Grocery Store Clams

[kcstrad]

What are the risks of adding fresh (live) clams bought at the store for steaming and consuming into the tank. I bought a 10lb bag yesterday for 7 bucks and as I was going through it, decided to discard some of the partialy opened ones into the tank. as soon as I did, my peppermint and banded shripms darted out and started pring them open and having a meal.

Would putting the closed ones (good ones for consumption) pose any problems/risk? right now I just limited to the ones you shoudl eat (cracked or opened).

 

[danmhippo]

Those are the cold water species, would not survive for long term in your tank.

Some species are actually brackish or fresh water species, putting them into saltwater will kill them too.

 

[Bucktronix]

i have a buddy who uses them as nutriant export filters. he swears by them. personaly i like em with lemon and butter.

 

[Anonymous]

I chop them up when I make fish food.

Getting the live ones is a great idea. when they sell dead ones, they usually put sulfites/phosphates in them as a preservative.

B

 

[rayjay]

They ARE cold water clams but many survive in my tanks anyway.
I buy a bunch and cut them open to put into my butterfly tanks.
Some can be very long term survivors as I found out when I shut down one of my tanks some time ago. When removing the substrate, I found several live clams that I'd forgotten were even left in that tank.
Even the worst will normally last long enough to be used up while still alive.

 

[fungia]

are these coldwater clams hardier then the tropical ones? the tropical clams that filter feed dont live very long at all.

 

[danmhippo]

The tropical clams that filter feed dont live very long at all.

They are equally long lived, and if condition is right, they may outlive your tank's life.

It's your water parameter that they die in your tank. If you can't keep the tropical species alive, you shouldn't even try the coldwater species. All filter feeding organism need specific sized food particles. They do not filter feed everything that happens to float by.

 

[Logic_Bomb]

Just curious if anyone has tried either muscles or oysters, as long as we are on the subject :lol:

 

[danmhippo]

Yes, they are equally great with lemon, bayleaves and butter. :mrgreen:



There are tropical species of mussel and oyster that hitchhiked with LR. Most will survive provided there are plenty of suspended microscopic food particles suitable for their need......(aka high nutrient water, which is bad for reef tanks)