How Big Do Maximas Get?

[Liquid360]

I just purchased the largest Maxima I’ve ever seen. It’s easily 6in plus. So I was just curious, how large do these things get? Or are they indeterminate?

 

[dantimdad]

I have personally seen one that was 17" across.

Someone here had one die that was 18"

I don't think they ever stop growing and can live decades.

 

[DSC reef]

Typically 14-18" for a maxima but it would take a very long time. Once they reach a certain size I believe the shell will get thicker rather than grow longer but I'd have look up some articles to be sure.

 

[Liquid360]

Thanks! That’s what I meant. They call this indeterminate growth, animal growing as long as it remains alive.

 

[Neo Jeo]

What if it gets as big as your tank...

Then what? Just have a clam in a bowl?

 

[hart24601]

I have personally seen one that was 17" across.

Someone here had one die that was 18"

I don't think they ever stop growing and can live decades.

That was a maxima? Was it 300 years old, lol

I will have to look at Fathertree's book again, but I saw another source saying 14" takes 40 to 60 years for a maxima and that is exceptionally large for the species.


I think for most folks can expect 8" or so if their maxima does really well and they keep it a decade or so. Not that they can't get bigger of course, but especially if starting with a cultured clam (under 4", above 4" is wild collected).

 

[jda]

12-14 inches for a maxima would be a lot. Expect more like 8-10 inches captivity.

 

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They can get extremely large in the wild

 

[jda]

From a Fatherree article:

• maximum shell length is approximately 16 inches (typically 12 inches, or less)

I have only personally ever seen one over 12 inches and it was in a public aquarium