How to Id a clam????

[Troylee]

I'm looking for a small clam how do I tell which is which??? Most vendors don't have them labeled so I have no clue... Also what's the approximate grown size of maxima,cruces,dersa etc.... Tia... Looking for a small one like 3" or so...

 

[drainbamage]

something food for thought-wise

clams don't grow overnight, so while you may only have a 60, if you get yourself a smaller one of any sort, it's not going to outgrow your tank overnight- it's going to be at least a year or couple, so instead of worrying about max size, I might suggest you pick the variety/color you like the most, then when it's outgrowing your tank, pass it along to a fellow reefer who's got a bigger tank, and *poof* instant excuse to go shopping for a new clam.

That said, I've had a crocea in my 30 for a couple years now, has packed on maybe an inch or so in growth, but I believe it's one of the smaller varieties?

 

[AquaWorldPSC]

I usually tell my the mantle, and sometime both mantle and flesh.

 

[Snprhed]

Troy, Id do a 4 inch maxima. They ship well, have a wide variety of color and should do well in a system like yours.

 

[skinz78]

Lee let me know when you are ready and I'll find ya a cool one.

I have done a ID page that tells how big they get and their requirements, check it out: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/clams/57883-giant-clam-id-feeding-nutrition-pyramidellid.html

 

[gofor100]

The mantle is not a great way to ID. The best way is the shell (as posted above in the link). Maximas are my favorite and shouldn't exceed 8 to 10 inches in home aquaria. They're also not extremely fast (at least not as fast as derasas and squamosas) growers, so you should be fine for several years in your tank. Course, this all assumes you have sufficient lighting (which I think I've seen you have SPS- so that should be good).

But like someone suggested before, just look for something you think looks cool and ignore the "ultra" labels...

Good luck!

-Chad