Feeding and growth of LPS

[Paul B]

I was just looking through some pictures from a couple of years ago and I noticed the progression of one of my Euphyllia type of corals.
These are an easier type of coral to keep but I didn't realize it had grown so much because I see it every day.
I think this first picture is about 3 years ago, then two years ago, then today.
In the last picture the coral is about 10" across but most of it is in the dark and can't be seen.
I feed this, and all my LPS clams almost every day and it seems to have a positive outcome on their growth. I also feed this coral pellets that I soak in fish oil.
At first I had a problem with it as I do with all small things in the tank due to the urchin

I feed fresh clams (which I freeze) by slicing off tissue thin slivers. Clams are hard to cut and messy if they are not frozen. One chowder clam is about 75 cents and lasts a couple of weeks. All of my animals including the fish get clams as well as live worms. Clams are a very good food because they are one of the only foods besides mysis and worms where we can feed the entire animal and not just the muscle as what happens when we feed scalop, squid or fish fillets. Almost all of the nutrients are in the guts of the animal.

 

[Paul B]

Sorry double picture

 

[MadReefer]

Paul,
I use to buy those fresh clams to feed my fish and anemones. I bought 3 at a time to last longer.
Was getting tired of all the strange looks when asking for 1 clam. At least with three it wasn't as often.


Mark

 

[Paul B]

I know what you mean and I bought three yesterday

 

[twisted]

I'm gonna try that. Thanks for the thread!


Twisteds 180 Reef

 

[fatoldsun]

Is there any reason why they have to be sliced? Could you just throw some in a food processor and freeze small cubes? (I reuse trays from blood worms and mysis) I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to add clams as an ingredient but is there a benefit or rationale to the slicing approach?

 

[Paul B]

You can put them in a processer if you like. I like to freeze them and shave of paper thin slices. In a food processer it loses a lot of clam because most of it turns to mush but it is the samr clam if you prefer to do that.