Success with small clams

[aabjones888]

who has had success with smal clams? Like smaller than 2inches. I see a lot for sale that are either smaller than 2” or bigger than 5”. I use to buy 3.5”-5” ones because they fit my reef better. I’ve tried the smaller ones but just have not been lucky with them.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have , with two clams. Maybe I just got lucky, but I do use a lot of light.

 

[aabjones888]

I have , with two clams. Maybe I just got lucky, but I do use a lot of light.

How small were your clams? Did u do any kind of special feeding? What kinda lights for how many gallons? Where did u get the clams from?
I’m using 2-250w halides and 4-t5s on a 80 gallon.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

1 3/4. No special feedings. Bout 150 -200 par on the sand.

I can grow most sps and some acros on the sand too.

Sounds like you have plenty of light.

Both clams were random I found them at different lfs.

 

[aabjones888]

That’s awesome, I hope they continue to thrive for you. I use to be able to keep the bigger ones. I had some for many years. I miss looking in my aquarium and seeing clams.

 

[hotashes]

Have a maxima clam 1” in my nano tank, been running 5 months. Doing well, *touch wood*

A.

 

[DSC reef]

A 2" maxima that lasted 2 years and a 3.5" squamosa for many years up to 12". Lots of light here as well though I've never measured par.

 

[aabjones888]

Have a maxima clam 1” in my nano tank, been running 5 months. Doing well, *touch wood*

A.

What kinda light u using? Did it come from online or lfs?

 

[aabjones888]

A 2" maxima that lasted 2 years and a 3.5" squamosa for many years up to 12". Lots of light here as well though I've never measured par.

What happened to the maxima? I had a clam get big after years also, sucks when they pass.

 

[DSC reef]

What happened to the maxima? I had a clam get big after years also, sucks when they pass.

The maxima perished from a crocea that brought in pinched mantle and pyramid snails claimed our squamosa. That really bummed us out, had that clam since 2012 I believe, maybe earlier.

 

[dwest]

who has had success with smal clams? Like smaller than 2inches. I see a lot for sale that are either smaller than 2” or bigger than 5”. I use to buy 3.5”-5” ones because they fit my reef better. I’ve tried the smaller ones but just have not been lucky with them.

Success with small derasas. Not with crocea or maxima.

 

[aabjones888]

Here’s my first two I ever got in a 10 gallon, the blue one was like 2 1/2” and the other was like 3”, the bottom pic is the last pic I have of them.

 

[DSC reef]

Very nice! Those derasa grow so quickly. We had to rehome ours due to space. I like the tight pattern on those.

 

[Mrs. Herbert]

Here are my two clams.

 

[Xanthurum]

I have a crocea that is now just over 3 inches and I’ve had it for about 2 years. I never measured it and I can’t find the picture of when I got it but I’m guessing it was 1.25 inches the day I got it. It’s a light monster so I placed it up on my rocks. Never specifically fed it phyto or anything special just blasted it under Gen 3 Radion Pro.

 

[jda]

They can be hard. If you are wanting blue, then get a blue squamosa - more money, but your success rate is MUCH better... even at less than three inches. I got these two blue squammies when they were about 2" about 4-5 years ago. They are getting big now and the big one probably would not fit in a 5g bucket and is quite heavy even in the water. The smaller one is 7 inches of shell. I got the deresa in the photo at about 2"... growing fast too, but not so much lately. I find crocea a bit easier than maxima when small, but they need more light. I would be shocked if the mortality rate of smaller maxima is not 95% plus, but we will never know.

I did get a few Cocos cultured blue maximas but they are 3". I wish that somebody would just keep some of these babies in the south pacific for another season and lets them get to 3" where the mortality would be a lot less. You are seeing this some with Deresa and Squamosa. I guess as long as people are buying 1.5-2.5" clams, then they probably never will.

Even though Squamosa and Deresa are much easier to raise, there is a downside... it always kills you to when you have to rehome them to larger tanks.

Sorry for the bad iPhone pic... and an old iPhone at that...

 

[Mrs. Herbert]

They can be hard. If you are wanting blue, then get a blue squamosa - more money, but your success rate is MUCH better... even at less than three inches. I got these two blue squammies when they were about 2" about 4-5 years ago. They are getting big now and the big one probably would not fit in a 5g bucket and is quite heavy even in the water. The smaller one is 7 inches of shell. I got the deresa in the photo at about 2"... growing fast too, but not so much lately. I find crocea a bit easier than maxima when small, but they need more light. I would be shocked if the mortality rate of smaller maxima is not 95% plus, but we will never know.

I did get a few Cocos cultured blue maximas but they are 3". I wish that somebody would just keep some of these babies in the south pacific for another season and lets them get to 3" where the mortality would be a lot less. You are seeing this some with Deresa and Squamosa. I guess as long as people are buying 1.5-2.5" clams, then they probably never will.

Even though Squamosa and Deresa are much easier to raise, there is a downside... it always kills you to when you have to rehome them to larger tanks.

Sorry for the bad iPhone pic... and an old iPhone at that...

Beautiful tank and clams!
I bought both of my clams on the larger side because of the fear of killing the smaller ones.

 

[aabjones888]

Beautiful!!!

They can be hard. If you are wanting blue, then get a blue squamosa - more money, but your success rate is MUCH better... even at less than three inches. I got these two blue squammies when they were about 2" about 4-5 years ago. They are getting big now and the big one probably would not fit in a 5g bucket and is quite heavy even in the water. The smaller one is 7 inches of shell. I got the deresa in the photo at about 2"... growing fast too, but not so much lately. I find crocea a bit easier than maxima when small, but they need more light. I would be shocked if the mortality rate of smaller maxima is not 95% plus, but we will never know.

I did get a few Cocos cultured blue maximas but they are 3". I wish that somebody would just keep some of these babies in the south pacific for another season and lets them get to 3" where the mortality would be a lot less. You are seeing this some with Deresa and Squamosa. I guess as long as people are buying 1.5-2.5" clams, then they probably never will.

Even though Squamosa and Deresa are much easier to raise, there is a downside... it always kills you to when you have to rehome them to larger tanks.

Sorry for the bad iPhone pic... and an old iPhone at that...

 

[Mrs. Herbert]

Well if my clams decide to make little ones (I am aware it only requires one) I will be happy as a clam!!