electrc-flame scallop

Question
Hi! I have an electrc flame scallop whos "Flames" are white instead of red, I work in a pet store that specializes in saltwater fish and I have never heard of this happening before. I have him in a 29 bio cube right now. I am slowly taking out the bio balls and using live rock in my filter, have the stock 10,000k and atinic lights with the moon lights also use bio chem in my filter. at one point my tank got pretty hot (85) but now is a steady 79

Answer

Red Flame Scallop Hi Mariah,

Regarding your Flame Scallop:

Having white tentacles is perfectly normal. This species has a bright red mantel with red or white tentacles.

Below is a bit more factual information for you:

The Red Flame Scallop, also called the Flame Scallop or Red File Shell Clam, has a bright red mantel with red or white tentacles. The shell of the various Flame Scallops is covered with fine bumps, making it feel like a file.

The Red Flame Scallop builds a small nest of small rocks and pieces of coral in which it embeds itself. In an aquarium, this may not offer much protection. When threatened, it may escape by clapping its valves together, propelling it through the water, with assistance from its tentacles. It tolerates all animals that do not try to eat it, and can be kept in groups. It is a filter feeder, and requires floating micro-plankton to be kept alive in the aquarium, and will do best in a mature reef aquarium system. It also needs proper calcium levels and alkalinity. It does not tolerate nitrates or copper-based medications.

The flame scallop is non-photosynthetic and requires supplementation with phytoplankton, and organic foods (Marine Snow or Selcon) provided by using a small pipette/straw to dispense the food upstream of its location. Each Red Flame Scallop needs to be fed individually.

See the pages below for more information on Marine Snow and Selcon.

http://www.ocreef.com/american_marine_selcon_60_ml?category_id=4863

http://www.ocreef.com/two_little_fishies-marine_snow

Regards,
Dave

All Experts - Editor

OCReef.com - Director