Cleaner Clams

[bigblue141]

Does anyone know anything about cleaner clams as far as their requirements and what they do for your eco-system?

I also read that you can pick up the same clams from the supermarket and stick them in your tank as well. Any experiences and/or thoughts about that?

And can someone tell me what kind of crab is on my thumbnail. The LFS told me he is a dorma, but I've found on the internet that dorma's are sponge crabs. The closest thing that I've found is that he's a moon crab. He just burrows in the sand, and swims around and eats food without his pinchers like a fish. He also enjoys feedings of chopped shrimp.

 

[Chichas01]

I've been wondering about these as well. ISPF (hawaiian raised?) and Saltwaterfish.com (Florida raised) sell them, although I don't think they are the same species. If they require the large amounts of phyto that other clams, like the flame scallop, require then it's just going to end with a bunch of dead clams.

 

[Pentagona]

I had thought about using them in the past but had been warned against it by some people due to the fact that they can carry a lot of parisites and things and since clams don't usually take well to being treated with any sort of dips or medications, it's just not worth the hastle.

 

[returnofsid]

I highly doubt you'll get any benefit from their use. Some are also from temperate regions and will quickly die in our reef tanks.

Read this: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/harlshrpfdgf.htm

Also the 7th Q&A on this page: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/aipfaqs4.htm

 

[bigblue141]

Thanks for the articles. All the other articles I've been reading about the cleaner clams have all talked about how they "eat" the nitrites out of the water. I thought it sounded "fishy", and thought I'd ask for thoughts and for more information about them.

Can anyone identify the crab I use for my Avitar? and/or have any information on them?

 

[Mopar Reefer]

I've been wondering about these as well. ISPF (hawaiian raised?) and Saltwaterfish.com (Florida raised) sell them.

I purchased some for Saltwaterfish.com (4) and none of them made it more than 3wks, not excatly what happened but I just don't think they are cut-out for our type of tanks. Atleast they weren't expensive

 

[Barry N.]

I highly doubt you'll get any benefit from their use. Some are also from temperate regions and will quickly die in our reef tanks

Agree with the above.

 

[fatboyt123]

Can anyone identify the crab I use for my Avitar? and/or have any information on them?

It looks like a porcelain crab to me.

 

[eddiecorrea]

You can actually buy them from your local grocery store. I had a few in a nano tank awhile back. I noticed my water to be SLIGHTLY cleaner. But not worth it. They are UGLY. Just little grey blobs haha.