Freshwater Clams

[Oni Angel-Hannya]

I have a few FW clams and would like to know how to feed and care for them.And do they need calcium?

[toehead11183]

they are filter feeders. they just suck their food out of the water. they do need calcium for their shells.

[fatherof5]

What kind of clams do you have?

[Oni Angel-Hannya]

What kind of clams do you have?I don't know.There just brown,regularly shaped clams.

[Manny Stiles]

I have two that I found locally and put in a tank to investigate/observe... I quarantined them for a while because I read they are very susceptible to diseases and parasites. For a long time I thought they were dead, but they kept moving around ever so slightly and there was nothing big enough to move them in the tank.

They have grown some and apparently they move around but I have never caught them in the act. I would venture to believe they prefer mud and silt over sand or small gravel...

I'm proud that I've had them as long as I have without them dying or killing everything else in my tank.

But to be honest, until I saw this thread I haven't thought about them in a month or so... They are great pets for the absentminded and unaware, I suppose! (smileythingee here)

[Crazy Taco]

why not just get a clam shaped rock?

[Weylin]

Cool.. Never heard of them before... Anyone have pics of them ?

[likestofish]

i use those for catfish bait, fresh water mussels are harder to find but are a lot cooler looking.

[likestofish]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:z6wGuvfcg7q8cM:http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/clam_freshwater_w180.jpg (http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/clam_freshwater_w180.jpg)http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/permex/mussels/mu-pl108.jpgThe first is a clam the second is a mussel. Also did you know there is a parasitic mussel that goes fishing.http://cars.er.usgs.gov/posters/Ecotoxicology/Endrocine/buckleyi_2a.jpg

[Weylin]

Very cool... I should try and find some of these..

[Mystus Redtail]

why not just get a clam shaped rock?


:ROFL: lmao

[Manny Stiles]

two pics - one of each of my clams, how do I post them on this page?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/41231/cat/2


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/41232/cat/2

[Onion01]

two pics - one of each of my clams, how do I post them on this page?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/41231/cat/2


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/41232/cat/2

click on the little postcard looking icon above the text box and paste the address of your pics

[Onion01]

here you go...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=4 http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=41232http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=41231

[Manny Stiles]

True enough... but free clams from the muddy canal are cheaper than clam shaped rocks. But with all of this talk about them... I forgot how much I loved those little motionless bassturds. I might go muck it up and get more!!! I'll show you guys!!!

Maybe I'll dress them up with little top hats and teeny coats with tails? And line them up in a chorus line? Can't do that with clam shaped rocks! Oh, wait...

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I'v never had any luck with FW clams mine always died after a week or so.

[mike dunagan]

do they really do anything for the tank?

[mike dunagan]

What type of claims would be safe in a tank... ones without parasite stage...

[melinat]

I found some FW clams at the local petstore when I was about fourteen, and kept them in a bowl with my betta. It lived until the betta caught fungus, and I now know that the medication was probably what finished him off. He was a neat little guy, and he used to open up and stick wierd feely things out and pull himself places. RIP my poor clam... :(
Anyways, as with all invertebrates, probably keep him away from fish meds that typically kill snails and crustaceans ( www.applesnail.net (http://www.applesnail.net) has a list under care--> diseases-->intoxication)
Acid water corrodes shells, keep it pH 7-8, and as far as I know they scavenge uneaten food and algae ( sometimes I poke food down near the mouths of my snails and they eat that readily). I havn't seen them in a petstore for years now sadly, and it's too bad because if you let them get used to your tank in a quiet corner they'll get brave eventually and poke thier foot out and move around the tank in search of leftovers.

[benzjamin13]

I kinda want a few, but I'd figured I can just go a few miles north and get them from a nearby lake or drive 30 minutes away and buy some. I used to work at a pet store and we had some before, but that's because my co-worker and manager went to collect them from a stream.

[fatherof5]

I just collect my from the local lakes

[Polypterus]

Freshwater Mussels are among the most Endangered species on this planet they are also Frequently heavily protected on a state and federal level.. Do not just go running around collecting these without the proper licensing and permits. Look up the state and federal laws before taking any of them..

[Tommydeal]

Here's a link with info on freshwater clams including buying them:
http://azgardens.com/aquarium_snails.php

[arowana man]

clams like green water

[neverrain]

i never thought of keeping clams.. but those look pretty awesome

[Danyal]

try throwing in some phytoplankton(for reef filter feeders) usually clams will slowly starve to death unless you've got a lot of water volume or green water.

[Tommydeal]

Is adding phytoplankton a viable way of making water green?

[mike dunagan]

could I put a few in my sump and let them feed? would that help my tank at all?

[cheeseb0y]

Here's a link with info on freshwater clams including buying them:
http://azgardens.com/aquarium_snails.php

I would recommend not ordering anything from AZgardens.com. Terrible customer service, excessive DOA. I don't know how they're still in business.

[CHOX]

Shoot, sorry I bumped an older thread without seeing this one. So would they be compatible with African Cichlids? I've always liked clams and have wanted to keep them.

[Tommydeal]

I've never ordered from AZgardens but good to know Cheeseb.

[addo]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:z6wGuvfcg7q8cM:http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/clam_freshwater_w180.jpg (http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/clam_freshwater_w180.jpg)http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/permex/mussels/mu-pl108.jpgThe first is a clam the second is a mussel. Also did you know there is a parasitic mussel that goes fishing.http://cars.er.usgs.gov/posters/Ecotoxicology/Endrocine/buckleyi_2a.jpg

If this is the kind i think its, then its actually not parasitic its larvae just attaches to the the gills of trout they don't feed on the fish. I think its a way for the clam to spread upstream. I'm a nerd LOL :naughty:

Freshwater Mussels are among the most Endangered species on this planet they are also Frequently heavily protected on a state and federal level.. Do not just go running around collecting these without the proper licensing and permits. Look up the state and federal laws before taking any of them..

important!

try throwing in some phytoplankton(for reef filter feeders) usually clams will slowly starve to death unless you've got a lot of water volume or green water.

Mine always starved :( the longest i managed to keep one alive was 1.5 years, and they live really long in the wild.

[Moontanman]

I keep the small freshwater asian clams, they are round and light brown or yellow. they do well if there is lots of mulm in the aquarium and you don't filter the water. this species of clam has live young and will multiply under the right conditions.

[Dan Feller]

Freshwater Mussels are among the most Endangered species on this planet they are also Frequently heavily protected on a state and federal level.. Do not just go running around collecting these without the proper licensing and permits. Look up the state and federal laws before taking any of them..

There are freshwater mussels in the cleaner parts of the local creeks around here. They are pretty rare but I do a lot of snorkeling and I've seen quite a few. I don't think these would do well in most aquariums as they need cold, clear, fast-flowing water. They sit half-buried in the river rock bottom with their open ends sticking out.

Zebra mussels are freshwater mussels that don't seem to be dying off... :(

[fish tamer]

nice looking