putting whole clams in my tank

foster200 · 04/17/2017, 02:37 PM

I have a copperband that ran out of food in my tank. I bought a dozen little neck clams but I'm really hesitant to add them to my tank. I don't want to bring in any diseases, algae, etc.. i was going to boil some water.. toss them in for a minute and then toss them in the freezer. That should kill off everything.. right?

any thoughts?

Thanks.

MondoBongo · 04/17/2017, 02:39 PM

how did he "run out of food in your tank"?

is he not eating other things? what have you tried on him.

i wouldn't cook them. i would open them raw, one at a time, and put them in there. then leave them there for a little bit and see if he has any interest. mine has never cared for clams, but loves pe myses, live white worms, and live black worms.

Reef908 · 04/17/2017, 03:41 PM

Yeah no need to cook them. Shuck one and leave the one mussel attached and put on the bottom of the tank. Remove after a bit in the tank if not eaten.

foster200 · 04/17/2017, 05:01 PM

when I introduced him there were many tube worms in the sand bed and feather dusters that are no longer. For the first few weeks he was a ravenous hunter and now he's just a ravenous searcher. Ive got a 220 with plenty of live rock but between him and my mandarin.. i fear its a barren waste land. He doesn't eat any prepared foods and I don't want to kill yet another CBB.

you really feel that I don't have to freeze or boil the clams prior to putting them in the tank? You're supposed to quarantine anything before putting it in.. but not something that got plucked from the ocean and laid around in the deli for a few weeks?

bobt2 · 04/17/2017, 05:13 PM

I live on the bay and clam a lot for me. my fish have been getting fresh clams for years.

Andrew D · 04/17/2017, 05:39 PM

You're probably safe anyway, but freezing them kills off anything that might harm your tank. The other advantage to freezing them is that when they thaw, they open slowly and the copperband is able to pick at the meat before anyone else can get at it. I tried this recently after reading it on another thread, and sure enough it worked. If you drop the clam in the same place your copperband will hang around waiting for it to drop. Small trick to keeping such a wonderful fish alive. Don't have long term success yet, but at least he's eating.

foster200 · 04/17/2017, 06:50 PM

nice. thanks

Reef908 · 04/17/2017, 10:14 PM

Yeah I'd think freezing is fine too, similar to frozen brine or whatever. Cooking it is what I'd say you don't need to do. Not sure if a finacky eater would like a cooked clam that is no where near natural food to them.

MondoBongo · 04/18/2017, 06:40 AM

i wouldn't bother freezing them, but i would be working hard on getting him to take prepared foods. they're hit or miss on taking clams, and even if he does long term you want them to have a more balanced diet.

Hal · 04/18/2017, 01:41 PM

Going slightly off-topic, but I recommend live blackworms in the strongest possible fashion. Any copperband that won't eat them is already doomed.

04/17/2017, 02:37 PM	#1
foster200 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 157	putting whole clams in my tank I have a copperband that ran out of food in my tank. I bought a dozen little neck clams but I'm really hesitant to add them to my tank. I don't want to bring in any diseases, algae, etc.. i was going to boil some water.. toss them in for a minute and then toss them in the freezer. That should kill off everything.. right? any thoughts? Thanks.

04/17/2017, 02:39 PM	#2
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	how did he "run out of food in your tank"? is he not eating other things? what have you tried on him. i wouldn't cook them. i would open them raw, one at a time, and put them in there. then leave them there for a little bit and see if he has any interest. mine has never cared for clams, but loves pe myses, live white worms, and live black worms. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

04/17/2017, 03:41 PM	#3
Reef908 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 224	Yeah no need to cook them. Shuck one and leave the one mussel attached and put on the bottom of the tank. Remove after a bit in the tank if not eaten. __________________ Tank: 180 Gallon Mixed Reef; Fish: Hoeven's Wrasse, Red Sea Regal Angel, spot breast angel, Green Wrasse, Juvi Aussie Harlequin Tusk, tangs: powder blue, desjardini, purple, tomini

04/17/2017, 05:39 PM	#6
Andrew D Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 356	You're probably safe anyway, but freezing them kills off anything that might harm your tank. The other advantage to freezing them is that when they thaw, they open slowly and the copperband is able to pick at the meat before anyone else can get at it. I tried this recently after reading it on another thread, and sure enough it worked. If you drop the clam in the same place your copperband will hang around waiting for it to drop. Small trick to keeping such a wonderful fish alive. Don't have long term success yet, but at least he's eating. __________________ 350G display, 700G system loaded with all kinds of neat stuff! Current Tank Info: 350G DT, 700G system including in-line mantis, anemone and frag tanks

04/17/2017, 10:14 PM	#8
Reef908 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 224	Yeah I'd think freezing is fine too, similar to frozen brine or whatever. Cooking it is what I'd say you don't need to do. Not sure if a finacky eater would like a cooked clam that is no where near natural food to them. __________________ Tank: 180 Gallon Mixed Reef; Fish: Hoeven's Wrasse, Red Sea Regal Angel, spot breast angel, Green Wrasse, Juvi Aussie Harlequin Tusk, tangs: powder blue, desjardini, purple, tomini

04/17/2017, 05:01 PM	#4
foster200 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 157	when I introduced him there were many tube worms in the sand bed and feather dusters that are no longer. For the first few weeks he was a ravenous hunter and now he's just a ravenous searcher. Ive got a 220 with plenty of live rock but between him and my mandarin.. i fear its a barren waste land. He doesn't eat any prepared foods and I don't want to kill yet another CBB. you really feel that I don't have to freeze or boil the clams prior to putting them in the tank? You're supposed to quarantine anything before putting it in.. but not something that got plucked from the ocean and laid around in the deli for a few weeks?

04/17/2017, 05:13 PM	#5
bobt2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: long island NY Posts: 1,835	I live on the bay and clam a lot for me. my fish have been getting fresh clams for years.

04/17/2017, 06:50 PM	#7
foster200 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 157	nice. thanks

04/18/2017, 06:40 AM	#9
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	i wouldn't bother freezing them, but i would be working hard on getting him to take prepared foods. they're hit or miss on taking clams, and even if he does long term you want them to have a more balanced diet. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

04/18/2017, 01:41 PM	#10
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Going slightly off-topic, but I recommend live blackworms in the strongest possible fashion. Any copperband that won't eat them is already doomed. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL