File Clam "Flame Scallop"

[fishnut321]

Hey Everyone!

I want to know your experiences with these creatures and the important elements for the sucess of this animal. I know they need a large ammount of phyto plankton in the 1-50um range, no predation, and close observation. Anything else?

Is it possible to feed them in a seperate bucket with the right concentration of phyto instead of feeding the whole tank, giving the water a green tinge

Thanks for all who read and post on this, Happy new year!

[Monkeyfish]

Flame scallops typically do not fare well in home aquaria. The longest I've kept one is nine months. They usually do not last longer than a year. That being said, target feeding of phyto is a must. Squirt the phyto upstream of them. If you try to shoot it directly into their "mouth" they tend to close up. I'd add phyto to the tank at least once per week. Maybe 1.5 to 2 mils for a tank that size (assuming its the 39 in your sig).

[fishnut321]

along with feeding the tank itself with phyto, would it be possible to feed higher concentrations of phyto to a scallop by placing it in a bucket of tank water which has say double the dosage of phyto in it? After catching the scallop, put it in the bucket for a hour or two, and return it to its favorite hiding hole after feeding.

Ive heard that they require usually half their weight in phyto perday to maintain and grow, but in order to supply the right amount of phyto my tank would take on a green color, not to mention the nutrient overload.

Any other suggestions,

Thanks!

[rshimek]

Hi,

As you indicated they need relatively large amounts of food (=phytoplankton) per day. Otherwise they starve to death. They need an effectively continuous and relativley high amount of food in the water. Target feeding doesn't work. As with other bivalves, if the food supply gets too high, the feeding apparatus is simply overloaded, and excess food is simply "shunted aside" and not eaten.

The suggestion about these animals - as with a number of others - is be prepared to feed it what it needs or don't purchase it.

If you can feed it, they have the capability of living several years.