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Thanks, I wasn't aware that they didn't like sand beds. I was informed of the opposite. I'll get him onto some rocks. It's lower par, closer to 125-150. I feed frozen Rod's and on occasion add some coral food into the mix and broadcast feed. Should I target feed it?First off get it off the sand and onto a hard surface, being on sand can be irritating to T. maxima and T. crocea 's byssal gland as they are boaring clams.
What's the PAR down there? are you feeding phyto/food suspensions? they rely a lot on filter feeding at that size.
Okay thank you, i'll move him up and see how he does.Maximas can do just fine in a sand bed as long as they have enough par and feeding a clam is not necessary given they have the proper tank conditions and lighting. It looks as if the clam is unhappy in the current spot but there is also new growth so that's a good sign. Try relocating to another area with less flow and you can place it on a harder surface if you like which will make it easier to move the clam up to higher light if need be.
How long has he been in the tank?Okay thank you, i'll move him up and see how he does.
About 6 months, and he was doing well too.How long has he been in the tank?
Thanks, I wasn't aware that they didn't like sand beds. I was informed of the opposite. I'll get him onto some rocks. It's lower par, closer to 125-150. I feed frozen Rod's and on occasion add some coral food into the mix and broadcast feed. Should I target feed it?
I respectfully disagree and I'm sorry, making a statement that clams kept on a sand is poor husbandry is just not factual. I grew sand dwellers on barebottom tanks, is that wrong? I suggest reading up on articles on tridacna as crocea is the real "rock boring" species. Just because clams are rock dwellers does not make them boring species and can not be kept on the sand bed. I've grown many species over many years and it's been well documented that while feeding tridacna does not hurt the clam, it's not necessary for survival if all other needs are met.
That's what we are here for, to share and help others. I just dont think it's fair to tell someone they have poor husbandry because they grow a maxima on the sand bed. Trust me, plenty of members here have done that successfully. Typically once large enough they ditch the byssal threads. Tridacna are fascinating for sure."I’ll also add that while T. maxima reportedly lives on sand on occasion, I have yet to see one that wasn’t attached to a hard substrate after many dives in many places. So I’m under the impression that it isn’t common for maximas to live on sand, unless maybe that’s all that’s available in a particular area"
(Fatherree)
I have also read in Daniel Knops book on tridacnid that maximas should be kept on rock.
too each there own though, just sharing my opinion and understanding of them.
Agreed that it can be done, and many surely have had success with T. maxima on substrate, but just like croceas they ALSO do bore into rock via byssal produced acids, Its in Knops book.That's what we are here for, to share and help others. I just dont think it's fair to tell someone they have poor husbandry because they grow a maxima on the sand bed. Trust me, plenty of members here have done that successfully. Typically once large enough they ditch the byssal threads. Tridacna are fascinating for sure.
Thank you both for the insight. Much appreciatedAgreed that it can be done, and many surely have had success with T. maxima on substrate, but just like croceas they ALSO do bore into rock via byssal produced acids, Its in Knops book.
Look at every pic of a T. maxima in the wild, they are embedded in rock up to their mantle almost always, to me correct husbandry is recreating their natural habitat, for any animal.
That's just my .02 though.
OP, DSC reef is NOT wrong, you can successfully keep the maxima on the sand bed if you choose, however you will more than likely struggle to fulfill its lighting needs unless you have a really powerful lighting setup or a shallow tank.