cleaner clam
- Thread starter suzi1780
- Start date
wasupdavey
New Member
From what I hear about littlenecks are the main cause of death is lack of floating particles and also these guys live in mainly brackish waters. The salinity in which they live is lower than our tanks. If your salinity is high around 1.026 or so thats probably the case.
1knight164
Member
Originally Posted by wasupdavey
From what I hear about littlenecks are the main cause of death is lack of floating particles and also these guys live in mainly brackish waters.
I just read on another thread that mentioned the same thing. They are filter feeders and eat particles, not nitrates. So they control nitrates by reducing the source and not eating nitrates directly. I had 7 in a 55 gal and now i'm down to 4. It's been a while since the last one died so i'm hoping they're happy.
Found the thread:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...=152707&page=3
From what I hear about littlenecks are the main cause of death is lack of floating particles and also these guys live in mainly brackish waters.
I just read on another thread that mentioned the same thing. They are filter feeders and eat particles, not nitrates. So they control nitrates by reducing the source and not eating nitrates directly. I had 7 in a 55 gal and now i'm down to 4. It's been a while since the last one died so i'm hoping they're happy.
Found the thread:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...=152707&page=3
justlooking
Member
I think if one buries and dies, it can also cause a nitrate problem. Can shrimp do just as good a job filtering out tiny food particles?
justlooking
Member
My friend had used clams for awhile. They do filter feed which is good, but if you have many detriovores in your substrate they will eventually do just as good a job. Only possible downside to clams is if you have small shrimp or very tiny fish who are too curious, the clams will lockup real quick.
wasupdavey
New Member
Interesting, when I get my Q-Tank running I'm going to throw some in there to see which ones are alive and living well for about a week and put about 3 of them into my main 29gal tank. I'll update on pictures as soon as I get my Q-Tank running. No sand in Q-Tank so it will be able to see visibly.
reefkprz
Active Member
Originally Posted by justlooking
Only possible downside to clams is if you have small shrimp or very tiny fish who are too curious, the clams will lockup real quick.
this is highly improbable (if your indicating a fish could be hurt) the clams are just as likley to stand up and dance the macarena. a shrimp or crab may lose a leg but the chances of the clam killing anything are slim to none.
Only possible downside to clams is if you have small shrimp or very tiny fish who are too curious, the clams will lockup real quick.
this is highly improbable (if your indicating a fish could be hurt) the clams are just as likley to stand up and dance the macarena. a shrimp or crab may lose a leg but the chances of the clam killing anything are slim to none.
1knight164
Member
Originally Posted by justlooking
I think if one buries and dies, it can also cause a nitrate problem.
The clams that died in my tank found their way to the top of the sand before they died. Don't think any died under the sand only because i haven't had any nitrate spikes. It was explained in another thread that, unlike mussles and oysters etc, the clams natural state (muscles relaxed) is open. It works to keep the shell closed. When it's dying, the shell opens up. Don't know if the opening of the shell forces it up, or if it's just the clams instinct.
I think if one buries and dies, it can also cause a nitrate problem.
The clams that died in my tank found their way to the top of the sand before they died. Don't think any died under the sand only because i haven't had any nitrate spikes. It was explained in another thread that, unlike mussles and oysters etc, the clams natural state (muscles relaxed) is open. It works to keep the shell closed. When it's dying, the shell opens up. Don't know if the opening of the shell forces it up, or if it's just the clams instinct.