Q&A for How to Take Care of a Live Clam

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Are there any other ways to feed live clams?

Ken Colby
Aquarist
Ken Colby is an Aquarist and the Owner of High Tide Aquatics based in Oakland, California. With over 30 years of experience, Ken is the only local fish store owner in the United States that is certified by Humble Fish, the marine disease expert forum, as a Quarantined Fish Vendor. Ken creates in-person and online educational programming in partnership with other marine science and biology professionals. He also launched High Tide Aquatics’ YouTube channel in 2023, sharing recordings of events he’s hosted as well as "how-to" videos covering everything from coral fragging to kalkwasser dosing. He's been a member of the Bay Area Reefers club for over 19 years.

Ken Colby

Aquarist

Expert Answer

Another method for feeding live clams involves targeted feeding using a turkey baster or a similar device. Administer phytoplankton by directing the turkey baster over the clams and squirting the phytoplankton directly onto them. This approach ensures a more precise and controlled feeding, enhancing the clams' nutrient intake.

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Question

Can a clam with a cracked or chipped-off piece of its shell still survive?

Community Answer

Yes.

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Question

Can I find them in rivers in the woods?

Benjamin Y. Jackson

Community Answer

Yes, one can stumble upon freshwater and saltwater clams in certain areas in the wild. Good hunting!

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Question

What is the clam's natural habitat?

Community Answer

Clams live on the sea shore, under rocks, and by coral reefs.

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Question

How long can a clam live without food?

Community Answer

A clam can live without food for 2-3 days.

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Question

How long can clams live without food?

Community Answer

2-3 days. Clams have a lot of tissue and fat that they can use to feed themselves for some time, but in order for it to have fat, it needs food.

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Question

I'm vegetarian and don't have meat or yeast. What can I do to feed my clams rather than going to a store to buy food?

Community Answer

Clams are used as a filtrate so they eat the waste product of a fish and some micro organisms. You should supplement their filtration diet with clam food from a pet store once or twice a week.

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Question

What should I feed a saltwater clam?

Community Answer

Follow the same directions for feeding a freshwater clam.

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Question

Can I take care of live clams that I find at the beach?

Community Answer

Clams in some areas are locally endangered. Ask an FWC officer or look up the species on your local state EPA website to make sure it is ok to remove it.

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Question

Can I feel the clam fish food?

Benjamin Y. Jackson

Community Answer

As long as your hands or tools are clean, then touching the food should not be an issue.

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Question

If a clam is on top of the sand, and it's very cold outside, will it survive?

Caeiia

Top Answerer

No.

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Question

What does "burst of ammonia" from a clam mean?

Community Answer

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen that is extremely dangerous to small organisms, such as fish in a tank. It can be released by dead organisms, and clams are particularly known for releasing large amounts of ammonia when they die.

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Question

Can I just make saltwater with salt and put them in?

Community Answer

No. Ask your local pet store for detailed instructions on how to keep a healthy marine habitat for your clams, or follow the steps in this article.

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Question

Can I put food yeast into the water?

Community Answer

Yes, the yeast you use in food is the same kind of yeast you can give to your clams. You should mix it into clam food though instead of just putting it into the tank by itself.

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Question

How do I keep a saltwater clam?

Community Answer

See Method 2 for instructions on how to take care of saltwater clams.

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Question

Can I feed the clams food from a local pet store?

Community Answer

As long as it's clam food you can.

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Question

Can saltwater clams eat fish pellets or fish food?

Community Answer

No. These often irritate the clam, causing it to rapidly contract in order to eject the irritating particles.

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Question

Can a saltwater clam live in a freshwater tank?

Community Answer

No, they are from a different environment and the freshwater will most likely kill the saltwater clams.

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Question

How can I feed my sea water clam at home?

Community Answer

Submerge/soak the clam food in a bowl of water (water should be from the aquarium the clam is in). After about 5 minutes, use a turkey baster to transfer the softened clam food from the bowl and into the aquarium. Gently squeeze the turkey baster and let the contents slowly enter the clam. Do not rush, and do not touch the clam with the baster. Make sure all pumps are turned off before feeding the clam so that the food is not scattered everywhere by the turbulent water movement.

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Question

How long do clams stay alive?

Community Answer

My Tridacna crocea clams are alive and kicking for 5 years. My mixed reef tank has stable parameters. Stability is key to success.

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Question

Can saltwater clams be put in freshwater?

Community Answer

No they will die in freshwater if you put them in freshwater. That is why they are called saltwater clams, they live in and need saltwater.

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Question

What do clams eat?

Community Answer

Clams eat plankton and dead fish. If you have big clams, then you could give them large dead fish.

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Question

When does a clam come out of its shell?

Community Answer

A clam will never fully emerge from its shell while living. The shell will open for two main reasons: 1) to move/burrow (you will see a long, tongue-like appendage stick out of the shell--this is the clam's foot... if the clam is doing this on a hard surface, give it some substrate, as it is trying to burrow); or 2) to feed (the shell will not open nearly as much as it does when the clam burrows, and you will see two tiny tubes sticking out--these tubes have the same purpose as a mouth. One tube sucks "dirty" water into the clam, where the nutrients are consumed, while the second tube shoots clean water out of the clam).

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Question

How do I tell if my clam is dead?

Emily

Community Answer

If you touch it and it does not close, then it is dead. It will likely also smell bad if it is dead.

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