Just bought a 2.5" squamosa clam! Suggestions??

SauceyReef

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Just bought a 2.5" aquaculture squamosa clam from Liveaquaria. It was the largest squamosa they had. I picked the squamosa because I heard it is one of the easier clams to keep and grows far less than the others like lets say a deresa.

My big questions:
What do you all feed your clams a little under 3"? Will phytoplankton alone work?
Any recommended brands? Should I go local for the phyto?

Where do you recommend I put the clam? Sand bed? On top of a small piece of liverock? Or on a big piece of liverock. I have AI Prime 16 HD and the top of my rock receives about 300par while my sand bed around 50-100 par.

Corals will not sting the mantle? Also I should drip acclimate like any other invert?

I am pumped and a bit nervous for the addition! I have been keeping LPS and some SPS with no problems so far. Params are all looking perfect. Hopefully all goes well :)

Here is the "supposed" clam I got

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vetteguy53081

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Nice clsm
I feed mine phytoplankton and rotifiers. I feed my rmtank enough to furnish additional nutritional needs.
Temp no higher than 80
Alk no higher than 9
Mag no higher than 1325
Salinity no higher than 1.925
Nitrate no higher than .5
Ca no higher than 450

inspect periodically for presence of tulip like pyramid snails and any tiny crabs
 
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SauceyReef

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Thank you! I am definitely going to get some phytoplankton seeing it is not 3" yet. Do you think rotifers are necessary?
I did not think of that! I will definitely check the clam out thoroughly before it goes in the tank. Hopefully no pests
 

hart24601

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Great clam! I wouldn't worry about adding phyto nor rotifers. I have grown a few clams out under 1" without ever adding either. Some corals can sting the mantle, so you will want to watch that. IME squammy would love 300 par, but it might fall off so I wouldn't risk it at least for a while to see how it settles in.

I don't do anything special for acclimation, I just float to temp, then scrub the shell with a stiff brush to remove any pyramid snails that might be there.

Here is my current stocking: 1 crocea arrived under 1" a year ago and doubled in size, 2 maxima in system a couple years, 1 cultured teardrop, 1 normally squammy, 1 green small squammy, purple spot derasa, 2 tiger derasa, 2 hippo clams, 1 gigas. Most have been in the system for a good amount of time, over a year, and grown a lot. I guess up to a dozen now!

Here are my parameters which are almost outside all the specs above:

Salinity 1.026-1.027
Temp 81-82 although varies to 80 and 79
Alk of 9.5dkh
Ca 465
nitrate 10-15ppm
phosphate 0.06
mag 1375

This many clams have been a challenge to keep nutrients up for SPS, I have ammonia and phosphate on doser pumps now as 6 daily feedings were not enough, however my stocking is pretty clam heavy.

If it's healthy you should be good and if no fish pick on it. I suggest trying to find the highest par spot you can while trying to ensure it will not take a tumble. At that size it might or might not attach.
 
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SauceyReef

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Oh awesome! Thank you for the reply. That is making me feel a little less anxious. I heard the squamosas can move?!? Also my tank doesn't have the highest par. 300 is at the top of the tank. They are AI Prime 16 HD and definitely fine with anything coral wise. But I am guessing I should keep it higher up and try to attach it to a rock?

Wow it seems you have slightly elevated salinity and temp. I normally stick around 1.025 and 75 degrees.
 
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SauceyReef

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Any suggestion on corals I should be avoiding it be around? Have a lot of LPS in the tank. Is it possible to glue the base to a rock? Or will it attach quickly?
 

hart24601

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Don’t glue it as it needs to open, as for lps just look out for sweepers, as if placing a coral.

All clams can move and some move a lot, smaller of most if not all species attach but sometimes they detach and squammy and derasa (gigas and hippo too) detach easily and don’t always reattach.

Try for the highest par you can and see how it reacts. It might be happy there or move. Just don’t put it where can fall into a coral!
 
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SauceyReef

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Okay I will put it up in the rocks near the top of the tank! Would let’s say a frogspawn bother it? I hope it’s a pretty morph. I’ll shoe you photo when I get it :)
 

hart24601

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Curious though.My sand bed and bottom of the tank is all around 100 par. Would this be okay long term?

It's hard to tell.... individual clams have different light capabilities even the same species!!

I am sure some have luck with 100 PAR but my two squammy really do better at the 600 I am keeping them at. I would be nervous below 200 personally.
 
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It's hard to tell.... individual clams have different light capabilities even the same species!!

I am sure some have luck with 100 PAR but my two squammy really do better at the 600 I am keeping them at. I would be nervous below 200 personally.
Wow your tank is running incredibly high par. I’ll try to get it the most light possible but with a smaller tank already half filled with corals I don’t have the most options especially if I can’t put it near the bottom. What is a sign of lack of light? Do they bleach?
 

hart24601

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Wow your tank is running incredibly high par. I’ll try to get it the most light possible but with a smaller tank already half filled with corals I don’t have the most options especially if I can’t put it near the bottom. What is a sign of lack of light? Do they bleach?
That high is in my sump where I keep some clams, Rubbermaid 150g.

They can bleach out from lack of light but most the time there isn’t a clear guide, except if it stops putting on white growth.
 
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SauceyReef

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When you say white growth you mean the shell growing? Looks like I don't have many options in terms of placement. I am running a 13.5 Fluval Evo
 

hart24601

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When you say white growth you mean the shell growing? Looks like I don't have many options in terms of placement. I am running a 13.5 Fluval Evo
That is correct, the shell should always have a bit of white growth you can see when the mantle is pulled in. There is very little else we can do to tell how healthy or happy a clam is, they generally look good until they die, but if looking at the shell you see no growth in a long time.
 
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SauceyReef

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Okay this makes sense. Kind of like the extra white layer on all my snails showing signs of the calcium shell growing. I will definitely keep an eye out. Shipment comes in tomorrow!
 
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SauceyReef

SauceyReef

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The squamosa just came in! At first I was nervous because it was all white and closed up (new to clams) but after being in the tank a few minutes it’s opening up a bit :) how does it look to everyone??
 

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