Dwarf Puffer And Freshwater Clam

[r.w.girard]

Hey, I am planning out a 5 gallon dwarf puffer tank and I was wondering if a freshwater clam could live in the tank with it, for filtration reasons. I am planning to use a sand substrate.

 

[nmonks]

That you're talking about freshwater clams as "filters" guarantees that you have no idea how to keep a clam alive. So no, this isn't an option for you. In any case, pufferfish will view clams as food, and even if the shell is too big for them, they'll still nip the siphons.

Freshwater clams are extremely difficult to maintain. Or rather, most aquarists quickly kill them by either starving them or keeping them far too warm. All clams need regular (i.e., daily) feedings of filter feeder food of the type used in marine aquaria to maintain tubeworms and giant clams. This requires the use of a turkey baster or similar to direct food into the clam, and feeding clams this way can cause problems for water quality, especially in small tanks. Contrary to what you appear to have been told, clams do not "filter out" food from the water in any meaningful way because aquarium water does not have plankton.

But let's go back to basics here: pufferfish should be kept alone. If you want a mixed species set-up, don't keep pufferfish. It really is as simple as that.

Cheers, Neale

Hey, I am planning out a 5 gallon dwarf puffer tank and I was wondering if a freshwater clam could live in the tank with it, for filtration reasons. I am planning to use a sand substrate.

 

[r.w.girard]

In any case, pufferfish will view clams as food, and even if the shell is too big for them, they'll still nip the siphons.

I suppose this part would have been plenty but, Neale, thank you bunches. I has simply not thought of them as a option, possible or impossible, and so I thought I would ask.

 

[nmonks]

Glad to help. But wanted to be crystal clear about the fact most (all?) clams in freshwater aquaria die within a few weeks or months. Given some can live a 100 years in the wild, that's pretty dismal.

Cheers, Neale

[I suppose this part would have been plenty but, Neale, thank you bunches. I has simply not thought of them as a option, possible or impossible, and so I thought I would ask.