Clam Growth

[JimD]

This guys putting on some fairly impressive shell. I direct feed it two times a week and it loves it!
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p114/JimD_photo/DSC00095.jpg

[JimD]

oops..
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p114/JimD_photo/DSC00097.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Wow! GREAT looking clam!

[aggman]

what are you feeding yours? i haven't begun spot feeding my corals or clams, but i was considering it. at this point i am feeding oysterfeast, phytofeast and arctipods that i mix in a small measuring flask with tank water and feed passively 3x a week. i get okay growth, but i think feeding directly my boost it up, and provide less waste.

~alex

[JimD]

Im using Phyto Feast but I dont add it to the tank, I put it in a small container of tank water along with the clam and let him feed for about an hour and a half or until the water is clear. Im gonna feed it later today, Ill take some before and after pics so you can see the results..

[stoneroller]

Show us your contraption!

[JimD]

Ok, heres the clam in the feeding container...
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p114/JimD_photo/DSC00098.jpg

and this is about an hour and a half later....
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p114/JimD_photo/DSC00099.jpg

[robalv]

thats not target feeding thats isolated feeding, cool guess it dosent stress it out moving it around too much if its showing that much growth.

[JimD]

Nope, its direct feeding...

[robalv]

same difference you knew what I ment , everyones gotta be a smarty

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

Wow JimD, you have me sold......gonna start this process tonight.

[JimD]

Not trying to be a 'smarty', it says 'direct feed' in the very first post... Never said anything about target feeding..
"I direct feed it two times a week and it loves it!"
It really doesnt matter, the results speak for themselvs right?..
As far as stress goes, the clam doesnt seem to mind at all...
All small clams need to be fed, without it, their chances of survival are slim.
Let us know how your clam reacts Cheri!

[aggman]

this is cool.

does this bowl have any flow or movement? i think i will try this tonite. and how much of the phytofeast do you squirt into that for each clam?

~alex

[JimD]

No flow in the bowl, you need to limit the time depending on the size of the container, an hour and a half seems to work for me. I add about two droppers full, what doesnt get used by the clam I just add to the tank.

[stoneroller]

Doesn't look like there is much left at all. I wish the phytofeast came with a clam, lol.

[OrionN]

I am sure clams do better with feeding but disagree that they require feeding to do well. My 1.5 inches Maxima and 1.25 inch Crocea do just fine without feeding. Once my clam establish in my tank, they do well unless some tank disaster happened. I do observed and make sure that my clam get quarantine in a take for a while to make sure that they are disease free and no parasites before put them into final display. I have multiple system with MH so this is easy for me to do.

[Pennies2Cents]

wow Jim. that is a great contraption. How do you hang it on your tank? I think Im gonna try tonight as well :)

[JimD]

Its just an clip from a clip on fan that bit the dust...

Its not absolutely necessary to feed, however, the chances of a small clam less than two inches to survive are far greater if you do, especially if theres no food source available in the water...

[Mr Cob]

Great method Jim! I don't have a clam but I will try this on my next clam. Thanks for sharing.

[Europhyllia]

Wow. JimD, I so have wanted a clam but was worried about how to adequately care for it. This is awesome!

One litle question: If I understand it correctly the clam (crocea) eventually anchors itself to the rock. Do you put it on a small rock so that you can move the rock with it?
Or do your clams just don't attach?

[JimD]

They really dont have the chance to fully attach as I usually feed three times a week untill they get to be about 3" or so. Putting them on a small rock would work though, absolutely...

[Europhyllia]

Too late! My little clam attached itself in less than 3 days. Guess I'll be buying a lot of DT's to dose the whole tank... LOL