Keeping freshwater clams

[hecklad]

I've been interested in keeping native fish with aquatic invertebrates such as freshwater mussels, particularly fingernail clams (Sphaeriidae) since they're small and don't rely on fish to reproduce. Haven't found anything on keeping them besides this.

I'm not really that knowledgeable but my suggestion would be to use rocks and sand/sediment, and if possible, plants from the stream you will collect the fish and clams from. Set up the tank without the clams and let it go for a month or so then add a few clams or mussels and see how they do, and if they make it 2 or 3 months it would probably be safe to add a few more. Of course this is also from me being a stingy bastard and not wanting to spend time and money on culturing food for them

 

[schmiggle]

So this is in response to the initial comment.
I own about a dozen freshwater clams, all wild caught from the TN river. If you live in an area where they're invasive and want a tank dedicated to them, I would suggest digging up your own and using the substrate in which you found them. That should cause there to be a healthy microbe population in the tank that will feed them. Another way to feed them that has worked for me was to grind up algae pellets as much as possible into a powder. I've had them for about 5 months now so I've done something right. That said if you're wanting to have them in an already established tank then this is irrelevant

This is interesting. I'm actually kind of surprised you can produce enough food for them just from river dirt. However, you're talking about zebra mussels, I assume? Most people try to keep Unionida, I think, which could make a difference in this regard.

Algae pellets should definitely work for anyone if they can be ground small enough. I hadn't thought of that, and it makes good sense.

 

[hecklad]

This is interesting. I'm actually kind of surprised you can produce enough food for them just from river dirt. However, you're talking about zebra mussels, I assume? Most people try to keep Unionida, I think, which could make a difference in this regard.

Algae pellets should definitely work for anyone if they can be ground small enough. I hadn't thought of that, and it makes good sense.

I've actually been keeping Corbicula fulminea or a similar species