Freshwater clams

phin

phin

Large Fish
#1
Oct 21, 2009
218
0
0
#1
I was thinking about adding freshwater clams to my tank (just for fun). There are tons living in the river near my house and I could get some no problem. Some are as big as my hand, but I could dig up small ones from dime to quarter size and add half a dozen or so to my tank.

Anyone know anything about freshwater clams and how they would affect my tank? Also I don't have a fine substrate, but 1/8-3/8 inch gravel.
 

phin

phin

Large Fish
#5
Oct 21, 2009
218
0
0
#5
I've seen them online, they aren't super cheap, but aren't too expensive. But if they need dirty water and high-flow then they wont do well in my tank.
 

O

OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#7
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#7
phin said:
I was thinking about adding freshwater clams to my tank (just for fun). There are tons living in the river near my house and I could get some no problem. Some are as big as my hand, but I could dig up small ones from dime to quarter size and add half a dozen or so to my tank.

Anyone know anything about freshwater clams and how they would affect my tank? Also I don't have a fine substrate, but 1/8-3/8 inch gravel.
Click to expand...
I've kept Asian clams in freshwater tanks a few years back. They mostly stayed under the sand. I'm not sure how they'd do in gravel, as they do like to burrow. Lots of online places sell them.
 

Newman

Newman

Elite Fish
#8
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#8
Just to clear something up, by dirty, do you mean lots of food sediment in the water or nitrates and algae in the water? cuz I'm quite sure that clams wont stand high nitrates, or any ammonia and nitrites.
I have seen FW clams in my LFS... they were often sold in planted display tanks.
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#9
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#9
they grow in farm ponds near my house as well as a lake we all fondly call the dead sea. so the ones here don't seem to need fast water, dirty maybe. but I've had the same idea. but just so u know in some states like illinois, you need a commercial mussel liscense to even possess them and alot are considered endangered so u need to be careful what u get ur hands on and of the local and state laws. I have a liscenes so I can use them as bait. take a drag along a clam bed and get a couple dozen and cut them open and use the foot as bait for catfish on troutlines usually.
 

Last edited:
O

OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#10
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#10
In my experience, they don't need 'dirty' water. They were living in two planted aquariums with angels breeding. They just want to burrow into the substrate, so I don't think gravel would do well by them. They are filter-feeders and can breed if the conditions are right.

They are NOT mussels, which in most cases, are illegal to sell live across state likes. The larvae of mussels can become parasites to fish.
 

crimsontsavo

crimsontsavo

Large Fish
#11
Aug 30, 2003
351
0
0
42
Floridian Hillbilly
#11
Freshwater clams aren't hard to keep. But they need good quality water (just like fish) and will have to be fed.

I feed mine spirulina algae and a special 'clam food' concoction I made in the kitchen. They do well and are growing nicely on it.

I keep mine in small, plastic apple sauce containers full of sand (single serve kind) in my aquarium. This keeps them contained and makes checking on them much easier.

I have "golden clams". They're neat to watch as they feed. Mine adore the occasional organic carrot juice treat as well. They're spoiled and I love them, LOL.

I have a sand/mulm substrate. I never let my clams "free range" through the tank because if they did die for some reason they could muck the parameters up quickly.

Here is my HubPage with the recipe I feed my clams.

Pet Clams: Homemade Freshwater Clam Food

It works for us, might not for you. I'd say there are lots of different things they will eat happily- just remember, they're filter-feeders so need small particles. And that they are animals- not plants.


Introduction: Keeping Freshwater Clams In Aquariums

Happy Fish Keeping. :)

Edited to add;

Avoid collecting clams from the wild as many are endangered. You may be able to help rid your local water ways of invasive species though. As your local Fish and Game department.
 

Last edited:
sombunya

sombunya

Large Fish
#13
Jul 25, 2008
304
0
0
67
So. Cal. USA
#13
FWIW, I've heard Clams referred to as "Silent Death". They burrow under the substrate and if they die they will foul the water. I've had Clams and they're only interesting to watch as their "foot" digs them under the sand. After that, then what?

I suppose you could check the water a few times per week to be safe. Me? I can't remember the last time I checked the water in any of my tanks. That's because I change it regularly and service the filters often too.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.