Supermarket clams

[carnophage]

Quick question, may be stupid. Are the clams from the local supermarket, the ones that say "live" actually alive, if so, are they good for anything in a saltwater tank? Thanks

[MHannon]

yes they are alive, but they will not live long in a reef tank. They are cold water clams and can not survive in tropical reef environments. Some species of clams are even farmed in fresh water ponds therefore the saltwater will certainly kill them.

[wooden_reefer]

Here in Socal there are many Asian SM with many live things.

Most will need a cool water tank to do well. I am always tempted as some fish are quite nice looking.

[brycerb]

I tried it, it didn't work. I put the clams in a large bowl with some tank water, they were dead in a couple hours. fifty cents down the drain.

[TwistedEnvy]

fifty cents down the drain.

That is an expensive gamble right there!

[saltybastard]

Ok here's a variation on that question. What if you live in a more warmer area (Florida), could you just take water out of the ocean and throw it in your tank?

[carnophage]

no... Pollution washes up to the shore, the water would be really nasty.
Also, how is that a variation of the clam question?

[Octoshark]

And as farm as the warm natural water, the temperature of the ocean water at the time of collection is irrelevant because it would just cool down after you remove it form the ocean (if that is what you are referring to by bringing up the point of local warm waters).

But anyways, the clams being discussed need cold water.

[Octoshark]

Also, if you were wondering about the clams being sold at a market in an area with warm waters such as Florida, then that doesn't mean the clams being sold there are also warm water; they could have been shipped from colder waters up north (but again I dont really understand the question).

[Salamander]

Super market clams can be fine for reef tanks. As food for puffer fish and blended up in my home made reef food.

[jason2459]

Super market clams can be fine for reef tanks. As food for puffer fish and blended up in my home made reef food.

Yep, my copper banded butterfly loved the black muscles. I'd freeze them first for a few days to kill anything bad that might hitchhike on them first.

[carnophage]

If they are grown for human consumption, i would think that there should be no hitchhikers?

[jason2459]

If they are grown for human consumption, i would think that there should be no hitchhikers?

I'm thinking any micro organisms that would be bad for the reef inhabitants. Nothing like crabs etc. People get sick off these things too...

[reefer321]

Freezing for 2 to 3 days might not get it... I know with rats for my snakes there have been many studies that freezing them for short periods does not kill many micro organisims... But being they are from the ocean might not matter...