Please ID my new clam?

[AstroMelly]

Hi Guys

Well we said we wouldn't then we did. Can you help us ID this beautfiul clam please? The shop just had a useful 'Cultured Clam' label! :thinking-face:

And yes that's an aiptasia hiding in one of the upper scutes - he will be coming off tomorrow when my Joe's Juice arrives.

Also we are unashamedly new to this hobby (especially clams) - our 6ft tank is 7 months today since first fish went in - I've thrown in a couple of full tank shots for fun - any tips would be appreciated but we will start with the ID! :face-with-tears-of-joy:

From what I have learnt I think Crocea, someone else on a FB group suggested Maxima but I will let the experts decide! I have not inspected the foot (I did not even know I should until yesterday - a day after he went in the tank).

Thanks to you all for your help and support so far! This truly is a wonderful forum with great people contributing - we would not be where we are now without you!

 

[ZoaAddiction81]

Looks like a Maxima Clam…

 

[ZoaAddiction81]

I’ve had this Golden Maxima a little over two years now. I love the coloring on yours beautiful tank as well.

 

[hart24601]

Pretty maxima!

 

[MtnDewMan]

Maxima

 

[vetteguy53081]

maxima and next to it is an aptasia capable of both stinging it and multiplying. To Safely rid of aptasia. . . . .
Using syringe, inject either lemon juice or better yet. . kalkwasser powder mixed with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core and it will melt away

 

[AstroMelly]

I’ve had this Golden Maxima a little over two years now. I love the coloring on yours beautiful tank as well.

Hey thanks for your reply! Yeah your clam is beautiful also - I'm sure the colours are amazing 'in the flesh'. I'm wondering about placement now - I see you put yours on a flat plate which is a great idea as then you can move them without disturbing too much. We need to move ours up off the sand so I'll look out for a suitable flatish rock I guess.

 

[AstroMelly]

maxima and next to it is an aptasia capable of both stinging it and multiplying. To Safely rid of aptasia. . . . .
Using syringe, inject either lemon juice or better yet. . kalkwasser powder mixed with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core and it will melt away

Yup that's all happening tomorrow hopefully! Thanks!

 

[ZoaAddiction81]

Thanks very much I had mine in the sand in the beginning. Then my goby was spitting sand all over it so I bought a clam rock and glued the rock up high. I’m running some ai primes over the tank and the clam seems super happy and got him in a moderate flow pics don’t do him any justice a lot more golds definitely good luck with yours.

 

[AstroMelly]

We’ve got Radion XR15 gen 5’s over the tank. Going to try moving him up to a little V shaped perch in the next day or two.

 

[bnord]

it is my inexpert experience that Maximas can extend and attach its byssum pretty quickly, even through sand to glass - so if you have an eventual perch for it might want to move sooner than later

 

[AstroMelly]

It’s all planned for tomorrow - Aiptasia treatment should be arriving. Once that demogorgan is gone we will try and attach him. Wish us luck and I’ll update!

 

[AstroMelly]

Well I just removed the clam from the display - underwater - into a bucket and treated the little demogorgon to a dose of Joe's Juice. Looks like a Kalkwasser paste - the box says it contains Calcium Hydroxide - only a tiny amount is needed. Did my very best not to get any on the clam's mantle - it still reacted to it and even redirected it's exhalent syphon to try and blow the area around the treatment - successfully - quite amazing to witness. I left the 'paste' / juice on there for around 20 minutes - the instructions do not say what to do next but I was not going to just leave it on the clam when returning it. So in line with RedSea's Aiptasia X instructions I syphoned the product with a baster into a jug and then used a canine dental tool to clean the scute where the little guy was sitting. He was still in there but appeared quite dead by now. There may have been some babies next to it but I'm not sure about that.

Also took the opportunity to examine and clean (dust off gentky) the underside of the clam. Sadly I believe the foot may be missing although I really do not know what I should be looking for to confirm this or otherwise since I do not know what a clam foot looks like. It does appear - 30 minutes after returning him to his new perch - there are som basal threads appearing so I am hoping he will attach with these and secure himself to the rock crevice.

I've also purchased James Fatherree's book on Kindle which should be a good read! I'll update with his progess in a few weeks or so.

Some pics.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Pretty clam.
Keep watch on that guy. It looks pretty unstable on that rock and it could fall. Maximas do not like to be bothered. Maybe get it on a rock securely (make a nice dug out area of a rock) and then place on the rock work.
Good luck! These are beautiful, yet finicky, creatures.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

The clam does not look stable there at all. Could you glue a few pieces of rock rubble around it to create a depression and secure it? It appears that any bit of movement will send that guy tumbling

 

[AstroMelly]

He is quite heavy and sitting pretty securely at the moment. I'll keep a close eye and adjust as necessary. Thanks for your input!

 

[AstroMelly]

The clam seems happy on his perch but as you say we are actively thinking about how to support him better. We do not want to prevent him opening, but also want to offer support and of course a good viewing angle. Also I do not want to intervene or disturb and will leave him a week at least - as long as there are no signs that he is shifting too much. Maybe the pics do not show it but he is really quite secure where he is - not 'locked in' but the rockwork is providing quite a bit of support.

I was doing some more research and found this thread where you were posting @DeniseAndy - how did your battle against the pyramids go in the end? I hope you won!

I'm now paranoid and will be checking for these little demons daily! I did not see any when I was removing the aiptasia so that's one thing I suppose. Good thing I have found some experienced clam keepers! Thanks!

 

[DeniseAndy]

The clam seems happy on his perch but as you say we are actively thinking about how to support him better. We do not want to prevent him opening, but also want to offer support and of course a good viewing angle. Also I do not want to intervene or disturb and will leave him a week at least - as long as there are no signs that he is shifting too much. Maybe the pics do not show it but he is really quite secure where he is - not 'locked in' but the rockwork is providing quite a bit of support.

I was doing some more research and found this thread where you were posting @DeniseAndy - how did your battle against the pyramids go in the end? I hope you won!

I'm now paranoid and will be checking for these little demons daily! I did not see any when I was removing the aiptasia so that's one thing I suppose. Good thing I have found some experienced clam keepers! Thanks!

I am glad it is more stable then it looks. If looking for the snails, make sure not to disturb the clam too much. Only because it is a maxima and they have always been pickier than others about being bothered for me.

I got a full handle on the pyramids and only lost my large maxima. I did lose two larger crocea, but not sure from what. Could have been snails (although did not see any) or it was all the changes in the tank and something triggered their death. One was overnight, the other over a month or two.

The rest of my clams are doing great. My giga in the large tank has no signs of pyramids and the babies in the grow out tanks are happy and healthy. My Hippo is a bit off, but I think it was getting bothered by some sand and the movement in the large tank. It is now in a grow out tank to recover, I hope.

I hope your clam does well. Keep an eye out for white shell growth. This is a good sign and if you are not seeing any each month, check your MG, Ca, Alk numbers.

 

[AstroMelly]

Hey - thanks for your reply and I'm sorry you lost your Maxima - and the others! Guess this is just yet another aspect of the hobby where losses are part of the journey! I really hope our clam makes it and thanks for your best wishes and support.

I thought I would take this opportunity to ask another question. I know clams can be predated by bristleworms. I know we have (had - not seen him for a while) a bristleworm living in our zoa rock at the calm end of our tank (its a peninsula and the flow originates from one of the thin ends of the tank. This is on the sand bed about 18 inches from the clam position and the clam is up on the rock now which I hope will mean the bristleworm cannot get to him but we will be dipping that zoa rock again soon and I will get the worm (and any of his buddies) out.

I spotted this blue 'thread' on the base of the clam - it seems to have appeared since we put him up there and to my knowledge has not moved. Any ideas what it might be? It is quite bright blue and seems to a similar colour to the clam interior which makes me think it is part of the clam but any ideas? Seems to be emanating from inside but hard to tell and I don't want to go poking.

Reposting one of my 'out of tank' shots from above - it does seem to have been there all along but maybe just moved further outwards...

Thanks again for your knowledge and continued support! The James Fatherree book is excellent.

 

[DeniseAndy]

That is probably the foot/byssal gland you are seeing. The clam will send out byssal threads to attach. These can be white and stringy. The foot is a more substantial in form.
Byssal threads can be broken (although not recommended), but the foot needs to stay intact to survive.

Try to avoid picking up the clam or moving it much. Even checking for snails, I t looks like you can shine a light on the underside at night and see without touching. At least looks like it in the pictures.

I have never had an issue with bristleworms that I know of. And they climb all over in rocks, so on rock is not necessarily safe. Jut FYI. I have them everywhere in my tanks and have clams. Have not had them predate on any clam. Maybe I am lucky. :) I will take 18+ years of luck with clams and bristleworms together. :)

That actually looks like a good size clam. 3" or more? Should give you years of enjoyment. Keep good parameters that are stable and keep the minerals at a good level and you should be happy with it.
(However, if something does happen, know that sometimes there is nothing you can do. Unlike fish we can sometimes treat in time, clams are usually not that forgiving.)