Copperband Butterfly and grocery store clams....

[groupergenius]

Would anyone who has actually done this come forward and give details on success or failures. What technique was used to present the clam, as well as what type of clam.
I have a copperband that is eating mysis and Rod's food, but I would like to supplement it's feeding with a littleneck clam once in a while. I have heard comments that CBB like clams, but talk is cheap. I would like to hear from those that have actually done it.
Thanks in advance, Mark.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2780937
Would anyone who has actually done this come forward and give details on success or failures. What technique was used to present the clam, as well as what type of clam.
I have a copperband that is eating mysis and Rod's food, but I would like to supplement it's feeding with a littleneck clam once in a while. I have heard comments that CBB like clams, but talk is cheap. I would like to hear from those that have actually done it.
Thanks in advance, Mark.
I never knew a fish that didn't like a fresh clam. Its also a great way to get a fussy new fish eating. Just take a grocery store clam (cherrystone, littleneck, etc) and either pry it open or whack it with a hammer; and toss it in. The fish should go nuts. Remove shell & any leftovers after a couple hours.

 

[keri]

I've never done this but I have heard something about having to "flush" the clams of wastes for a couple of hours in a bucket of water to get rid of the crud that builds up while they are waiting to be sold? Someone please correct me if I'm wrrong but I'm pretty sure I read it here.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by Keri
http:///forum/post/2781592
I've never done this but I have heard something about having to "flush" the clams of wastes for a couple of hours in a bucket of water to get rid of the crud that builds up while they are waiting to be sold? Someone please correct me if I'm wrrong but I'm pretty sure I read it here.
I should have added that I give the opened clam a quick rinse before I feed it to the fish. This gets rid of the juices; but I don't know about the 2 hour soak; overkill to me. The clams are on ice, and any crud isn't any different than all the other crud our tank inhabitants produce. I eat clams & oysters fresh from the store......but who knows?

 

[mx#28]

The old trick is to freeze the clam to death and then just drop it into the tank. As the butterflies pick at the clam, it will slowly open more and more as it looses meat. This mimicks nature and seems to drive the fish wild.

 

[srfisher17]

I've seen this topic discussed many times and could never figure out what the big deal is. Taking a live, natural marine animal and feeding it to marine fish sure doesn't raise any red flags that I can see. Any seafood that is judged fit for humans is sure safe for fish; except for conspiracy theorists. I know I'm beating this to death, but I've heard the same concerns for years and just don't understand them. I'd worry more about all the Vietnamese shrimp & scallops we feed. (I don't really worry about them either. Feed your fish live clams and don't lose a minutes sleep. BTW, the freezing idea may be a good idea for finicky feeders that have to compete with hogs,like triggers.