How to Take Care of a Live Clam
Place clams in well-established tanks for the best results., Provide a sandy bottom for your clams., Add other fish to create a vibrant aquarium systems around your clams., Augment your clams natural food with feedings 1-2 a week., Note the speed a...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Place clams in well-established tanks for the best results.
Clams are animals, not plants, though they are often marketed as "filters." This is only partially true.
Unlike plants, which filter chemicals out of the water and use light to make food, clams are "filter feeders," meaning that they eat small organisms and algae that they pull out of the water.
A brand new tank, however, will not have any other life developed, meaning your clams could starve without proper care., Clams like to hide and feel safe, sitting in the bottom of the tank and filtering out all the food waste and leftovers that drift down to the bottom.
You want roughly 4 inches (10.2 cm) of sand for them to nest in.
Make sure you rinse your substrate (sand) off before adding it to the tank, especially if you've taken it from a natural environment.
You want a nice, fine substrate, something with a grain size between 1 to 3mm., Snails and coldwater fish all create food waste and scrapes that are perfect to feed your clams.
With a strong ecosystem around them, most clams will need little other maintenance beyond the occasional check-up, as they eat the leftovers of the other fish.
They can also keep your tank clean by filtering our some algae and microorganisms.
Freshwater puffers, some catfish species, and loaches will all eat clams if they get hungry enough, so it is best to keep them in separate tanks., Your clams can eat a lot of the food leftover by the rest of the tank, but, especially in newer tanks with fewer organisms, they will need some extra food to truly thrive.
This is especially essential if you have a lot of clams, or many larger, adult clams.
You can use clam food, found at your local pet store and often sold as "sinking algae wafers," or you can make your own mixture, pureed in a blender and given to your clams individually: 1/3 pound red meat (hamburger, beef liver, beef heart) OR Fish with Roe Beef Blood (drippings from beef package) 1 tsp Cod Liver Oil ¼ tsp Yeast 2-3 tablespoons water from the aquarium the clams live in. , A good, healthy clam will spring closed quickly if you touch it or it feels like it is being threatened.
This is a naturally clammy defense mechanism.
Every 2-3 weeks, pull your clams out and make sure that they close up quickly.
Since they bury themselves in the sand, finding dead clams can be tough, but you can make it easier on yourself:
Poke 10-20 holes in a clean, single serving applesauce container.
Place 2-3 clams (depending on size) into the container.
Cover them in sand so that the tops are still visible at the top.
Place the container at the bottom of your tank, removing it with your clams whenever you need to check on them., Dead clams release a large spike of ammonia, which can damage or even kill other animals in the tank.
This is why checking your clams regularly is so important.
Make sure that they still close up rapidly.
If they won't close at all, they've likely died and should be discarded.
Dead clams also have a rank, fishy odor.
If you are unsure if a clam is dead, try making a small, separate "maintenance tank." Feed them and provide a nice, sandy bottom and see if they begin to react after 4-5 days., Clams are not water filtration systems, and they will not keep your tank clean and happy all on their own.
You still need a water filtration system, plants, and carefully monitored water levels to ensure that your tank is healthy and happy. -
Step 2: Provide a sandy bottom for your clams.
-
Step 3: Add other fish to create a vibrant aquarium systems around your clams.
-
Step 4: Augment your clams natural food with feedings 1-2 a week.
-
Step 5: Note the speed a clam closes up to measure health.
-
Step 6: Remove dead clams from your tank quickly.
-
Step 7: Do not rely on clams to filter your water.
Detailed Guide
Clams are animals, not plants, though they are often marketed as "filters." This is only partially true.
Unlike plants, which filter chemicals out of the water and use light to make food, clams are "filter feeders," meaning that they eat small organisms and algae that they pull out of the water.
A brand new tank, however, will not have any other life developed, meaning your clams could starve without proper care., Clams like to hide and feel safe, sitting in the bottom of the tank and filtering out all the food waste and leftovers that drift down to the bottom.
You want roughly 4 inches (10.2 cm) of sand for them to nest in.
Make sure you rinse your substrate (sand) off before adding it to the tank, especially if you've taken it from a natural environment.
You want a nice, fine substrate, something with a grain size between 1 to 3mm., Snails and coldwater fish all create food waste and scrapes that are perfect to feed your clams.
With a strong ecosystem around them, most clams will need little other maintenance beyond the occasional check-up, as they eat the leftovers of the other fish.
They can also keep your tank clean by filtering our some algae and microorganisms.
Freshwater puffers, some catfish species, and loaches will all eat clams if they get hungry enough, so it is best to keep them in separate tanks., Your clams can eat a lot of the food leftover by the rest of the tank, but, especially in newer tanks with fewer organisms, they will need some extra food to truly thrive.
This is especially essential if you have a lot of clams, or many larger, adult clams.
You can use clam food, found at your local pet store and often sold as "sinking algae wafers," or you can make your own mixture, pureed in a blender and given to your clams individually: 1/3 pound red meat (hamburger, beef liver, beef heart) OR Fish with Roe Beef Blood (drippings from beef package) 1 tsp Cod Liver Oil ¼ tsp Yeast 2-3 tablespoons water from the aquarium the clams live in. , A good, healthy clam will spring closed quickly if you touch it or it feels like it is being threatened.
This is a naturally clammy defense mechanism.
Every 2-3 weeks, pull your clams out and make sure that they close up quickly.
Since they bury themselves in the sand, finding dead clams can be tough, but you can make it easier on yourself:
Poke 10-20 holes in a clean, single serving applesauce container.
Place 2-3 clams (depending on size) into the container.
Cover them in sand so that the tops are still visible at the top.
Place the container at the bottom of your tank, removing it with your clams whenever you need to check on them., Dead clams release a large spike of ammonia, which can damage or even kill other animals in the tank.
This is why checking your clams regularly is so important.
Make sure that they still close up rapidly.
If they won't close at all, they've likely died and should be discarded.
Dead clams also have a rank, fishy odor.
If you are unsure if a clam is dead, try making a small, separate "maintenance tank." Feed them and provide a nice, sandy bottom and see if they begin to react after 4-5 days., Clams are not water filtration systems, and they will not keep your tank clean and happy all on their own.
You still need a water filtration system, plants, and carefully monitored water levels to ensure that your tank is healthy and happy.
About the Author
Diana Hughes
A seasoned expert in education and learning, Diana Hughes combines 3 years of experience with a passion for teaching. Diana's guides are known for their clarity and practical value.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: