Big squamosa

[Giovanni]

I purchase the squamosa on the left 5 years ago and it was smaller than the crocea on the right that is around 2 inches. I estimate it at 8 inches. What is the most you have seen one grow in captivity?

BTW for size reference this tank is 96x30x30

 

[mc-cro]

Here was my prized clam. Not a squamy, but a Derasa. I lost him last year after about 8yrs in my tank and growing him from about 4"

 

[Giovanni]

Man that sucks! Post a photo of him alive!

 

[skinz78]

Nice looking Squammy!

The most I've personally ever seen one grow in a short time period was my Giga's.

Here it was at 1.5" being drug around by a Conch...

And here it is one year later at 6", this was right before I sold it due to tank downsizing.

 

[Giovanni]

How big do the gigas get in captivity. You don't seem them FS that often anymore.

 

[FishLipz]

Here is mine. The squammy is about 9 inces inches now and the maxima is around 8.

 

[Giovanni]

Nice. How old is the squammy?

 

[FishLipz]

I've had it about a year or so. It's grown a couple inches since I got it.

 

[skinz78]

I know of one Giga's that is over 30" grown in captivity.

 

[FishLipz]

There's a gigas at the Waikiki aquarium that is absolutely a monster.

Tridacna gigas: chronicle of the Waikiki Aquarium’s 30 year old giant clam

 

[mc-cro]

ha, it is alive in this picture, it was just in the sink for its monthly scrubbing. I had a very bad bubble algae outbreak and had to take the clam out several times to get rid of all the bubbles down in its crevices

Here was my prized clam. Not a squamy, but a Derasa. I lost him last year after about 8yrs in my tank and growing him from about 4"

 

[Giovanni]

I wonder if cleaning the clam out of the water put undue stress on the internal organs and possibly cause an early demise?

 

[skinz78]

It shouldn't have, I've heard that the Giga's that I know of gets a yearly pressure washing.

 

[mc-cro]

It is not unusual for clams to be out of the water in nature. I do think its important that they are slowly removed from the water, that way fast exiting water doesnt damage their organs.

I had my clam for almost 8yrs, and cleaned him many times over the years. I only lost him due to prolonged stress and bad lighting during a system tear down and rebuild.

 

[revhtree]

Beautiful large clams! :D