/groups or expensive ones (the two seem to go together, go figure lol). Most of the fish I ship out are via priority also, the only exception has been if someone requests express, or if I am shipping black corys, because they are difficult to replace.

I like that liveaquaria has a lot of fish available but their shipping rate is ridiculous and honestly most of their fish prices tend to be high. For an example, look up their electric blue rams.

[nmb7895]

You wouldn't happen to know an upstate New York fish distributor, would you? I think I may be too far from NYC to take advantage of their stores, but I'm not sure.

I found a place in Arizona that had golden clams that they were selling for 99 cents, and were 7 dollars shipping if you lived in the state. That is much closer to what I was thinking. It was almost 50 to ship them to NY... :P


What's their bioload? Is it super heavy, or is it closer to shrimp or a small fish?

[Sursion]

If you've kept inverts before, then you should know the basics. Well established tank, calcium, low nitrates, etc.

Clams won't slam shut on curious fish. All clams do is sit there and bury once in a while.