Flame Scallop
- Thread starter wigle36
- Start date
shrimpi
Active Member
they are known for being difficult to keep...
scallops are usually in more turbid water where there is alot of proteins, plankton, etc in the water.
Most die of starvation because our home tanks dont have the constantly available food. If you just got him, say goodbye, not because he will necessarily die, but because he will hide behind the rocks. they 'clam' thier way into little crevices and such. I tried to place mine in the front of the tank several times, but he just 'clammed' himself to the back again.
They eat micro foods, like plankton, cyclops, zoplan, etc. Some have been known to eat small brine, although Ive never seen this. You shouldnt directly target feed them either, from what Ive read, target feeding can 'clog' thier filtering abilities and ultimately cause starvation. Turn off your overflow, put some filter feed in there, let the powerhead spread it around real well, then kill the powerhead for a little while to let the scallop (and corals too) suck up some of the food. Some people kill the skimmer too, but my skimmer is in my sump, so if the overflow is off, the skimmer is only skimming the water in the sump during that time.
Ive had mine for about 5 months, and he seems to be doing well.
The only problem with this type of feeding is that it causes the water to get crappy (hence the reason why most people only target feed) but large scale feeding is what they need.
If you feed well, leave him to move where he pleases, and keep your water in good condition (feeding this way = more filter media changes, and water changes) he will do fine.
They are alot more work than you would think, and most of them die.
Good Luck to you
Jessica / Shrimpi
scallops are usually in more turbid water where there is alot of proteins, plankton, etc in the water.
Most die of starvation because our home tanks dont have the constantly available food. If you just got him, say goodbye, not because he will necessarily die, but because he will hide behind the rocks. they 'clam' thier way into little crevices and such. I tried to place mine in the front of the tank several times, but he just 'clammed' himself to the back again.
They eat micro foods, like plankton, cyclops, zoplan, etc. Some have been known to eat small brine, although Ive never seen this. You shouldnt directly target feed them either, from what Ive read, target feeding can 'clog' thier filtering abilities and ultimately cause starvation. Turn off your overflow, put some filter feed in there, let the powerhead spread it around real well, then kill the powerhead for a little while to let the scallop (and corals too) suck up some of the food. Some people kill the skimmer too, but my skimmer is in my sump, so if the overflow is off, the skimmer is only skimming the water in the sump during that time.
Ive had mine for about 5 months, and he seems to be doing well.
The only problem with this type of feeding is that it causes the water to get crappy (hence the reason why most people only target feed) but large scale feeding is what they need.
If you feed well, leave him to move where he pleases, and keep your water in good condition (feeding this way = more filter media changes, and water changes) he will do fine.
They are alot more work than you would think, and most of them die.
Good Luck to you
Jessica / Shrimpi
H
huskychasrs
Guest
Definite N00B here!
I'm at three weeks on mine and doing good I target feed 1-2 times a week.
I'm worried about the thing self-destructing during the night and polluting the tank though.
I'm at three weeks on mine and doing good I target feed 1-2 times a week.
I'm worried about the thing self-destructing during the night and polluting the tank though.
shrimpi
Active Member
I dont think you have to worry about that.
Most of the time the scallops 'waste away' then die. There would probably not be too much mantle in there to crap up your water.
Also, being that it is a soft meat, your cleanup crew would go bonkers.
You need to worry about large things dying, or anemones. As long as you take him out when he dies (within like 4 hrs? maybe) he shouldnt do too much to your water. You can always do a large water change if it comes down to it.
Make sure you check on him everyday. Because they go in the back of the tank and hide... he may die and you wont even know it, If you leave him in the tank to decompose simply because you didnt even know he died, that could hurt your water.
Its just like anything else dying. I dont beleive scallops have any poisinous excretions either.
Most of the time the scallops 'waste away' then die. There would probably not be too much mantle in there to crap up your water.
Also, being that it is a soft meat, your cleanup crew would go bonkers.
You need to worry about large things dying, or anemones. As long as you take him out when he dies (within like 4 hrs? maybe) he shouldnt do too much to your water. You can always do a large water change if it comes down to it.
Make sure you check on him everyday. Because they go in the back of the tank and hide... he may die and you wont even know it, If you leave him in the tank to decompose simply because you didnt even know he died, that could hurt your water.
Its just like anything else dying. I dont beleive scallops have any poisinous excretions either.
jessica47421
Active Member
i have had 2 and they both lasted 3-4 months then they just slowly went to a empty shell i spot fed them 2 times a day and they did great for a while then they just died.
scubaguy
Member
Yeah, I had two and both have died. I tried spot feeding and let them find there own spot but thye died anyway. About the LFS, I also bought a Goniopora - Green from them and they also are not know to live long, which mine did not. The LFS most not all are out to make a buck and if they can keep selling items then they will. The scallops look cool when the electric shots from side to side, that is why most people buy them. I also did not do my research and found out after I bought them.
