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FAQs about the Pen Shells called Flame
Scallops Related Articles:
Tridacnids, Bivalves,
Mollusks,
Related FAQs: Bivalves
1, Bivalves 2,
Bivalve Identification, Bivalve
Behavior, Bivalve Compatibility,
Bivalve Selection, Bivalve Systems,
Bivalve Feeding, Bivalve Disease,
Bivalve Reproduction,
Tridacnids, Tridacnid Clam Business, Tridacnid
Identification, Tridacnid Selection,
Tridacnid Compatibility, Tridacnid
Systems, Tridacnid Lighting,
Tridacnid Placement, Tridacnid
Feeding, Tridacnid Disease,
Tridacnid Reproduction, | 
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Flame Scallop Closing in a Disjointed Manner, sel., fdg. 12/19/08
Greetings, Wet Web Media Crew!
<<Howdy Justin!>>
Thank you for a
site that is wonderfully packed with delicious information.
<<Am in
agreement… A superb collaborative effort…>>
After finding the site, I
must say that I have been aptly humbled with the knowledge that you all
have. Thank you!
<<Ahhh, thank *you* for the kind words…>>
My wife
and I started a saltwater aquarium nearly a year ago, and have had a
relatively successful husbandry story (with the exception of falling
into the pitfall of trusting our local fish store(s)).
<<Mmm… Many do
provide valuable advice and service, but sadly there are those few…>>
Sadly, I did not find this site until after we had chosen to purchase a
pair of large flame scallops.
<<Ahh yes… Certainly one of those
organisms best left in the ocean. Exquisite animals with a huge appeal
for sure. But unfortunately they also have a very, very, very (have I
expressed *very?*�) dismal survival rate in captive settings>>
Despite the LFS' repeated assertions that the scallops are easy to care
for in a tank as established as mine,
<<Pure bunk>>
I would have
not purchased them based on everything I have read here.
<<Ah, I
see>>
We purchased them a couple of months ago. My tank is a 29 long,
with a 5 gallon 'fuge.
<<Aw mate and the LFS was/is aware of the size
of this system? Were this tank three times the size, and the refugium
six times the size, I still wouldn't give the scallops much of a chance
of surviving more than a few months. It is indeed sad and disturbing
that your LFS would promote such and animal as this for a system of this
size>>
Protein skimmer (of which the brand is escaping me at the
moment, but it was one of the few that were listed as good in one of the
articles at this site). 3" deep sand bed, 15-20 pounds of live rock in
the main tank, and a 4" deep sand bed in the 'fuge.
<<Very good>>
Various power heads with foam inserts
<<Unless you are cleaning these
a couple times a week, I would remove the foam inserts. Aside from
accumulating detritus, they may well be trapping food organisms the
scallops would welcome>>
on the intakes causing a chaotic water
pattern in the tank. Various types of Caulerpa are growing happily in
the 'fuge and some in the display tank.
<<Mmmm… Do consider these
alga will *compete* just as any other reef organism. Best to stick to a
single species… Or better yet, switch to a more *user-friendly*
macro-algae like Chaetomorpha>>
The tank's levels are reporting
normal. Ammonia, NO2, NO3 all trace.
<<Trace? Ammonia and NO2 should
be zero, zip, nada…>>
pH 8.3, Specific gravity is 1.026, Temperature
is 78F with a variance of 1-2 degrees. I buffer the KH, which reads at
10. Both of the bivalves have found a nice hiding spot and have attached
themselves right next to each other, on a sizable piece of live rock.
This is particularly good, because the water flow is mild there, and the
various foods I feed them tend to stay there for a good half an hour
before diluting in the tank.
<<…? This seems too stagnant to me,
better to increase flow a bit. Keep in mind that good water flow is the
only means these organisms have of shedding wastes/metabolites and of
acquiring oxygen and dissolved nutrients>>
One of the scallops is
open fairly constantly and responding to movement, light and other
animals that may come near it. It *appears* to be eating and producing
waste, though I cannot confirm if it is actual waste, or just the
pseudo-waste, rejected food and mucus combination.
<<Most often with
these animals it is the latter. Providing *suitable* foods is very
difficult>>
I feed them a concoction of Cyclop-Eeze, zooplankton and
phytoplankton...blended.
<<And all too large and likely rejected. No
doubt these organisms are starving… Your system and refugium are much
too small to offer any chance for the scallops>>
And now, the
problem. The second bivalve has stopped closing its shell properly; it
appears to close slightly askew.
<<The end is near>>
The offset is
roughly a millimeter in size.
<<I think it likely this animal is
already dead and the joint muscle is deteriorating rapidly>>
We've
seen evidence of what appeared to be a bristleworm (we ID' it from the
various pictures here) crawling out of the back of the clam,
<<Then
it is dying for sure… The worm is just *cleaning up*>>
though it dug
its way between a rock and the sand before we could get a good look at
it. We have not seen it since.
<<The worm is not the issue here>>
This bivalve still presses its mantle out, but it does not seem able to
open its shell well any longer.
<<A simple matter of time now>>
I
take opportunities when I see its mantle out, to carefully and slowly
suspend the food around them.
<<A waste of time/foodstuffs my
friend>>
Having read what is available on this site regarding flame
scallops, I am certain the most likely cause is starving to death,
<<Yes>>
which makes me very sad.
<<But hopefully a learning
experience too>>
I am guessing that the one that is not doing well
was at the LFS longer and had starved longer.
<<Maybe… But either
way, the other won't be far behind>>
However, I was given pause after
reading that they tend to live 2 to 3 years naturally, and that a 3"
diameter flame scallop is considered to be older (and female). Of
course, I would be elated to think that the problems I am seeing are due
to it being at the end of its life cycle and that our husbandry has kept
them healthy and happy... but I know better, now.
<<Ah… Good… We
often tend to try to rationalize situations to our advantage. I'm happy
to see that you realize the scallop has likely NOT lived a healthy and
happy lifetime>>
And now, my questions... I apologize for the lengthy
read.
<<No worries>>
Is it possible that the bivalve that is not
closing/opening properly is dying of old age?
<<Always possible… But
what does your heart and mind tell you?>>
Do bristle worms (the
aggressive types) attack bivalves, and could it have damaged the muscle
that allows the bivalve to open and close properly? (I have read the
various pages here on worms, and did not feel like I had a good feeling
if they do.)
<<Again, always possible… But I think this is more
likely a case of a beneficial detritivore performing its job>>
Thank
you very much for your time and patience.
<<A pleasure to share>>
It is a blessing to have such a wonderful group of people that answer
questions like this.
<<Bob has indeed compiled a stellar group of
volunteers. And thank you again for the kind words>>
We are excited
to love our animals and give them as long and comfortable a lifetime as
is possible.
<<Then I am confident from this point on you will
research your livestock before purchasing>>
Sincerely (from a snow
covered Seattle, WA),
Justin
<<Best regards from sunny and 75F
South Carolina (though I did live a few years in Bellevue at what seems
a lifetime ago). Eric Russell>>
Re: Flame Scallop Closing in a Disjointed Manner � 12/20/08
Greetings and thank you for the reply, Mr. Russell!
<<Quite welcome
Justin… And please, call me Eric>>
The main lesson learned was to do
far more research than trusting the LFS.
<<Even with a good
LFS/other's advice available, the onus is still on you to do the
reading/research and use your own good judgment to make a decision>>
Incidentally, they did know about my setup and were the main suppliers
of all of my gear.
<<I see… Is disappointing…>>
I chatted with
them a bit about flame and electric scallops, and they had no clue that
they almost always starve to death in captivity.
<<Mmm…>>
Needless
to say, our purchases will be made only after reviewing this and other
reputable sites with a lot of input from well learned people such as
yourselves.
<<Ah yes, your research needs to be among a variety of
sources. Very good…>>
I was a bit unclear on the water flow comment
(where you mentioned the stagnation).
<<My apologies for the lack of
clarity. What I was getting at is that if you are administering foods
such as Cyclops-Eeze and these small bit are not being swept away, then
there is a lack of necessary water movement around the scallops>>
What I meant to express was that I turn off the power heads during
feeding to allow the food to have the opportunity to get as close to or
inside, the scallop before dispersing it quickly amongst the rest of the
tank.
<<Ah! Okay… I misunderstood>>
I typically give it about 30
minutes, then turn the heads back on and allow current to do its work.
<<Okay, excellent… Though as stated in my previous reply the prepared
foods are mostly too large for the scallops, though *blending* as you
stated you do may help reduce particulate size somewhat. These
filter-feeding organisms consume nanoplankton, which is best supplied by
a very large and very mature system stocked with a dearth of
food-competing organisms and supported by a very large and very mature
plankton producing refugium. And even then their survival is iffy>>
Foam inserts removed. I should have known that they would trap good
things... (sigh!)
<<Ah yes… Consider the insets were performing the
same function as your filter-feeding organisms. But to the *detriment*
of the system…>>
I will endeavor to find and switch to Chaetomorpha.
Thank you ever so much for the suggestion!
<<Quite welcome… Some
authors may argue that the Caulerpa is more efficient at scavenging. But
the Chaetomorpha will do a fine job of this, and is more *user friendly*
and, it seems these days, more politically correct>>
Are the foods
too big even after going through a blender?
<<Most likely is, yes…
But I don't want to discourage you from trying to feed these animals.
Though the best thing here would be to return them to the LFS (with an
explanation why) for a store credit, if they would take them>>
I
thought I had read somewhere on the site that putting them through the
blender broke them down to less than 40 nanometers?
<<Maybe so… But
the dismal survival rate of these organisms, with most all perishing of
starvation, would seem to suggest that this process is still less than
adequate.. Agreed?>>
I could just be dreaming it, though, in my
desire to not condemn them to death by starvation.
<<You're not
dreaming (blending foods has been recommended in at least a few
responses re these critters), but your scallops are most assuredly
starving>>
I now know, and have learned a valuable lesson...
research, research, research!
<<Yay!>>
Regardless, I will fight my
hardest to try to help these little ladies!
<<I wish you luck… But
the reality is that this will be a losing battle>>
I'm sad to learn a
lesson at the expense of another organism's life. Sorry, thinking "out
loud" (so to speak).
<<No worries mate. And don't beat yourself up
too badly. We've all made such mistakes… What matters now is what we
take away from it>>
Perhaps I should take them back to the LFS, I
feel horrible for killing them.
<<Indeed… Perhaps they will learn to
not carry what they cannot sell/what people won't buy>>
I do
appreciate your input and your willingness to share.
<<Is my
pleasure>>
It is very much appreciated and is truly a relief to get
to chat with you.
<<That's why I am/we are here my friend>>
Many,
many thanks!
<<Always welcome>>
Justin - hoping you're enjoying
the 75 degrees :)
<<Ah yes! Is only expected to reach 73F today, but
I guess we'll make do [big grin]. EricR>>
Electric Scallop – 06/19/08
Good Morning,
<<Hello!...and
afternoon now>>
I have an electric scallop and it started to have
some odd things growing on it.
It is not unusual for these/all
bivalves to become encrusted with benthic sessile organisms>>
I am
not aware of them growing grayish (maybe sponge?) kind of round shaped
formations on them
<<Actually, sponge growth on these creatures is
very common>>
and also I noticed the other day that there is a part
of its tongue
<<Mantle?>>
that is white at the tip (on only that
part of the tongue) and is shooting out a clear string onto a part of
the live rock above it. I have tried looking this up in many areas and
cannot find any information as to a scallops shooting out a string-like
strand onto a rock. Please let me know if this is normal, as I have been
kind of worried.
<<Hmm, hard to say from this description. Perhaps
what you are seeing is a byssal thread…though this wouldn’t be coming
from the scallop’s mantle>>
I know it is nearly impossible to keep
these creatures as it is and I want to make sure he is ok, if I can help
it!
<<Hopefully this animal is in a mature and large-ish (some 50g or
more) system with a deep fine substrate and supported by a plankton
generating refugium. Have you read here and among the associated links?
(http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bivsysfaqs.htm)>>
Thank you so much!
Kate Balestrieri
<<Happy to share. Eric Russell>>
Flame Scallop - 6/4/07
<Hi there!>
I have searched all over
and cannot find an answer to my question, so hopefully this is not a
redo question. <It is, but worth mentioning again.> I have a 75 Gallon
Reef aquarium that has been set up for a few months. The first month or
so I only had enough to get 50 pounds of live rock for the tank. I
bought a couple of things just to test the tank. This is my first try at
a reef aquarium and I do like a challenge. A few weeks before the other
100 pounds of my rock arrived, I purchased a flaming scallop on the
urging of my daughter.
<Uh oh. Although there are many beautiful and
tempting choices available today, many have specific needs that cannot
be supplied by most hobbyists. It makes researching "before" purchasing,
of vital importance. This group, in particular, is a very poor choice
because of its overwhelmingly dismal rate of survival. Most starve to
death within a relatively short period of time.>
At first it was
fine, out and about the tank as beautiful as ever. Once I got the rest
of my rock, I placed it with plenty of caves like I was instructed to
do. The problem now is that my scallop goes and hides in the cave all
the time and I cannot easily target feed it anymore.
<All too common
a problem.>
So back to the question. Is there anything I can or
should be doing, or am I good just target feeding in front of the cave
it has taken up residence in?
<Depends on how deep the cave is, how
far back the scallop, and which way any possible currents are passing
through/in front of it. If the cave is not very deep, or the scallop is
fairly close to the entrance, then yes, carefully aim the food back
towards the scallop. Most importantly though (and I can’t stress this
enough), if possible, please return this scallop to the store ASAP. If
you find that you can't, Google “flaming” or “flame” scallop at WWM:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/question_page.htm. There
is much information available there regarding these beautiful, but
nearly impossible to keep, animals. Here’s one link to get you started:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bivfdgfaqs.htm >
Thank you for your time.
Anthony
<You're very welcome. -Lynn>
Flame Still Burning! (Flame Scallop Longevity)
Hi!
<Hi
there! Scott F. with you today>
Here is a picture of my flame
scallop, 'Scooter'. Since purchasing him about four months. He has
grown since then, he is about 3 inches from tentacle to tentacle and
still has his flame color. He's found a place of refuge in my tank,
even though no one bothers him (one small red clown, his refuge is
on the other side of the tank, and one turbo snail, friend has the
small crab now, about 30 pounds of live rock) I feed him DT's and
Micro Vert every other day. He doesn't seem as bright as he was
before. Not that big of a difference, but his tentacles are more
orange than red now. He still opens up and acts the same. I do 30%
water changes weekly on my tank (25gal) tests all come out great.
Anything I can do?
<Well, these are among the most difficult
animals that you can keep in aquaria. They require large quantities
of very fine plankton, which are pretty difficult to come by in
aquaria. In the long run, they are best avoided... In your case,
it's good that you've been continuously feeding this animal while
maintaining good water quality. You really cannot be sure that the
animal will make it for the long run (like years, not months) yet,
but keep doing what you're doing.>
Everything else is healthy and
bright. Since purchasing him, I have talked to the LFS where I
bought him from and expressed my concern for the Flame Scallops.
They haven't sold them since.
<Glad to hear that!>
I thought
that you would like this story, since you were the ones that
educated me on this delicate species. This site is amazing, it
really is a wonder for the public. Thanks!
Justine
<We're
happy to be hear for you...Best of luck with this beautiful, but
difficult animal. Regards, Scott F> |
|
Lima sp. Lima scabra
I have looked at all of the links and info
you have provided on Lima scabra. I was researching them for a possible
tank candidate. Thanks to your info and a long exhausting internet
search lima scabra will definitely not be added. I was wondering though,
are lima sp. and lima scabra one in the same or a closely related
species?
<Mmm, well, Lima (or Limaria) spp. includes all species,
Lima sp. any particular species of the genus Lima... Lima scabra is
certainly the most commonly offered species of Lima in the pet trade>
I keep seeing both of them being sold at the same place under these two
names. One is labeled Electric Eye Scallop (lima sp.) and the other as
Fire Scallop (lima scabra). The electric had fewer (or maybe just less
dense) tentacles than the Fire. Unfortunately for the scallops and
customers the description of the scallops said they were both easy to
keep, and better yet they were part of their "Hugh Blow Out Sale".
Hmmmm, I wonder why?
<I share your skepticism/cynicism... likely
"blown out" before they croak!>
The Electric was the same size as the
Fire but more expensive. Just curious. Thanks for your time, Shauna
<There seems to be a general trend that Pacific species are sold as Lima
sp. and the Atlantic as Lima scabra... Bob Fenner> Flaming New
Inhabitant
<Hello, Ryan with you today>
Hello! Numerous thanks
for this website!! I have first searched with google but couldn't find
my exact problem, I apologize if their is a post that already exists)<No
worries> As it may happen all so often I bought a flame scallop from a
pet store. I asked the man working there how to care for it and he said
'oh they eat just about anything, Dt's phytoplankton is good' <Sigh>
Well thanks to your website and further research I now know that is not
true. I am feeding it DTs through a pipette 2x a week. <If it's eating,
that's half the battle> It is in a peaceful environment, healthy live
rock, one clown who does not bother it and a little crab who also leaves
it alone. <Keep your eye on that crab...> I test my water quality once a
week and all of my nitrates/nitrites ammonia etc... are all great. <A
little vague> My salinity is at .20 which seems to be good for the fish
and the scallop. <I prefer to keep mine a little closer to ocean levels>
What else should I feed it? <With a refugium is ideal. Other than that,
the finer you can get the better. Perhaps a product called Cyclop-eeze
would be useful. Bivalves consume very small particles. The smaller
the particles you feed, the more the animal will be able to consume.>
Since he is a little jumpy how can I perform a water change and not
stress
the little guy out? <Turn out the lights first, move very
slowly. Lima scabra, sold as a flame scallop, has a dismal survival
rate, so please research as much as possible:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bivalvia.htm>
I appreciate all the
help and I have learned my lesson about trusting the advice of the pet
store!!
<Sadly, they're still in the business of making money. Have
a good day, Ryan>
Sincerely,
Justine
p.s. I recently wrote in
about a fire worm problem but just caught 3 last
night with the
plastic trap) <Great news!> Her Flame Scallop Is Happy As A
Clam!
Hi guys!
<Hey there! Scott F. your guy tonight!>
I
hope you had a good Thanksgiving and didn't put on too much
weight. Remember you have to save some room for Christmas food too! ;]
<Yikes! And I still haven't finished my shopping, either!>
Well I
haven't written in quite a long time (that's what happens when you
become an educated reefer). hehe
I wrote back in March about a
Flame Scallop I collected while snorkeling. It took a few days to
settle in and did a very funny scallop jig around my tank in the
process. It finally found a secluded spot (kind of cavey) on the back
of one of my rocks (a miracle that I can actually see it!). I don't
want to jinx it, but I am happy to say that it is December now and my
scallop is still as happy as a clam. hehe
<Glad to hear that it is
doing well. We usually tend to discourage the keeping of these guys in
most aquaria. As you are probably aware, Flame Scallops have an
absolutely dismal survival record in captivity, starving to death over
the course of a few months, so keep doing what you're doing!>
It
extends all of its tentacles (?) and its filters are nice and pillowy
looking. I feed a mixture of 3 tsps Dt's, 1 chunk blood worms, and a
chunk of red frozen food via turkey baster to everyone once a week.
<Glad to hear that you are feeding...Usually, most hobbyists don't seem
to have luck using bottled phytoplankton, as these animals feed on some
of the most minute-sized plankton, which is usually hard to come buy in
captive culture...Keep giving it your best!>
My flower anemone is
gorgeous and my open brains look like meat corals the morning after. So
I will report later on down the road and hope my success continues. (Of
course there are other factors: 58 and 75gal running on the same sump,
running a refugium for a few months, Nerites and Ceriths love to make it
on the glass adding to the zooplankton population, well established
tanks with 3+" sandbed, etc, etc) ;]
<There you go! Having a healthy
refugium is one of the best things we can do to assure success with
delicate animals. You're right on the mark regarding the natural
zooplankton production occurring in the 'fuge!>
Okay one
question, Do you know of anything that would make an open brain (red
rim green middle) that is 5+ years old rip open from the mouth, then fix
itself? This went on for several months then it finally got so bad
(couldn't repair itself anymore) that it kicked it. My four other open
brains (I have a thing for them) never had this problem. We figured
that the brain in question might have had a microscopic algae problem
that caused this. Sad because it had a true RED rim figure eight shape.
<Well, it's hard to say what this was. Could have been anything from a
localized trauma to some sort of malady...Don't really have an answer
for you on that one..>
Drats! I have another small question. I have
these little algae eating guys in my tank. They're under half an inch
and have a shell like a limpet crossed with an abalone. My husband says
they're limpets, but here's why I'm not so sure. They have a head like
a snail and if you touch one it zips away as fast as a sea slug. These
guys really move! Thank goodness they eat diatoms or I might have
problems! If this doesn't help I'll try and get a pic to you sometime.
<Yep- a pic would really help...I'd like to see what it is before making
a guess!>
Love you guys, take care!
I hope everyone has a fine
holiday and happy new year!
Goodnight!
<Thanks for the kind words,
and happy Holidays to you, too! I hope you have continued success with
your Flame Scallop! You're doing the best that can be done in captive
husbandry- keep it up! Regards, Scott F> - Feeding a Flame
Scallop -
Hello, hope you're doing well. <Hello, JasonC here...>
Before I start, yes I read all of the FAQs about flame scallops kind of
after the fact.... <Ok...>
I collected a small flame scallop when I
was snorkeling the other day and its now trying to find a suitable perch
to feed from. It is my understanding that they need zoo-plankton in
order to survive for any period of time. I read the FAQs and came away
a bit confused and frustrated. <Ok...>
So please enlighten me, do
flame scallops need to be fed with blenderized plankton or can they also
feed on baby brine shrimp? <Either/or... baby brine shrimp are smaller
than zooplankton, hence the need for the blender. It's all about
particle size.> These were both listed as food items and I thought they
were a little contrary since one says that the plankton needs to be
"whisked in a blender" or it will be too large for the scallop to feed
on. Another article says you can feed them baby brine shrimp (which you
can see with your naked eye), so I'm confused. ??? <Zooplankton is
likewise visible, plankton is not.>
I have been dosing my tank every
other day with DT's concentrated, refrigerated plankton. My open brains
and other things love me for it. My tank is very well established and
full of filter feeding critters including some sponge-like
tunicates. Also how do scallops reproduce in the wild? <Sexually, by
releasing sperm and eggs into the water.>
Side question: Do you
think blue/red-legged hermit crabs would feed on delicate colonial
tunicates (grow of Florida turtle grass, bright orange, yellow, etc)?
<Hard to predict but a possibility if it runs out of other things to
eat. There's not a crab on the planet that isn't opportunistic.>
Thanks so much. Hope you can clear this up for me.
Morgan
<Cheers,
J -- > Blue Sponge & Flame Scallops-up - 2/16/03
Thanks for the prompt response. I have power compacts 50/50's (10K and
blue actinic) Yes I had read about not exposing them to air. OK so since
I don't have metal halides I should not get one.
<Truthfully, the
lack of halides doesn't totally exclude you fro keeping blue sponge.
Under fluorescents, if you can get the sponge within the top 10" of
water with mostly daylight lamps and not so much actinic blue (just like
you will have to do for SPS corals)... this sponge can live well. Be
sure to change your lamps every 6-10 months. Definitely an
expense/bummer about PCs/VHOs. Halides though are a much better value
(cost of light produced, PAR per watts, life of bulbs at 2-5 years
each!, etc) and they would be better for growth in this sponge>
I
don't have the coral yet in my 90 gal reef getting one on Tuesday. But I
plan to have mostly LPS and SPS and a few fish...
<try to go with
mostly LPS or mostly SPS... the two together are incongruous (low vs.
high light and heavy vs. no-target feedings... not to mention heavy
chemical warfare in the long run... post 1 year)>
Right now I have a
Regal Tang, Domino Damsel, Cleaner Shrimp, Flame Scallop,1 hermit crab
and some snails...I plan to get a few more fish (On Tuesday getting 2
Perculas and a bubble coral) Let me know what you think.
<I think you
should find the jerk that sold you the flame scallop and kick him in the
jimmy <G>. Poor bugger (the Fileclam- AKA "scallop") is doomed to die of
starvation within a year if it even gets that far. Unless you have a
live phytoplankton reactor... seriously. A very difficult animal and
most starve to death slowly. Sorry to be a buzz kill, my friend. But you
needed to know/asked <G>. Best of luck. Anthony>
Flame Scallop (Fileclam) care - 2/16/03
OK thanks for the info on
the blue sponge... We will see... I don't want it to just die on me...
So we will see... but thanks for the info.
<No worries... and it may
be a fair indicator of readiness for SPS (which we do not recommend you
start with if they are your first corals... soft corals instead, and
definitely not LPS for their single or few-polyp vulnerable structures)>
OK...now you have me wondering about the scallop. I feed it
phytoplankton 3 times a week...I also have 2 mussels and lots of feather
dusters that came on my live rocks. Is this enough to keep him alive?
<mussels are variable in captivity... many feather dusters will do well
(although phyto is not needed... they feed more on dissolved organics
and by mucus strategies) [fanworms specifically do well in contrast to
the large Hawaiian feather dusters can starve in a year or two]... As
far as the scallops, I do believe the will be dead within 4-6 months of
your purchase. The bottled phyto is a precarious product to use... great
idea... marginal benefits in my opinion. A seagrass refugium would
produce far more food and of far better quality and size for these
creatures. All of these subjects have been covered in detail in the FAQs
if you care to read more about them. Popular creatures/subjects
(including bottled phyto issues). Do use the google search tool for
keyword searches at the bottom of the wetwebmedia.com homepage>
He
seems very happy right now.
<No slight... but I'm guessing "happy"
means you've had it for less than 2 months but it still opens up each
day and looks good. Do understand... we get this question a lot (keeping
flame scallops)>
Thanks for any info you can give me.
<Not much to
say... we almost never recommend these creatures for captivity... even
rare for species specific displays for their short captive lives. Read a
bit here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bivalvmarfaqs.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bivalvia.htm
Best regards, Anthony>
Re: flame scallop foods
Hey folks, if I sent my old emails with
this it would be huge, but, I'm the kid who writes in about running a 75
marine tank at Roanoke College. We've had great success for the past 18
months. I just found out our colt coral is splitting itself into about 4
pieces- a very healthy animal so far, I'm hoping this is a good
sign. the new care taker just bought a flame scallop...ugh, I know. we
have good water chem- as in zero's across the board, so I'm not worried
too much about that. I've searched and read and again, actually I've
read all of the daily faq's for about 3-4 months now with the rest of my
email) but what do these things eat? I'm really hoping we can keep this
guy alive.
thanks, mike Barrett
<Fine plankton (zoo mainly) of
nano to about 10 micron size. The few folks I've seen keep them for any
period of time (rather than the weeks to a couple of months it takes for
simple starvation), have had good (relative) size refugiums with
well-established DSBs. Bob Fenner> Limpet Attacking a Flame
Scallop?
Last night I saw a Limpet attached to the bottom of my
Flame Scallop and I didn't think anything of it until I looked at my
Scallop this afternoon and when I tried to get the Limpet off of my
Flame Scallop he felt like he was locked on my Scallop, and I had to
actually pry him off.
<Yes, it is very difficult to remove a Limpet
from any surface. They have an incredible suction power.>
My Scallop
looks like he was dying.
<Agreed>
He is shrinking up on the inside
and I don't know what is wrong with him.
<Please perform a search of
Flame Scallops on www.WetWebMedia.com for the reasons.>
He is not
responding to touch like he used to, his shell does not close right away
when he is touched, and when you try to close him it feels like he is
almost locked in the open position. I did some research on Limpet's this
evening and I didn't like what I read on some of them.
<Perhaps do
some research on Flame Scallops. I am positive you will not like what
you find about them.>
Is it possible the Limpet was boring a hole in
him and getting ready to eat him?
<Nope, your scallop is and has been
starving to death.>
My scallop was fine for months until now.
<No,
you just did not notice its duress.>
Please give me your suggestions
on what could have happened to him
<It is starving just like almost
all do.>
and what his chances of survival are.
<Next to none.>
Thank you for you great expertise! Connie
<Please research your
animals and their care prior to all purchases. -Steven Pro> Limpet
Attacking a Flame Scallop? Follow Up
Wow, now I really feel bad
after having received your answer that my Flame Scallop starved to
death. I've only had my reef tank set up for 5 months and now I am so
discouraged that I don't know if I want to pursue this hobby or not.
<Hold on. This was not my intention. You merely need to be aware that
not everything offered for sale is appropriate for captivity or for
every aquarium. If you just research your intended purchases prior to
buying them, you can avoid these types of complications. An educated
consumer is the best hobbyist.>
I will take your advice and search
your web site for information from now on before I purchase anything.
<Great!>
Thank you so much. Have a good day. Connie
<You too!
-Steven Pro> Flaming Red Sea Scallop
Hello wanted to ask a
few questions, purchased a beautiful flaming red sea scallop to put in
our existing established 75 gallon saltwater tank.
<Did you look into
the care and historically poor survival rate for this creature first?>
Could you please go into detail for me about any special care and
feeding?
<Daily feedings of rotifers and baby brine shrimp maybe
enough to get this creature to survive.>
Also would like to know how
they breed, was thinking of getting another...
<Please don't. There
is no record of breeding these in captivity that I am aware of because
they all die prematurely from starvation.>
Also any special care or
feeding I should know for the small spiny urchin?
<Do please see here
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/urchins.htm regarding and follow on through
the linked FAQ file.>
Thank you, Tawny
<You are welcome.>
Hope
you can answer me privately and not on the website :)
<We reply to
all the emails, plus post and archive them on the website to enlighten
others.>
Also my fish store does not sell coral sand for my smaller
tank which houses the seahorses. My husband wanted me to ask, if he
could gather sand from the lakeshore here in Canada, and wash it with
boiling water, if it would be safe to use in the seahorse tank.
<I
would not do it.>
It would be fresh water sand that he would be
gathering.
<It is the potential for metal contamination or residues
that I would be most concerned about. At the very least, it is silica
sand and a calcium based product would be best. I would peruse the links
page of www.WetWebMedia.com for e-tailers selling sand or possibly go to
the ESV and CaribSea pages looking for links to companies that sell
their sand. -Steven Pro> Flame "Scallop"
hello Mr.
Fenner,
I've been getting lots of information from your web site that
has been very helpful. I have several questions for you...
I have a
flame scallop via my boyfriend, whom I told was hard to keep,
<Put a
tether on him. Oh, you mean the Lima scabra>
but he thought it was
neat)
<Mmm, what do you think, feel?>
how do I keep it alive. I
was told they only live for six months.
<Most, a much shorter time>
can I feed it and my other salt water fish blood worms? do I squirt the
food into the scallops opening? does it need plankton? when I buy fish
from the market should I be concerned about hormones and other stuff
injected into them. I think that's it for now. thanks in advance
Jennifer
<No worries re hormones. Please use the Google search
feature on the homepage of www.WetWebMedia.com (on the bottom of the
page), looking for input on "Flame Scallop" or the scientific name of
this Pen Shell above. Much to consider as humans, consumers re how we
"cast our votes". Bob Fenner> Flame Scallops that aren't
Mr. Fenner,
just wanted to say thanks for your prompt answer to my
flame scallops question. this saltwater thing is much harder than I
thought. but what really frustrates me is the fish stores. sales people
are selling fish, left and right not informing people properly of the
fishes needs, I think to myself, poor fish its doomed..... I've learned
a couple important things from you, the number one thing being research,
research, research.... thanks for your expertise...Jennifer
<A
privilege and honor my friend. Bob Fenner> Flame Scallops that
aren't II/Crew
Mr. Fenner,
just wanted to say thanks for your
prompt answer to my flame scallops question. this saltwater thing is
much harder than I thought.
<naw... you just lucked out on the steep
end of a learning curve. It all gets better and easier in time>
but
what really frustrates me is the fish stores. sales people are selling
fish, left and right not informing people properly of the fishes needs,
I think to myself, poor fish its doomed.....
<lesson here: the
informed consumer has no worries on this matter>
I've learned a
couple important things from you, the number one thing being research,
research, research.... thanks for your expertise...Jennifer
<always
welcome... keep learning, sharing and growing. Best regards>
Re: thank you (Flame Scallop, challenging marine livestock, life)
Anthony,
Thank you and of course I agree with you....about the
animals sent.....
<thank you for understanding... as we (WWM crew)
answer e-mails and share opinions in somewhat of a mentoring fashion, it
seems necessary to step up on a soapbox a little bit at times for the
greater good of the many other aquarists that browse these posted FAQs.
Diligent and sincere folks such as yourself are the best place for
challenging animals. But not all aquarists have the time or heart to
dedicate to animals such as flame scallops and various anemones, for
example. As such, they need to know that it is not OK to just accept
them into their tank when a dealer pushes them and just hope for the
best>
it did send me into a learning frenzy but I know that it was
not a good idea.....
<I'm very grateful and delighted that you were
inspired so urgently to want to learn about the needs of these animals>
I am enjoying this tank so much....I joked with Bob F on a previous
email and wondered when the reduced heart rate thing was going to happen
and actually a few times I have sat with my new tank and husband and boy
and really enjoyed just watching....relaxing....not feeling that I have
to run and do an ammonia test.....it is a wonderful little metaphor for
many things.
<yes... truly a wonderful hobby for all the right
reasons>
Thanks for the help. I'm ordering some phytoplankton for the
Flame......dig ya later.....Helene
<very good, and do learn about the
feeding technique of the phyto substitute from past FAQ/message board
posts, etc. (keep refrigerated, buy and use fresh only <6 months old,
and whisk in a blender or like device before feeding. Best regards,
Anthony> Not A Flame Scallop Again!
>Ok
first I have had a flame scallop for a week or so and it now does not
inflate its little tentacles and generally looks like its is withering.
I was told it was a filter feeder and didn't have to feed it. It is not
bothered by any other of my tanks fish....and the water quality is
great...what is happening? also Is there a mail-order fish place like
FFExpress closer to my home state of Michigan that you know of? thank
you for the help, Adam C
>>
Yikes... well, sorry to state, but
these pen shells, (Lima scabra only looks like a scallop) rarely live in
captivity for any length of time... because as you state, they're filter
feeders and there's simply not enough to keep them alive in the way of
food in captive settings... Some folks have success occasionally
spritzing them with blended food materials or moving them to more
"cultured" settings where they can "beef up"... And don't know about the
other mail-order places... but you should be able to find out where
they're located through contacting them... finding their URL's by way of
Freshwater and Marine Aquarium magazine ads... maybe also the various
Search Engines on the Net...
Bob Fenner Flame scallop
diseased? Scallop Mold; Starfish Predation....and 4x4 livestock
3/4/07
Thank you for writing me back Adam J.
<Welcome, we try
to respond to all questions within 24 hours.>
I had inquired about
grayish white tufts growing on my flame scallop.
<Right I vaguely
remember that one.>
They remind me of mold. Someone told me that
they are just normal growth on a scallop, but in the three months that
I have had him, I never saw them until recently.
<In short
mold/fungus is rare in marine aquaria and I'm not familiar with any type
colonizing on flame-scallops. I can't really read into more without a
picture or seeing the animal in person. What I believe to be happening
is deterioration, that the animal is slowly starving and dieing which is
common with this species in marine aquaria. Most captive systems can
simply not support them and they starve within months. Fishless
refugiums and dosing of phytoplankton can be helpful in prolonging this
process but usually....they still perish. What is your set-up like? What
are your water-parameters?>
I also now have a problem with an
orange star that is in my tank.
<Okay I will see if I can help.>
Recently it has become very battered and may even be on the brink of
death. It appears as though someone has been nipping at him
incessantly but I have yet to catch the culprit.
<Do you know what
type of star it is, most are very sensitive (some more than others) to
water quality.>
In my tank I have a clownfish (not sure what kind),
a coral beauty, a Sohal
<Acanthurus sohal tang? Hardy but gets very
large, some wild specimens reach 20"+ and are very aggressive. Should
typically not be housed with other surgeons.>
, a pacific blue tang,
a four wheel drive,
<I'm going to assume you meant wrasse? I don't
believe you keep an SUV in your aquarium....>
two three
stripe damsels, a scooter dragnet, and a mandarin.
<These latter are both in the dragonet family and have very specific
dietary needs, I REALLY hope this is a large aquarium with copious
amounts of microfauna and a fishless refugium.>
None of these are
supposed to be a threat to starfish but I find it hard to believe that
the star has done this to itself.
<Could be disease if not
predation.>
If you have any info for me I would be happy to
receive it.
<It's hard to say without knowing more re: the system
or species of the seastar.>
Thank you.
<Welcome, Adam J.>
Flame Scallop Sick, likely just starved... 2/26/07
I
have had a flame scallop for about three months now and it seems to be
doing fine, or it was until yesterday. It recently changed locations
after I moved some live rock around and I noticed tufts of grayish
mold-like growths on its shell. What are these and should I remove the
scallop or attempt to treat it?
<I honestly cannot identify the
problem without more detail and preferably a picture. I will suggest
reading the FAQ's on flame scallops as most slowly deteriorate and
starve in captivity. What's your set-up like? AJ.>
Flame Scallop
Hello there,
I've been keeping a flame scallop
for past 3 months.
Recently had remove some rocks where the scallop
attached itself. Tried to move it but it got 'stuck' to the
rock. Tried several times with slight tug each time. Got it loose but
the problem is after the 'move', it refused to open. The tentacles are
still out but the scallop does not open more than 3-4mm.
Can't see
the 'flame' at all. Still continue to feed it with small
pipette. Please help. Thanks
>>Sounds like you are in trouble.
Flame scallops are difficult to keep in general - most don't last more
that 6 months even in the best tanks. Scallops attach themselves to
rocks and removing them can hurt them. I suspect that yours in injured.
It may not be, and may open wonderfully in a week or so. Either way, try
to keep feeding it and see what happens. And, if it attaches to a rock
again, leave it alone.
Hope that helps.
Rich?>>
Re: Flame Scallop
Hi there,
Thank you so much for the
info. Appreciate it very much. I only knew that Flame Scallops are
difficult to keep after visiting WWM but too late. Already bought
one. Well, it had attached itself to a nearby rock again but still not
opening itself yet. Will do as advised and continue feeding
it. Thanks. Pat
>>Keep us updated! Rich>> Re: Flame Scallop
Hi Rich>>
My scallop is still not opening but the tentacles came out
longer. Is there anything I should do?:-(
>>Nothing I can think of.
Sorry!>>
Love WWM. Gain a lot of info. Great job guys.
>>Thanks. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful here!>>
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 with chocolate chip starfish 5/8/06
I
understand the feeding problems associated with flame scallops but
wanted to try one in my tank. The only problem is that I have a 4 inch
chocolate chip starfish in the tank already. I know they can eat some
corals. My question is "have you heard of them eating flame scallops?"
Thanks
<Mmm, may eat bivalves... Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/ccstarcompfaqs.htm
and the linked files
above. Bob Fenner> The Shame of the Flame ( Scallop) and
the Almighty Buck
Most praiseworthy and omniscient crew,
<No
need to go overboard>
Having read through a ream of FAQ's this
evening, I am prepared to submit myself for a drubbing with a dead
mackerel. Today I purchased on impulse [I know, I know...] a flame
scallop, approximately 2.5 inches across. He opened nicely after
acclimation, and jetted himself around until he found someplace he
liked. He currently cohabits my 75G tank with 45 pounds of live rock, a
fuzzy dwarf lion, a pincushion urchin, a petite long-tentacle anemone, a
chestnut cowry, and a couple of Condoleezza (Rice?) anemones. My water
parameters are quite good, with respect to ammonia, nitrates, nitrites,
pH, and buffering. I have no apparent copper contamination in my tap
water, and no measurable phosphates. I am now, however, painfully aware
that the odds of keeping this critter for very long are not very good at
all.
<Yup>
My questions are these:
First, now that I feel like
the back end of a horse for having bought such a fragile and
likely-to-croak creature, I am committed to doing anything within reason
to maximize the chance for success. Can you please suggest an
appropriate food that will come closest to that which the little guy
requires? I am anticipating dropper feeding upstream, two or three times
weekly. I've been feeding the anemones a food called Invert Gumbo, to
which they have responded well...is such a thing even close to what the
"scallop" [nee file clam] really needs? Any other ideas?
<You can
try the gumbo. I suggest getting a syringe from the drug store and
remove the needle and squirt the stuff in him. They will require daily
feedings to survive for any length of time.>
Second, in the process
of jetting around finding his place, the scallop blundered right into
the lap of one of the Condi's. Can the anemones do damage to the exposed
tissue of a bivalve under such circumstances?
<Certainly>
Third,
and possibly rhetorically, why in the #%&* do the people at the LFS sell
livestock that is so difficult to maintain and doomed to death by
starvation, without communicating an understanding of the low
probability of success?
<$$$$$$$>
I am rather new to this hobby,
but I am committed, sincere, well-intentioned, well-resourced and
reasonably intelligent [impulse buying not withstanding]. I genuinely
want to do this the right way, and in a conscientious and responsible
fashion, and thus need to lean on the supposedly more knowledgeable
experts. Where can one turn for guidance on those species that really
aren't "right" for the private, amateur aquarist to acquire and
maintain?
Thanks for allowing me to vent. And I promise, no more
impulse buys before doing my homework.
<Yes, if more people didn't
buy these things, the LFSs wouldn't order them.>
Best regards, Rick
<Good day to you. James (Salty Dog)> Flame scallop Husbandry
Bob [or his minion]:
<James today>
A few days ago I admitted to
the error of buying a flame scallop before doing my homework, and to my
understanding of how difficult the little guy was going to be to care
for. Since then, just about everything I have been able to find, on WWM
and elsewhere, is mostly lamenting the foolishness and/or cruelty of the
fact that they almost always starve to death.
<Yes!>
Well, having
bought one, I was prepared to take full responsibility for doing
everything within reason to maximize its chances of survival. In the
days following I have acquired four more, including a couple from a LFS
where their care was dodgy at best. My rationale is this: I am fully
aware of what is involved, and can at least commit that the new ones
will get the same chance as the first one, rather than having them be
purchased by people who won't make the effort. Further, everything I
read indicates they do better in groups. Finally, if I am going to stick
my arm in a tank of venomous fish every day to feed one [lions and
scorpions and Foxface, oh my!!] , I might as well feed more than one. In
for a penny, as they say.
They reside in a 75 gallon tank, with 105
lbs. of live rock. Water parameters are very good, and I am using two
power heads, one with a rotating deflector, to provide strong
circulation. I have been feeding each by dropper, daily, directly
injecting a product called Marine Snow.
<Rick, in my opinion, Marine
Snow does little or nothing.>
During feeding, and for 30 minutes
after, I suspend mechanical filtration and water movement. I also add
another product, "Invert Gumbo"...
<Another nitrate producer>
...
and have added an iodine supplement as well. Over the last week, each
scallop has improved dramatically in color, relocated to a spot of its
own liking, and displayed more vigorous movement of its tendrils.
Is
there anything else at all that you can think of that will enhance their
chances, either in the area of a feeding regimen or of a supplement or
enhancement to the tank environment? Would the addition of some sort of
vitamin supplement, or something like Selcon, make a positive
difference? I'd appreciate any suggestions.
<Selcon would help some,
but I would use DT's phytoplankton or Cyclop-Eeze phytoplankton for
feeding. DT's is actually live phytoplankton. Keep your calcium at
375-400ppm along with a dKH of 8-12 as the scallops do require calcium.
James (Salty Dog). Rick, keep a record of your experiment and if you
have long term success, let us know.> Flame scallop Husbandry -
Follow-up
James,
Thanks for your quick response.
<You're
welcome>
A few more details, if you don't mind. I certainly trust
your opinion on the Marine Snow, but why so? Is it the wrong type of
micro-critter, or is the processing of the product what renders it
ineffectual? Similarly, you note that the Gumbo stuff is another nitrate
builder.. is this because it's just wasted organic matter in the system
to decay uselessly?
<Rick, all I will say is that in my opinion,
these products are not good source of food for invertebrates. Believe
me, using them will help algae more than it will help the inverts.>
I
checked with Marine Depot's website, and they carry the DT's stuff,
which I should have by this weekend. They also offer oyster eggs for
reef feeding. Any thoughts on whether they might be worth a try?
<I
have not heard anything bad about the product.>
They also seem
enthused about a spray-dried phyto product, touting its high level of
HUFA's. Thoughts? I am open to just about all reasonable possibilities
to
make this work.
<Rick, go to their website, very informative. I
think this will answer all your DT's question.
www.dtplankton.com >
Having read your reference to my
'experiment', I've decided to make it just that. Off to the store to buy
more testing capability, and I intend to journal my progress and record
conditions at regular intervals. If I can keep these guys alive and
healthy for a year, somebody somewhere owes me a cold one.
<Well
Rick, I certainly like cold ones. Be glad to share a few with you. James
(Salty Dog)>
Thanks for all your help. Rick
<You're welcome>
Flame scallop Husbandry - Seeing the Light? Part III
James,
Thanks for the website reference.
<You're welcome>
It is very
illuminating. For the first time, I feel like I have an overall
understanding of the feeding process. The incidental beneficiaries of
this new-found knowledge will be my feather dusters.
<Good luck in
your experiment and keep me posted, sounds interesting. James (Salty
Dog)> Starfish & (My Friend) Goo Problems, Flame scallop
Flamers...
Hello! I need advice again oh wise ones!
<More like
wise n heimers>
First off here's the tank specs -
29gal
3-5"
DSB, 30lbs(-ish) LR from a previous large reef setup
Double 55w PC
50/50 lighting
Emperor 400 doing the filtering - I don't change the
filters and there's tons of pods and shrimps in there so they keep it
fairly clean.
<Good>
2 - 225gph powerheads set on either end
Water all checked out as normal and stays that way for the most part. I
do a 10% water change about 3-4 times a week...no extra additives, I
figured I was changing enough water that the salt mix would cover this.
<Yes... good practice>
Creatures
3 little red starfish (think
they're Fromia)
1 "African" anemone. I still have not been able to
find out what this thing really is but it is doing well. I see the dyed
ones in the store a lot... most of them looked half dead..
2 - true
perc clowns
1 firefish
1 neon goby
1 yellow watchman goby
1
neon Dottyback
2 skunk cleaner shrimp
Numerous little hermits and
snails
Trumpet coral and a small rock of green sea mat
Ok my first
question...I used to have 2 flame scallops that were doing well. They
had supplemental feedings every other day and their shells were nice and
dark. I had let them stay near the back of the aquarium for awhile and
they were fine like that for a good 6 months. One day in my cleaning I
got the brilliant idea to move them out to where people could see them!
Evidently it wasn't a good idea... the next morning one of the shells
was empty and that was quickly followed by the emptying of the other
shell. Now could the 3 cute little red stars be the ones to blame here?
I can't think of anyone else in the tank that would really feed on these
guys.
<These Lima's just don't live period in captivity... in the
wild they're either on the move (can jet about) or way back where other
animals' can't get to them>
Second question/problem...I cannot for
the life of me get the Cyano and hair algae to go away. I have read up
on both of them on your forums but it seems no matter what I do it keeps
coming back.
<Is persistent>
I put a lot more turbulence in the
tank with the addition of two 225gph powerheads and like I said I do 3-4
10% water changes a week.
<All helpful>
The Cyano (pretty sure
it's Cyano.. nice red slime that burns when it's on your skin) seems to
love the added flow and has covered the back part of the glass
overnight. I am in the process of getting a decent skimmer...
<Good
idea>
...evidently my water changes aren't enough. I don't add any
extra additives and I'm very careful about how much food goes into the
tank. Do you think the skimmer will help?
<Definitely>
I don't
think it could hurt though I'm running out of edges to hang gadgets off
of!
Thanks!
~Angela
<Mmmmm, am thinking about a bigger tank for
you? You don't need that couch! You don't need that TV!... Bob Fenner>
Electric scallops
Have read all info on bivalves on your site..
am ashamed to admit I bought an Electric scallop and THEN decided to
worry about the care and feeding. After reading about dirty
water...bivalves like that, turn off your skimmer... it takes away the
things that bivalves like .. I wondered if you could feed the bivalves
skimmer scum?? Maybe this is a dumb question? Thanks!!
<It is. 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
Coral Beauty Angel and Flame Scallop 1/6/05
Hello wonderful
fishy folk!
<cheers>
Today's question is short and sweet -- I
know that Coral Beauty Angelfish may be prone to nipping at clam
mantles. My question is, do Centropyge (and particularly the coral
beauty) tend to nip at flame scallops?
<all have the
potential indeed>
I wasn't sure if all bivalves were a potential
target, or just the very fleshy clams. I know that larger angels will
pick on flame scallops, but I didn't see anything concrete on the
dwarfs.
Thanks! Deb
<please do read/research here in the WWM
archives and beyond for the reasons why your flame scallop is a very
poor choice for aquarium use and I beg you to not buy anymore unless you
set up a species tank, have an aged refugium (over 1 year old) and
culture live plankters in an attempt to keep this animal. Nearly all
starve to death slowly over a period of months in typical home aquaria.
Anthony> Flame Scallop save 1/6/05
Thanks for the
feedback. In fact, I haven't bought any flame scallops. I wanted to
research BEFORE buying. I won't be buying one. :) Deb
<whew! Very good to hear my friend. This is one of those creatures
better admired in the ocean and left there :) Anthony> Flame
scallop (Lima) clarification 11/6/04
Great site.... I read your
FAQ's on the flame scallop (I understand *now* that they are a tough
species to keep). I have a question or clarification. Having previously
kept FW for years, including some attempts at breeding guppies, I have a
large supply of brine shrimp eggs in the refrigerator. I didn't quite
understand if you thought BBS needed to be blended or not...
<no my
friend. Blending is to reduce particle size in phytoplankton cultures
and bottled food supplements. Baby brine shrimps are fine as whole
foods>
here's what I do now (prior to the addition of the scallop).
<hmmm... you do know too that the flame scallop eats little or no baby
brine shrimp? They principally eat nanoplankton - hence the reason most
starve to death in aquaria in well under 2 years time (months really)>
Every week or two at lights out, I remove the filter pad and put a very
small amount (couple hundred probably) of eggs in my 10g micro reef. The
next day, most of the eggs that haven't been eaten by the Domino Damsel
or Percula hatch out.
<decapsulated eggs? Hopefully>
It takes a
couple of days for the filter feeders and fish
to track down the
rest, but it seems to make everyone happy.
I was wondering if, in
addition to a phyto supplement, if you think the eggs/hatched baby brine
shrimp would be eaten by the scallop.
<I am sure they will not>
On a similar note, in your opinion would the scallop be better in a high
or mid-low flow area (powerhead on them maybe?).
<higher flow is
better>
Thanks! Sincerely, Mark Ristine
<kindly, Anthony> Responsible Anemone/Scallop Keeping 8/12/04
Hi there! It's been awhile since I've had a question come up, so here I
am. ;]
<we've been waiting with bells on>
I recently got a deep
blue carpet anemone. I'm in love. ;]
<this is an illegal
relationship in most civilized countries>
It is very sticky, the
foot is in perfect condition, and it ate a chunk of food on the first
day! I have it in a tank with lots of light and very good flow.
<all good>
My main question is how can you tell the difference
between S. haddoni and S. gigantea?
<listen for the
accent in their speech betraying the locale of their origin/speciation.>
Do S. haddoni come in blue as well?
<yep... RIT brand
dyed fresh from some charming Indo exporters>
I have two rock/flower
anemones that are near the carpet (3 inches away) but not
touching. Will this be a problem?
<I expect the carpet
will stress or kill these in time>
Everybody seems happy at the
moment. Do pink skunk clowns take to carpet anemones?
<the answer to
this question, as with the details of speciation between anemones (like
the tentacle-free distinction around the mouth of S. haddoni) and so
much more is waiting for you in our archives. We work hard to build this
database... please do make the effort to use it and help yourself.
There's a clownfish/anemone compatibility chart ta boot:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
be sure to follow the many other links atop these pages>
I feed all
of my anemones (3 flowers, RBTA, green BTA) a mixture of live plankton
and Prime Reef/Frozen Brine shrimp by Formula foods. They all seem very
happy and are growing.
Is this an acceptable diet for
the carpet anemone as well?
<seem weak to me... the phyto is of
dubious value for the carnivorous anemones (they feed on zooplankton
principally)... and brine shrimp is a truly hollow food (barely useful
even if gut loaded). Please do add better variety here with 4-6 other
meats of marine origin. Shredded cocktail shrimp, Mysid shrimp, Pacifica
plankton... minced krill... and fish eggs (grouper roe from the LFS or
flying fish eggs from an Asian groceria... excellent food for such
filter feeders)>
Thanks for everything! Morgan Mok
ps: Just as
an update for the naysayers and the "blind squirrel people", my red
flame scallop is over 1 1/2 years old in my system. ;p
<Morgan...
you do understand that we are here to serve the greater good in the
hobby? I hope you are too. Encouraging the majority of aquarists to keep
inappropriate animals like flame scallops just because less than 1%
survive over one year is... well... irresponsible. Unless you can
clearly explain and document how yours lived to 18 months (still not
much of an accomplishment when many simply take longer to slowly starve
via a small daily deficit in nutrition as from brine shrimp feedings
over time... and all have a natural lifespan on a scale of magnitude
much longer!), let me ask... rather, beg (!) that you do not casually
promote the keeping of flame scallops or the like as if its a lottery,
and telling people the equiv. of "you might win too!". The truth is that
most lose... and these are living creatures lives lost... not lottery
tickets. Your fave naysayer, perhaps... Anthony :) >
Responsible Anemone/Scallop Keeping II 8/13/04
Hi Anthony,
First, I tried to find info about carpet anemone differences in the
FAQs/articles and couldn't find anything, therefore I sent a question.
<no worries... but it was all sitting on that first page. The archives
are huge though, understood>
I asked about the skunk clown cause I
saw a couple different compatibility charts and wanted to be sure.
<OK>
Don't worry, I warn anyone interested in keeping flame
scallops, Tubastrea, and tube anemones about the high maintenance
quality of these corals. I don't ever encourage the casual reefer to
keep these or other corals.
<ahhh... very good to hear>
I just had to give you a raspberry and let you know how my scallop was
doing. You gave me such a hard time originally and called me a "blind
squirrel". ;]
<perhaps still mate ;) Many filter feeders
can hang on for over a year or even longer still starving slowly.
Without evidence of growth or reproduction... victory on such species
living decades is not assured yet <G>>
I can't say exactly why I
have had success with it. I know people that grow their own rotifers
and can't keep flame scallops.
<indeed... many filter
feeders need very specific sized zoo- or phyto plankters>
I use the
previously mentioned (live phyto (the one I use has 7 diff types, that's
what it says)
<truly nifty... good to hear>
prime reef, frozen
brine shrimp by the same people, blood worms, and Spirulina chunk)
marine soup to feed my corals, anemones, etc. My DSB is 5-6 inches and
9+ years old. Good lighting, flow, and a euro-reef skimmer. Is this a
recipe for success?
<dunno... time will tell. But sounds very nice
to me>
I don't know, but my corals all grow well, my plate coral is
huge (7 inches) and eats like a pig (it has turned from green to almost
a solid purple), my flower anemone is 6-7inches wide when open, and my
flame scallop has survived in my system for over a year and half.
I'll probably switch to Hikari foods and get a much larger tank in time,
but everything else will stay the same. My question is, how many years
will I have to have my flame scallop before I am "successful"? hehe I
collected it myself btw.
<a subjective valuation... but
anything over 3 would be outstanding by hobby standards. Honestly, even
over 2 is quite good IMO. Aside from he much longer natural lifespan of
these invertebrates. You are on your way>
I totally understand your
need to chide people for getting corals with a high mortality rate. So
many people kill animals because their LFS says they're easy to keep,
etc. I don't own an elegance, can't keep pink tipped Heliofungia
(sniff), no dendro or chili coral, etc.
<you can keep the latter
easily if you'd care to try it. Anyone diligent enough to feed rotifers
or baby brine shrimp can. They are quite hardy if fed regularly>
However I am glad I tried to keep a flame scallop and I have a patch of
bright orange colonial tunicates that are doing great (turtle grass
tunicates). Life is about experimentation and I agree that these corals
are lives not just lottery tickets, but reef keeping is a continually
developing hobby that requires some careful experimentation to figure
out animals' limits and abilities within our systems.
<yes...
agreed. Careful experimentation>
I guess I have a blue
haddoni?? The pics aren't the best and the anemone closed some when I
moved the rock to take the pics. It is usually open and rufflly. Other
pic is anemones and orange colonial tunicates (take my word for it). ha!
One last question, do you run aquadesignz? Just curious.
<nope... not sure what that is?>
Feel free to edit this e-mail if
you're going to post it. ;]
<we edit nothing my friend beyond
personal info and inappropriate language. Free speech!>
Very nice
talking with you. Have a nice weekend! Morgan
<to you in kind...
best regards :) Anthony>
Mystery Critter ID
What's up Crew!<< Just typing away. >>
I found this critter clamped onto my Hammer Coral's skeleton. It
took mucho
strength to pry it off. It opens up split from the
middle and sticks out a
pinkish tongue-like flesh. << Haven't
seen the pic yet, but already sounding like a bivalve mollusk. >>
It's pretty alien looking IMO. I'm attaching
two photos top and
side views. Really appreciate if you can help me ID it
and let
me know if it is predatory towards any of my corals or inverts. <<
Well it appears to be some sort of Bivalve. Looks
cool. Unfortunately with about 14,000 species of Bivalves, I don't
think I can be much more descriptive. I'll bet it isn't predatory
and is a great addition to your tank. This type of biodiversity is
exactly what you want in a reef tank, so I say keep it. Please
continue to watch it, and if it on a coral let us know. Otherwise
keep it growing (it needs live rock, and that's about it) and please
take pictures again. Looks pretty cool, and I'm sorry I can't
identify it. >>
Thanks a bunch!
Roy
<< Adam
Blundell >> |  |  |
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