Blue derasa ? Time will tell.

[reefsponge]

I’ve been on the lookout for a true blue derasa clam since about 2009, when I seen a picture of the gem from Chris of Reefkoi corals brought to Reefapalooza. Can’t find the pic as it looks as if photobucket gobbled it up. This color morph seems to be the unicorn of derasa and in my opinion Tridacna.

Showpiece blue Derasa clam headed to the Northeast | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

You can get blue croceas and blue maxima clams all day long but for some reason blue is the holy grail coloration of Tridacna maxima and Tridacna derasa clams. Blue Maxima clams are show-stopping…

reefbuilders.com

 

[reefsponge]

See what I’m saying, just amazingly beautiful. The thing that always seems to be the norm when finding these images was that the specimens are large. Many of those above pics are 16”+ clams. When researching these years ago, I came upon an interesting post on the zeovit platform posted by CAReefer. https://forum.zeovit.com/forum/live...-identification-database/1042-tridacna-derasa
Unfortunately, the images were gobbled up by photobucket. But the photos showed the transformation of a 3.5” no hint of blue looking derasa into an amazing blue 12” gem, as seen below.

 

[reefsponge]

CAReefer pic of original derasa prior to the beautiful adult above can be seen here, if you scroll down to post #9. This was originally purchased at his LFS as a rescue…

Stocking list and mixing large angels. - Reef Central Online Community Archives

Stocking list and mixing large angels. Reef Fishes

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I came to the realization that this blue derasa color morph is something that occurs as the clam transitions from juvenile to adult. The majority of blue derasa images I have seen carry the trademark purple dots on the outer mantle. The following clam offered by ReefHotSpot.com, if your OG and remember them, shows the possible adult transition of acquiring the blue lines.
https://www.michiganreefers.com/threads/check-out-this-blue-deresa-clam.96004/
That was 6.5”. It seems as most derasa transition to adult phase at around 5”.

So I plan on keeping my fingers crossed in seeing what I am hoping to be a transition to blue in my recent derasa purchase. I am hopeful that I can keep this healthy and growing to document the transition. There appears to be aqua-bluish lines coming in stronger. Purchased from Dr. Mac @pacificeast 7/30/2021.

8/20/2021

 

[G Santana]

That's one heck of an observation!!!
Hats off to you. Brings new meaning to True Blue.
Good luck and keep documenting the growth and color change!!!
You may start a run on Derasas!!!

 

[reefsponge]

That's one heck of an observation!!!
Hats off to you. Brings new meaning to True Blue.
Good luck and keep documenting the growth and color change!!!
You may start a run on Derasas!!!

I plan on either doing monthly or bimonthly pic updates depending on the amount of change observed. Reserved a large area of real estate in the tank, so hopeful this baby turns into what I’m hoping.

 

[reefsponge]

September 20, 2021

The excitement grows!

 

[reefsponge]

 

[Ben Pedersen]

Any updated photos?

 

[Purpletang92]

Any update on your clam ? Still have this beauty ?

 

[Asagi]

i remember these were common maybe 20 years ago. havent seen them in a loooong time. a favorite!

 

[reefsponge]

Any updated photos?

Unfortunately, the hinge broke on this guy :( It lasted 3 months after the hinge broke, slowly withering away each day.

 

[exnisstech]

Unfortunately, the hinge broke on this guy :( It lasted 3 months after the hinge broke, slowly withering away each day.

I had the same thing happen to my last derasa. I read of several others that had it happen also.
I wonder if there is anything that causes it that could be prevented? Probably not. I just added another recently so it's a concern.

 

[CookieM]

beautiful looking clam. how easy are these to keep?