clam food

[sharkboy]

Typically, what foods are provided for clams? Is phytoplankton necessary or is maintaining proper calcium/alk levels the only thing that matters? Where do you find live phytoplankton? Has anyone ever used marine snow? Suggestions.....

[Ross]

phytoplankton is awesome, and essential when they are small. as they grow they rely more on phytosysthesis than filterfeeding, and after 3in or so you dont need to feed them so much anymore, but no matter the size they will still enjoy phytoplankton

[apedroza]

I use Dt's phyto and Marine Snow (alternate) and My clam really opens up when feeding the snow.

[sharkboy]

Do you use any sort of direct feeding method or just place the stuff in the tank?

[apedroza]

Usually I place the stuff in the tank, but the clam is near a flow out put so once the food hits the flow it gets the food directly.

[SueT]

the problem with Marine Snow is it is about 99% water. DT's, Phytofeast are live based phyto's and are the best for baby clams. They can't be direct fed as that can clog their gills and will kill them. Baby clams can be bowl fed or if the system is a smaller type then turning pumps off and feeding will also work great.

[sharkboy]

I've seen the coke bottle method....will this clog their gills also? I am guessing this is similar to being bowl fed......

[SueT]

no, the coke bottle is actually a much better choice in feeding baby clams. When they talk about gills getting clogged that is done usually when someone uses a syringe and tries to feed the clam like that. Just with the bottle over the clam would work fine.