Maxima gaping?

[Blackwrench]

Is it normal for a clam's mouth to be this wide open? I've had it in my tank for about 4 months now and it seems to be doing fine, but it usually gapes like this during the day and it kind of bugs me. At night or in the morning the clam closes up a little bit (still with most of the mantle out and the mouth visible) and the mouth becomes more of a closed slit or just slightly open.

It responds well to changes in light intensity. It's on the sand (with a frag plug underneith, which it is attached to) and I know they should be higher on the rocks, but its always been on the sand and I'm scared to change it's position.

 

[MSB123]

Mine does that all the time. Now, it might be bad, but I think its ok.

 

[MSB123]

#reefsquad

 

[rgaleana2009]

Mine does the same time to time. It looks healthy to me

 

[DSC reef]

That's not gaping. The incurrent siphon is just taking in water, perfectly normal. That's a nice healthy looking clam. If it's been growing there and its attached I would not move the clam.

 

[143MPCo]

100% normal...

 

[pecan2phat]

It's looking fine as far as gaping but is it getting enough light down on the sand bed?
Maximas need a lot of light or it will slowly starve IMO.

 

[Blackwrench]

It's looking fine as far as gaping but is it getting enough light down on the sand bed?
Maximas need a lot of light or it will slowly starve IMO.

I'm planning on moving it up higher, but I want to change my aquascape first so I can give it a nice spot.

 

[pecan2phat]

I have my Maximas at roughly 318 PAR on the lower 1/3rd of the tank and think that they might need even more then that.

 

[DSC reef]

I'm planning on moving it up higher, but I want to change my aquascape first so I can give it a nice spot.

New shell growth under the mantle will tell you if it's getting enough light.

 

[jda]

Agree. You should be seeing new shell after 4 months. I do not expect much at first, but I do like to see some at the 2 month mark.

 

[Blackwrench]

Agree. You should be seeing new shell after 4 months. I do not expect much at first, but I do like to see some at the 2 month mark.

How can you tell the growth? Compare pictures?

 

[pecan2phat]

Wave your hand above the clam so that it retracts the mantle and if you see white shell near the top then that should be new growth.

 

[pecan2phat]

Maxima has all the scutes, but look at this Derasa that I have and it's crazy growth in just 4 months!
Water movement and shimmer make for horrible pics but you get the idea.

 

[jda]

There should be new white shell and new scutes... half of an inch, or so Every shell is white where the mantle touches at the very top - this is not new growth.