Electric Flame Scallop VS Flame Scallop

[Gouldian]

Hi reefers & experts,

I have just done a little searching on the web and realize that there are two kind of flame scallop although their scientific names are the same (Lima Scabra).

However, I realized not much is written on the Electric sp. Most of the literatures spoke about the difficulty of keeping the FC and discouraging reefers from keeping them. However, when I went to www.liveaquaria.com, they classify them differently in term of ease of care. EFS is classified as Moderate whereas FS is classified as Difficult.

I belive it is due to the fact that EFS is an Indo Pacific species whereas FS is Carribean - so easier for the Ang Mohs to get info.

Thus, I hope that we asians can share some info regarding the EFS and hopefully next time the Ang Mohs will come here to get advise.

No seriously, I belive the infos share here will benefits the members and will bring our community to a different plane.

So, please contribute whatever you know about EFS here.

[Gouldian]

Hi Bros & Sis,

Anybody any experience? Please help?

I think I will start the ball rolling. I have had the Electric Flame Scallop for five days now. Below are my observations.

Day 1 Morning: Acclimatize slowing using airtube to mix with tank water. Realeased into the front park of tank and 1 min later it is hidding at the back of tank below LR. Tentacles extended, able to see electric current. Stayed that way till day 2 night.

Day 2 Night: Same position. Dose phyto & garlic. Tentacles extended, able to see electric current.

Day 3 Morning: Discovered that positioned have shifted due to hermit passing by. Closed clams, able to see small amount of tentacles. Stay that way still Day 4 Night.

Day 4 Night: Started to be comfortable in new position. Started to exposed tentacles and open up. Dose phyto & garlic.

Day 5 Morning: Same position. Opening more and facing direction of current.

[Cookiemunster]

Bro,

basically flame scallops and electric flame scallops need the same requirements. Its just the electric one is nicer.

They require very very very very heavy phytoplankton feeding. They do not need garlic.

Think in the range of at least 1000ml every day of dosing plankton. And because we do not know what size of plankton they can consume, its best to dose a variety. from 3micron to 20micron size. Namely isochrysis, tetraselmis and nannochloropsis strains.

This is the reason why they do not survive long in the tank because they do not get enough food. They dun have zooanthelea to produce the slime from photosynthesis on which to feed on like clams so they require heavy amounts of planktonic food. Brine shrimp and even rotifers are too big for them.

They may survive longer (in terms of 5 months) with constant target feeding of plankton. But its only delaying the inevitable....they are still starving. Unless you can ensure the water is filled with plankton all the time in sufficient quantities, keeping flame scallops beyond 6 months is really hard.

In the seas where they live and thrive, its plankton rich to the extent of really poor visibility.

[Gouldian]

Hi reefers,

Below is one article gotten from the net:

Rob Toonen writes...

I'm going to guess that you are talking about "flashing" scallops, Lima scabra. Although these animals are called "scallops" they are not related to scallops by anything other than appearance, and are really file clams{scallops swim "forwards" while clams swim "backwards"}. Their care is identical to that of the flame scallops. In laboratory experiments, researchers found that plastic beads of the size of phytoplankton{5-10 microns} were ingested at the same rate as the phytoplankton themselves, but beads the size of invertebrate larvae{100-200micron} were rejected by the clams. Unlike most studies of invertebrate filter-feeding, addition of phytoplankton to the medium did not affect bead ingestion rate, and in this case, the animals actually seem capable of selecting particles directly by their surface flavor {which is why pea flour and yeast-based aquarium products probably fail at keeping these animals alive}. The primary prey of the animals were invertebrate larvae, and ~75% of larvae were consumed in a given trial. A good diet of mixed phytoplankton and enriched rotifers ought to be appropriate for keeping these animals, but I would suggest staying away from the typical aquarium "invert foods"

I hope to file as many info on this animal as possible so as to help people who have accidently baought it or gotten it. If you have any other info, please advise.

[Gouldian]

Hi reefers,

I wrote this thread with a heavy heart. The Electric Flame did not make it.

I have tried my very best in getting it to feed effectively even direct feeding but to no avail. I have tried all Zooplanton, all phytos, Golden Pearls and all coral / reef food but still it slowing starve to death.

In fact just for this scallop, I have spent over $400 just on hints of foods that it might consume .

The reason of my writing is not to gripe but to share with all who read this thread not to get them next time they happens to come across them. Also, I hope that responsible LFS will not bring it in.

Let's work together for a better tomorrow.

[chrislwp]

In fact just for this scallop, I have spent over $400 just on hints of foods that it might consume

$400 can buy 10 cans of tyres brand abalone already..

And you spend it for just a scallop

[Gouldian]

No mah, must try until cannot mah, if not how to be responsible reefer?

But come to think about it, I should stop at $200. than I can go for Abalone! yum yum

[joachimsim]

I Do not know if my flame scallop was an electric one or not...i makes those bluish flashes near the lips of its hamburger mouth..under than that it was bright orange with flamy tentacles outstretched when open.

My one died as well in my 3 Feet after 5 mths..I do not know due to starvation or just poor water quality due to No2 Spike..

However literature I read in the US did not say it is impossible to keep in captivity just not possible to breed I think.

[Gouldian]

With blueish light at the mouth is Electric Flame loh. Anyway, I really hope that I will not see any of them in any LFS in the future. Unless we know how more about its husbandry.

[ozy]

I did not have much problem with the fella, had it for 8 months until it decided to wedge itself at the back of the LR structure where I cannot reach it. and it was wedge in a position where it cannot open its mouth.

I don't think my tank is top notch, so I did not think that EFS need a very specific conditions to survive.