fresh water clams

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Clams are filter feeders. So, in that respect, they will remove particulate matter that is viable as food. They are not, however, garbage disposals. Any non-food material taken in is just as quickly discharged. If a systems filtration is up to the task of keeping the tank clean, clams will perform additional water polishing and substrate aeration.
Keep in mind that adding clams to a system is like adding any other organism. They add to your bio-mass/load by consuming O2 and discharging waste products.
 
I've had FW clams before, although they are filter feeders I dont think they would help in keeping the water clean...maybe if you had a bunch of them in a tank but even then I dont think they would have much of an impact on water quality.

I wouldnt keep clams anymore due to the following reasons...

1. Once they are in the tank they just bury themselves...you rarely see them.
2. A dead clam can foul the water very quickly...and if you refer back to #1. How will you know if its dead if you never see them?

just my .02
 
I got a dozen of these guys about three months ago. I didn't notice a change in the cleanliness of the water, but its hard to be sure. About a month ago, I noticed that a few of them had came out of the gravel where they had been burried and opened up. I assume this means they died. The only thing I can think is they died because they didn't have enough food- my aquarium is heavily planted and maybe the plants absorbed the nutrients the clams needed. I have no idea really, this is just a guess. Hope this helped answer your question.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom