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Clams!!
The Moontanman wrote:
>I have always used small clams or mussels. There are species that do not
grow
>big. I currently use a species of freshwater clam that doesn't get much
>bigger than your thumb (maybe 1 1/2" ) They do well in warm tropical
water. I
>am big into various crustaceans and mollusks for freshwater, as luck would
>have it they are seldom for sale where I live. Does anyone know an online
>service where you can buy freshwater invertebrates?
My reply:
Azgardens sells clams but a warning; I purchased mine from Azgardens but
they suffered HEAVY losses in transit. Only one in five survived the trip
and long term only one in eight. Then again, I'm in Florida; Azgardens is
in Arizona somewhere I gather.
Another warning: Some clam species ALLEGEDLY produce zooplanktonic young
who may become lodged in the slime layer of slow moving fish. The zoo-baby
clam burrows into the skin and dies, but causes the fish to surround it
with a white cyst. Now here's the rub; the cyst LOOKS like ICH!
I came across this benign condition at one of our better LFSs that I sell
plants to. A 15gal long tank with 6 angelfish marked "quarantine"; each
fish had the white spots (far less numerous than what real ich looks like
but VERY visible). I returned to the shop two weeks later to see the same
6 fish w/ the same white shots in the same places and looking none the less
for ware. I asked "Why aren't these fish dead?" The dept head then
confided the story about some research he had read about the clam
zooplankton-scaring problem. The quarantine sign was a ruse to fend off
questions from those that wouldn't understand and would think they were
selling "sick fish".
The fish were expensive gold/marble angels. I guess they had no heart to
destroy them. They just couldn't sell them. Their tank was well decorated.
They lost one a month before when they tried to scrape the cysts off. The
delicate fish could not survive the trauma.
This seems to be a problem that arises under two conditions:
1. With successful high clam populations.
2. Tanks w/ some species of slow-moving fish.
I am no expert on this condition. I have never faced this problem with my
clams/fish and I don't have many clams. I invite comments from anyone who
has specific knowledge of this syndrome and how it may be prevented.
D.Chang;
"Those who know HOW will always have a job...
Working for those who know WHY."
See my Aquariums, Stumps and Plants at;
http://www.mindspring.com/~boukmn/Boukmn_s-Homepage.html