finally, do i have to feed clams?

[Eduardo Cavalcanti]

dr. ron says that a great number of clam deaths could be prevented if we fed phytoplancton to the aqua. Daniel Knop says that we don´t have to feed them, but he also recomends us to put yeast in the tank. so, who´s right about it?

i have a T. crocea right now and don´t know if so, what to put in my little nano to feed it. it´s 3 inches in size. DO I HAVE TO FEED IT? :roll:

 

[aliendomain]

Get some DTs. I feed it once or twice a week and the clams love it, its also great for softies and polyps.

 

[reefNewbie]

knop doesn't say not to feed, he talks about using a pipet to direct food to the clam.

I no some people actually take the clam out of the tank and place into a small container loaded with DT's for a few minutes. I dont no how good that is, constantly moving the clam.

 

[GSchiemer]

In fifteen years of keeping Tridacnid clams, I've never once directly fed one. IMO, it's unnecessary in a typical reef aquarium. And I'd love to know how one can tell that "clams love it" when fed DT's phytoplankton

Greg Schiemer

 

[Anonymous]

I have heard that those under 2" should get additional phyto added to the tank, although I don't know if there are any facts behind it. I never fed a clam.

 

[toptank]

Smaller Tridacnid clams do not have the mantle surface to have enough symbiotic aglae to live solely off photosynthesis alone.

D. Knop

It is a widespread misconception that clams live solely on their sybiotic aglae. The presence of a fully developed intestinal tract with digestive glands, bowels, and anal papilla as described in the chapter on anatomy speaks for the contrary.





Gerald Heslinga

Since the early work of Sir Maurice Yonge and the Great Barrier Reef expedition, a great deal has been learned about the giant clams. The mode of nutrition for these bivalves can now be described in great detail. In order to summarize the nutrition of the tridacnids, several aspects must be examined. First this study concludes that while the selective "farming" of zooxanthellae, described by Yonge (1936), may provide incidental nutrition to the tridacnids, this is should not be considered a major aspect of the clams nutritional budget. This review also examined the importance of filter feeding to the nutrition of the clam. It appears that in fact the tridacnids do obtain nutrition from this heterotrophic source. The amount of nutrition that the tridacnids receive from this source appears to be directly related the type of species and the size of the clam.

There is research going on at this time with feeding Tridacnid Clams with different products and the lack of feeding.

Dr. Ronald Shimek, Ph.D.

Even small clams require a lot of algal food, without which their chances of survival are marginal. Many aquarists have had the experence of keeping Tridacna alive for a few months after which they mysteriously die, after seemingly "doing well" Well...they haven't done well, they have slowly starved to death using up all their energy reserves and finally dying. All of these deaths could have been prevented by adequate feeding with good phytoplankon.

Sorry for this long reply. Hope this helps.

Barry

 

[aliendomain]

Listen to Barry, he handles more clams in a month than most of us will see in ten years.

I have kept my fair share of Tridacna and I never fed them until I had read Knop's "Giant Clams". Where I never lost clams from lack of feeding I also never had as great growth as when feeding DTs. Greg maybe you should give it a try I think you would notice the difference it makes.

 

[reefNewbie]

do you just dose dt's in the water, or somehow target feed with it?

 

[aliendomain]

I add it near the clams with a turkey baster that I use just for spot feeding, some take the clams out and put them in a basin for a short period with the DTs, personally I don't mind doing it in the tank because it's also beneficial for soft corals and gorgonians. I only feed it once or twice a week some people use it more often and some use it less, it depends on your system and the amount of clams and other filter feeders you are keeping.

 

[Will C1]

i feed my two maximas once a week or so with dt's i dont really know if this helps but my smaller one has grown 1" in the 8mo's or so i have had it.

 

[Anonymous]

Heh... if Gregs clams grow any more his he'll have to trade up from his 500...

 

[GSchiemer]

Listen to Barry, he handles more clams in a month than most of us will see in ten years.

I have kept my fair share of Tridacna and I never fed them until I had read Knop's "Giant Clams". Where I never lost clams from lack of feeding I also never had as great growth as when feeding DTs. Greg maybe you should give it a try I think you would notice the difference it makes.

Your post gave me a chuckle. I've been forced to sell two of my clams over the past few years because they outgrew my 500 gallon reef aquarium. These were clams that I've had for well over 10 years. These old pictures from 1999 show some of the clams in my aquarium. They average 11 years in age and 12-15 inches in length. The oldest, a T. crocea, is 15 years old! The largest, a T. gigas, is now 24 inches in length and had to be moved to it's own 60 gallon aquarium. It's hard to see the T. crocea and large T. squamosa clams in these pics. All these clams grew from small juvenile specimens.

IMO and IME, you don't need to directly feed clams in a mature reef aquarium with a thriving population of fish. If you want to support the guy that sells the DT stuff, then by all means continue to buy it.

Greg Schiemer

 

[Anonymous]

Dont they very small (under 1") clams need suplimental feeding?


I remember a post, somebody was going to get them imported, these guys were tiny, 1/4" but I dont recall if there is still a source sellign them like this

 

[GSchiemer]

Listen to Barry, he handles more clams in a month than most of us will see in ten years.

I have kept my fair share of Tridacna and I never fed them until I had read Knop's "Giant Clams". Where I never lost clams from lack of feeding I also never had as great growth as when feeding DTs. Greg maybe you should give it a try I think you would notice the difference it makes.

I took this pic a few miuntes ago of my 24 inch T. gigas clam that I've had for 13 years. The last time I moved it it weighed 40 pounds. It now resides by itself in a 60 gallon refugium aquarium. The two clowns regularly lay eggs on the side of its shell. For reference, the clowns are almost three inches long. Look at the big belly on the female. She's bursting with eggs. And there are the freshly laid eggs!

Oh, I never fed this clam and it grew to this size from a three-inch juvenile. Frankly, I wish it would STOP growing

Greg Schiemer

Ps: I sure hope everyone has a broadband internet connection; otherwise sorry about all the pics. I just think pictures say a lot more than words.

 

[Will C1]

wow thats a big clam...i would be interested in getting some more deteils from you on your set up. i would love to get my clams that size...also as i looked at your pic my wife really liked that blue and black striped fish, what is it?

 

[toptank]

Greg,

You have a 500 gal tank and a large fish load with plenty of nutritoinal value but the average hobbyist I would say they most likely do not. You have a very well established mature tank.

Quote: Gerald Heslinga
The nature of the debate revolved around the function and processes involved in the zooxanthellae symbiosis. One of the most debated issues has been the role of zooxanthellae in the nutrition of tridacnid clams. The means by which zooxanthellae provides nutrients to the clams and the amount of nutrition supplied, compared to normal feeding means (filter feeding) are topics that have been researched with varying results.

Like the above quote says, " been researched with varying results". Not all things being equal.


Quote:
In the study conducted by Klumpp et. al (1992) which agreed with the premise that autotrophy was the major source of carbon, the emphasis on filter feeding was not overlooked. The study indicated that contributions of heterotrophy (filter feeding) were indeed significant to the growth of tridacnids. The study found that it was possible for small clams to receive as much as 65% of their total carbon requirements from filter feeding, while larger specimens could acquire up to 34% of their carbon from this source.

I think what we are both trying to say is that if your tank is low on nutrients and is not a matured tank then the alternative might be supplemental feeding. A tank set up 3-6 months and sometimes even longer does not mean it is matured.

Greg, your tank is just plan awesome and I can see that you have a passion for Tridacnid Clams as well


Regards,

Barry Neigut

 

[Reefguide]

Awesome Pics !!! I hate to Hijack a thread but...

Greg,

I'd like you opinion... Can a clam do ok under PC's or are MH's a must...

Thanks...

 

[Reefguide]

Actually just checked out your site.... Any clams out there that will do okay under PC's?

Lighting

With Tridacna clams lighting is very important to their health, growth and brilliant coloration.

T. Crocea, T. Maxima, and T. Derasa require the most intense lighting. Recommended lighting is Metal Halide.


T. Squamosa, recommended lighting is medium to high.

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
There are many reports of success of PC light for the T. gigas, T. squamosa, and T. derasa..

I never feed my clams. But then, I never feed my purple tang, mandrainfish, and the cardinal fishes, FWIW.

 

[Eduardo Cavalcanti]

greg,.
your tank is breathtaking. one question: when you bought these tridacnas, you already had this 500g tank? because i agrre with barry, in this tank you have now that surely is a lot of plankton going on and maybe this is enough for your clams.

another thing, has any of you tried yeast to feed clams? i think that this is what knop defends. i an currently putting some im my tank and still haven't noticed any difference.

one last thing, the koralvit of knop is based in yeast, isn't it?