Are my pet clams alive?

Yesterday I bought 8 Venus clams from the market, half which I cooked while the other half I kept as pets for my aquarium. They were all tightly shut when they were first put in the saltwater tank, but today their shells are a bit open (by just a crack). I also believe I saw some frilly things attached to the sides of one or two which looked like tiny fins. The water looks fine and I don't smell anything rotting, are my clams alive or dead then?

2011-05-03T19:24:59Z

I just lightly tapped some and they didn't move, does that mean they're dead?

2011-05-03T19:54:38Z

I read that it is fine to have market clams as pets, but are there any specifications on what I needed to do before putting them in the tank? Maybe slowly heating them up to a lukewarm temperature of my tank, or keeping them in a very cold tank?

BEA2011-05-03T18:36:21Z

Favorite Answer

If they're just open a crack I would say they're alive. pick one up and see if it has a foot extended.

When they die they usually open up much more than just a crack.

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?2011-05-04T02:45:29Z

lets get this straight you toke a clam from a fish market or general food store and put it in your saltwater tank? from ice cold to to to 80 degress practicly? your shocked the clam they are dead theyre not treated as live animals at the market there treated as food you need to buy clams from a live fish vendor

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?2011-05-04T01:23:17Z

Alive there clams they don't really move unless there trying to burrow down in the sand

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