However, populations often occur in areas where the salinity is higher or lower than ideal. Growth occurs throughout the year in South Carolina. Most spawning begins in the spring, continues through midsummer and may resume in September, continuing through October. Depending on water temperature, it normally requires two to four weeks from spawning until the juvenile clam burrows into bottom sediments. Unless protected by overlying shell, juvenile clams are easy prey for crabs.
Clams feed upon plankton through a double-tubed siphon which operates like a snorkel.
The siphon serves to obtain food and eliminate waste products. In-flowing water is pumped through the siphon, passed over the gills and strained to remove food particles. After oxygen is supplied and carbon dioxide received from the gills, water and waste products from the digestive tract are expelled through the outgoing siphon. Cherrystones are the popular New England clam bake size. Littlenecks are the smallest, tenderest and most expensive.