Caloric demands of a Thorny/Spiny Oyster

[Gaufl]

Hey there!
While working on my new NPS setup, I stumbled across a shop selling a variable thorny oyster (Sponylus varius).
These are just super cool and colorful (and expensive ).

These clams can actually get quite large and filter many gallons of water per hour so they are very efficient at filtering out food.

Is it actually sensible to put such a critter in the tank or would I have to dose literally gallons of Phyto every day to keep it happy or would daily target feeding be enough? With the tank being designed for filter feeders, I am also worried that this guy will be too efficient at filtering and basically starve my other filter feeders.

Any thoughts on this?
Also, any experiences in keeping a S. varius?

Thanks all!

Greetings,
Flo

 

[reef lover]

@Dr. Dendrostein do you think it would starve the nps tank?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Actually I think it may starve(will get back to this in a minute ). I can't speak for Sponylus varius, but having some experience with Crassostrea gigas, aka Pacific Oysters, filter 20 to 50 gallons a day. Reef Nutrient has a chart to feed oysters for consumption. Here's picture of my two refugiums outside it started with 120 oysters, it stabilized at 80 oysters. Plus 3 large cherry stone clams,7 small clams in miracle mud,3 abalones. Had chaetomorpha too. And 2 sulfur denitrators

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I mentioned that Sponylus varius may starve, may because the amount of food feed for nps creatures and how will determine if your successful. I know some information about nps, here's my credentials. ...hahaha

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Here's some oysters from past tanks

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

On how much to feed, if filtration can handle it keep water with just a tint of green. Of course have tank fully stocked with creatures or spot feed as often as you can. There's no exact information on feeding with success, you may need to figure it out as you go

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hey there!
While working on my new NPS setup, I stumbled across a shop selling a variable thorny oyster (Sponylus varius).
These are just super cool and colorful (and expensive ).

These clams can actually get quite large and filter many gallons of water per hour so they are very efficient at filtering out food.

Is it actually sensible to put such a critter in the tank or would I have to dose literally gallons of Phyto every day to keep it happy or would daily target feeding be enough? With the tank being designed for filter feeders, I am also worried that this guy will be too efficient at filtering and basically starve my other filter feeders.

Any thoughts on this?
Also, any experiences in keeping a S. varius?

Thanks all!

Greetings,
Flo

Can you mention your ideas on nps tank your trying

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Can it starve tank , I say no.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

My love is raising and help thrive Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya. And also all nps corals.

1 of 15 in house frags dendronephthya sp. from Malaysia

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Any questions you have or ideas we're here to listen and share. I look forward to your vision of NPS tank

 

[Gaufl]

Thank you for your reply.
I have been follwoing your Dendronephthya thread for a while now. I really like your work.
In the last year I collected mainly NPS LPS coral, so I dont have a feeding setup for gorgonians and filter feeders yet.
In a few months, I would like to upgrade my system and setup an automatic dosing system for phyto and Fauna Marin foods. As of now, my filter feeders (different tubeworms, spider sponge and two winged oysters) are being fed with live phyto and reefriods.
Some of my NPS LPS.

 

[Gaufl]

Actually I think it may starve(will get back to this in a minute ). I can't speak for Sponylus varius, but having some experience with Crassostrea gigas, aka Pacific Oysters, filter 20 to 50 gallons a day. Reef Nutrient has a chart to feed oysters for consumption. Here's picture of my two refugiums outside it started with 120 oysters, it stabilized at 80 oysters. Plus 3 large cherry stone clams,7 small clams in miracle mud,3 abalones. Had chaetomorpha too. And 2 sulfur denitrators

So how much did you feed on a daily basis? Also, arent C. gigas more of a temperate species?
Sadly, I cant buy reef nutrition products here in germany.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Thank you for your reply.
I have been follwoing your Dendronephthya thread for a while now. I really like your work.
In the last year I collected mainly NPS LPS coral, so I dont have a feeding setup for gorgonians and filter feeders yet.
In a few months, I would like to upgrade my system and setup an automatic dosing system for phyto and Fauna Marin foods. As of now, my filter feeders (different tubeworms, spider sponge and two winged oysters) are being fed with live phyto and reefriods.
Some of my NPS LPS.

Beautiful specimens

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

So how much did you feed on a daily basis? Also, arent C. gigas more of a temperate species?
Sadly, I cant buy reef nutrition products here in germany.

I feed approximately with diy feeder (patent pending), 4ml Phyto-Feast, 4ml raw egg, 1/4 of a teaspoon reefroids, add together I add another 1/4 teaspoon amount of reefroids every 6 or 12 hours. Water Volume apprx. 100 gallons. I feed very, very small amounts through 24hrs.

Pacific oysters can thrive up to 35 Celsius

Don't need to be Phyto-Feast, comparable fine, same with reefroids.
Fauna Marine Sprint I've used in pass

 

[Gaufl]

Thank you for your reply!
So that amount of food is actually a lot less than I expected. That was enough to keep 80 oysters alive long term? In that case, it might be possible to keep the oyster alive with the amount that I am dosing.
At the moment, I am dosing 6ml of concentrated live phyto (mix of different species, locally cultivated) and a pinch of reefroids daily. The system is a reefer nano (small water volume for larger water changes).
I could supplement the feeding with something like marine snow etc.
I also have quite the stock of FM UltraClam, UltraSeafan and UltraminF.

I never used Sprint, but it might be an option to consider.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Thank you for your reply!
So that amount of food is actually a lot less than I expected. That was enough to keep 80 oysters alive long term? In that case, it might be possible to keep the oyster alive with the amount that I am dosing.
At the moment, I am dosing 6ml of concentrated live phyto (mix of different species, locally cultivated) and a pinch of reefroids daily. The system is a reefer nano (small water volume for larger water changes).
I could supplement the feeding with something like marine snow etc.
I also have quite the stock of FM UltraClam, UltraSeafan and UltraminF.

I never used Sprint, but it might be an option to consider.

I forgot to mention, ,the 2 refugiums from 10/2017, no longer operational. Sorry. Like I mention you will eventually determine proper feeding techniques, while loosing some creatures, unfortunately. Hope all goes well. For CUC, I like alot of snails and pods.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

If you follow my thread "raising dendronephthya. ...." I have sponges to wash your car in sump. I squeeze 1 time morning, 1 time night, helps feed filter feeders too.

 

[Gaufl]

Thank you for your reply.
I actually also have a large filter sponge in the sump. Maybe i should squeeze it more often for some detritus in the tank.
Thank you for your help so far. I am still not sure if I will pull the trigger on this guy as it is quite large and I am not sure that it will thrive but if I do I will make sure to keep you all updated in this thread.