Clams

[reefernc02]

So I just picked up four dozen clams for my copper band didn’t know if i should feed them raw or freeze them first thankfully he’s eating other foods but got these as a treat for him

 

[Fish Fan]

I don't have a copper band, but I think they might be my favorite fish, and I aspire to a pair of them in my next tank, if I can ever get that tank going lol!

I also take biosecurity quite seriously, and for that reason I would prefer to freeze the clams to minimize any fish parasites that they may have, even if that risk is very low.

However, you loose some of the benefits of feeding live food by freezing the clams, and your CBB may not take frozen/thawed clams.

If this is a treat, I'd freeze a couple and see if he takes them frozen, and then do that as I believe this is the safest in terms of fish parasites. If you're seeking additional nutritional benefits from feeding live, or if your fish doesn't like them frozen, you may need to use them live.

I'm following to see what the real experts would suggest here.

 

[reefernc02]

Thankyou for the reply I have a separate tank from the display I could keep them in call it my live food tank has hundreds if not thousands of amphipods a ton of bristle worms and some macro algea for the tangs in the display

 

[reefernc02]

I also thought if I’m gonna serve them fresh in the half shell since they will be yeetus deletus I can iodine dip or peroxide dip the meat and shell before soaking it in garlic guard and selcon

 

[Euphyllia97]

Peroxide dip the clams for 2 minutes and rinse them thoroughly after with some rodi water.

 

[reefernc02]

Peroxide dip the clams for 2 minutes and rinse them thoroughly after with some rodi water.

Thankyou he loves them frozen

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm glad your fish takes them frozen/thawed, I think that's the best way to go here. Peroxide wouldn't preserve any of the benefits of feeding live clams, so really no different than freezing them, and peroxide may not get all fish parasites the clams may be carrying. Freezing should kill everything, including the clams.

 

[reefernc02]

He’s a trooper man I have a special feeder coming from printed reef that only he can eat out of

 

[Fish Fan]

He’s a trooper man I have a special feeder coming from printed reef that only he can eat out of

That's a great way to feed those fish!

 

[reefernc02]

Anything for my tank life I live on a 120 acre farm so I’ve taken care of animals of all sorts my whole life and I give as much care to my fish as I do my horses

 

[reefernc02]

He’s a trooper man I have a special feeder coming from printed reef that only he can eat out of

That's a great way to feed those fish!

You gotta get on that larger system man I’ve often thought about trying to aquaculture fish and or qt and train fish to eat for people anything really that I can do to help people have an easier time in the hobby or make someone’s dream come true if possible

 

[Fish Fan]

You gotta get on that larger system man I’ve often thought about trying to aquaculture fish and or qt and train fish to eat for people anything really that I can do to help people have an easier time in the hobby or make someone’s dream come true if possible

Yeah, my tank is coming, I promise! I'm just dragging my feet on getting it setup, but hopefully soon, and I do want a pair of CBB's.

 

[exnisstech]

When I fed clams I just froze them, thawed rinse and feed. My CBBs didn't get them tho. They can compete for food in the water column but there's no way they can out compete my big tangs with stationary food.
On a side note I had a live clam (i think little neck) that buried in the sand. It was there for months and I had forgotten about it I untill I added a little Picasso trigger and he located it and dug it out.

 

[reefernc02]

When I fed clams I just froze them, thawed rinse and feed. My CBBs didn't get them tho. They can compete for food in the water column but there's no way they can out compete my big tangs with stationary food.
On a side note I had a live clam (i think little neck) that buried in the sand. It was there for months and I had forgotten about it I untill I added a little Picasso trigger and he located it and dug it out.

Have you tried on of the specialized feeders

 

[reefernc02]

When I fed clams I just froze them, thawed rinse and feed. My CBBs didn't get them tho. They can compete for food in the water column but there's no way they can out compete my big tangs with stationary food.
On a side note I had a live clam (i think little neck) that buried in the sand. It was there for months and I had forgotten about it I untill I added a little Picasso trigger and he located it and dug it out.

Also do your cbb’s pick on coral

 

[exnisstech]

Have you tried on of the specialized feeders

I have but I actual gave it away recently. This is the gang my CBBs have to compete with for food. I was afraid one if the larger tangs would run into to one of the CBBs while its beak was inside the feeder and injure it so I stopped using it. They have no trouble getting their share of food. I need to get a video of feeding earth worms with the naso chasing them around trying to take the the worm. The female has started eating flake but the male will not eat anything but live or frozen.

Also do your cbb’s pick on coral

I have not seen them bother any coral but I don't have fleshy LPS like acanthophylia lobos etc. I did have one in my acro tank for a few months with no issues.

 

[KrisReef]

Anything for my tank life I live on a 120 acre farm so I’ve taken care of animals of all sorts my whole life and I give as much care to my fish as I do my horses

Why am I not surprized that your Copperband is eating.

Animal husbandry is not necessarily an inate skill.

 

[reefernc02]

Anything for my tank life I live on a 120 acre farm so I’ve taken care of animals of all sorts my whole life and I give as much care to my fish as I do my horses

Why am I not surprized that your Copperband is eating.

Animal husbandry is not necessarily an inate skill.

When you’ve cared for everything from tortoises snakes and lizards to horses that lived to be 36 years old you learn how to deal with tough situations like specialized feeding. My personal belief is that 99% of this hobby is dedication and 1% luck. That’s why I don’t really like titles like expert only we learn so much about this hobby all the time that no one is truly and expert I mean look at the owner of tropic Marin he has said multiple times to not see him as an expert but as a beginner and a ever growing seeker of knowledge

 

[reefernc02]

Have you tried on of the specialized feeders

I have but I actual gave it away recently. This is the gang my CBBs have to compete with for food. I was afraid one if the larger tangs would run into to one of the CBBs while its beak was inside the feeder and injure it so I stopped using it. They have no trouble getting their share of food. I need to get a video of feeding earth worms with the naso chasing them around trying to take the the worm. The female has started eating flake but the male will not eat anything but live or frozen.

Also do your cbb’s pick on coral

I have not seen them bother any coral but I don't have fleshy LPS like acanthophylia lobos etc. I did have one in my acro tank for a few months with no issues.

They are beautiful mine definitely loves worms brine mysis and red plankton are also slowly becoming favorites. I can’t wait for the day that he may accept pellets or flake fingers crossed

 

[exnisstech]

This is the only dried food the one will eat. I even mix pellets with PE mysis and rods but when they get one they spit it out and I swear they give me dirty look for trying to trick them.
I don't feed a lot of dried food but use it as treats that I toss in throughout the day because they are such good beggars.

She loves this stuff