Old Clam 10/29/07
Bob, Crew,
<Neale>
An interesting news item on the BBC. World's oldest animal is a marine clam (apparently Arctica islandica though it doesn't say).
Probably says a lot about the way the world works that we are fishing for these clams in the North Atlantic to chop up and use in seafood soups. Surely, no fishery that demands 400-year old livestock can possibly be sustainable?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7066389.stm
<Interesting>
I do wonder whether corals get older than this; I always assumed colonial corals lived a very long time.
<Me too... depends on the criteria used to measure, discern for sure... What is the age for instance or our individual cells? Tissues, organ systems? Aren't we as old as our mothers, and their mothers into the past ova?>
Cheers, Neale
<And to you, BobF>

Oh No! Another Flame Scallop Question! Fdg., beh.   3/16/07
Hi Guys and Gals,
<Marti>
I have been reading (a lot) over the past year and a half, before finally starting my salt water tank in January.  Included in the reading list was The Conscientious Marine Aquarist (of course!) and Aquarium Corals by Borneman, among many others. I have also spent many (happy) hours researching specific topics on your wonderful web site.
OK, enough with the praises, now on to my question.  After my aquarium had been running with live sand and live rock for about two months, I was given a Flame Scallop as a "present". I never would have bought one, or even patronized a LFS that sells them. But there he is, sitting in my tank. I have been feeding him a mixture of DT's live phytoplankton and Cyclop-eeze (per recommendations I found on this site) with a turkey baster, leaving the filter and powerhead off for 1/2 hour while doing so.  My question is, How do you know if they are eating?
<Mmm... principally behavior/appearances... that the animals stays open, colored... and alive>
Do they move their jaws (shell) up and down?
<Sometimes... in reaction to shadows, animal movement near by>
Do they suck in all their tentacles like little hungry hands?
<Mmm, no>
Please pardon me for sounding so stupid, but I really appreciate all the helpful advice you have given everyone, and I know you can answer a "simple" question like this.
Best Regards,
Marti
<Adding a good sized refugium... in addition to your current feeding efforts... is about "it". Bob Fenner>

Flame Scallop creating electricity? - 1/19/05
Hello from the "Blue Tarp State"! <Hello from the Sunshine State!> I am totally in  love with your website ... refer to it almost everyday.  :o)  <Great to hear, Lisa>
After surviving four hurricanes, and almost a month without electricity, I am ecstatic to say that I lost NOTHING in my tank, thanks in part to you guys (and my handy generator!). <Awesome> I have a question about my 8-month old flame scallop ... he's very content and looks healthy. <Cool. This animal tends to be on the difficult side of pet fish keeping. Here is an excellent article written by a friend of mine: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/toonen.htm> I noticed the other day that part of his fleshy, red mantle "flashes" constantly. It's a very thin area, almost the width of a needle, and it changes from bright red to white in a matter of a nanosecond, and back again. <This seems to be fairly hard to explain as there is not much in writing that I could find, but I do know that in past discussions it has been stated that this is a flap of tissue (membrane) that is moved back and forth. It may actually reflect or refract a portion of light which may give it this glow or look like a quick electric arc. My feeling is that it is not electrical in any way.> Have any of you seen this reaction? <I have> If so, do you know why they do this? <Oh many possible reasons. Simple anatomical structure (just happens), food attraction ( planktonic animals are attracted to light), possible a deterrent to fish predators....these would be my guess but again, very likely just a result of respiration or a feeding.> It doesn't seem to be a problem, but I was curious as to what it means, if anything. <Not hurting the animal at all. I have seen this done in the wild by this species ~Paul>
Thanks for everything!
Lisa C.
Florida