who is the clam pro?
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PharmrJohn
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Boy, I hear ya there. I've got to research this myself as I'm gonna have one in my upcoming tank. SO beautiful!
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I won’t claim to be be a pro, but I’ve kept all the hobby available species of clams. And it really depends on your tank and over all goals. Some clams get rather large and might prefer a sandier substrate while other can stay small and attach better to firm rock. If you are going for super unique center piece wow factor, or if you want them to blend in with the scape.
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I would say derosa and squamosa require slightly less light and go on the sand. Maxima and crocea need intense light and are rock dwellers. You’ll need a minimum of 300 par, feeding won’t make up for par.
GreatValueReef
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Derasa are normally considered the hardiest with gigas and hippopus also being up there followed by squamosa, crocea, and maximas. That being said the first four grow pretty quickly and end up huge, derasas top out about 24 inches.
The last two belong on the rockwork, the rest will end up on the sand as they normally lose their byssal (foot) attachment. Recommend putting any of these on an empty clam shell or clam holder on the sand and then moving them to where you want them as they will all normally attach to something until larger and they are much easier to move if attached to something besides the glass.
Main thing when buying them is to get a healthy one, it's not foolproof but look for new bone white growth at the top of the shell. Also check for pyramid snails, I've gotten these even on aquacultured ones.
As already said previously, make sure you're lighting is up to par and you have at least some nutrients in the water, feeding is not necessary.
Highly recommend Fatherree's book on them, Knop's is older but also good info.
The last two belong on the rockwork, the rest will end up on the sand as they normally lose their byssal (foot) attachment. Recommend putting any of these on an empty clam shell or clam holder on the sand and then moving them to where you want them as they will all normally attach to something until larger and they are much easier to move if attached to something besides the glass.
Main thing when buying them is to get a healthy one, it's not foolproof but look for new bone white growth at the top of the shell. Also check for pyramid snails, I've gotten these even on aquacultured ones.
As already said previously, make sure you're lighting is up to par and you have at least some nutrients in the water, feeding is not necessary.
Highly recommend Fatherree's book on them, Knop's is older but also good info.
I usually ask @minus9 for clam tips. But as stated above, I would invest in James Fatheree's book to learn more about them, as they are very different animals than corals (they have gonads!).
All clams need/want intense light, though, so plan for that. Keep an eye on the shell. You always want to see some white rims under the mantle. That's new growth and your primary indicator that the clam is doing well (there are plenty of indicators when the clam us unwell). Don't mistake open/pretty for wellness. Ckams can often die a slow undetectable death from starvation. "Doing great" one day and then dead the next--that's often a clam that's been dying for months.
All clams need/want intense light, though, so plan for that. Keep an eye on the shell. You always want to see some white rims under the mantle. That's new growth and your primary indicator that the clam is doing well (there are plenty of indicators when the clam us unwell). Don't mistake open/pretty for wellness. Ckams can often die a slow undetectable death from starvation. "Doing great" one day and then dead the next--that's often a clam that's been dying for months.
minus9
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This ^^^^^! To the OP, welcome to the world of clams, they're simply awesome creatures. First, as @JoJosReef mentioned, I would buy James Fatherree's book and learn as much as possible before you buy a clam. Second, decide where you want to keep the clam, on the sand or rock work? As far as care requirements, skill level needed, if you can keep sps happy and healthy, then you should be able to care for a clam. Clams want stable water parameters and lots of high quality full spectrum lighting, with more on tap if needed for future growth.
What size tank do you have and what lighting? Are you going to be looking at the clam(s) from the front through the glass or from above (the best way to view clams)? If you want more than one clam, are you willing to set up a small QT for future additions? I think all clams want the same thing in regards to stability and water quality, but some are more forgiving in terms of light intensity (but not quality).
Can you tell us more about your tank and your experience with reef keeping? Do you have a LFS near you that sells cultured clams? Buying a healthy clam from the start is one of the first hurdles and knowing what to look for is definitely a must.
Here's the book that we're talking about.
OP
OP
smitten with ocean life
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thank you! i guess i dont have a preference on sand or rock work. either would be fine. my lights are kessils apx9's. the tank size is 180. i would only want one and the viewing would be thru the side not top. i have a mixed reef that is several years old. just moved into this bigger tank last year. i dont know if certain fish will pick at a clam. im guessing so. not sure if an australian stripey would or not. ive not tried acros . mostly torches, hammers and gonis etc. i can check par with my meter. i would be ordering the clam
minus9
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I would definitely check par levels where you think you might put a clam, both the sand and rock, then see where one would work the best. Stripey’s will most likely pick at a clam, so keep that in mind. I find most angels and butterflies will not work with clams. There are some exceptions, but I wouldn’t trust most with a clam, regardless. Remember, if your lights are currently maxed out and the par levels are on the low side of the general recommendations, consider supplemental lighting in the future, because you’ll eventually need more light. Given you have enough light, I would recommend derasa and squamosa for the sand (squamosa will also attach to flat solid surfaces long term, but not guaranteed) and crocea in the upper rock areas. If you’re hitting 150-200+ micromoles on the sand for derasa and squamosa that’s good and if you’re getting 350+ in the rock for crocea (and the potential to go even higher 400+) that should work. 8hrs minimum a day at those levels would be a good start, knowing that you might have to extend an hour or so. I usually don’t recommend maxima as a first clam, as I find them less hardy as the others. Water quality is a must with measurable nutrients and NSW parameters or slightly elevated is even better. Buy and read the book before you decide. If after reading it doesn’t sound like something you can do, you’ve only spent $40 and some time and saved an animals life and learned something new in the process, all of which are good things. Happy reading and let us know if you have more questions?
Given your tank and preferences, I would go with a derasa. Pretty hardy and very impressive in a large tank. I have a 16” derasa in my 180g (8 years old). Even non reefer people are like that thing is awesome
exnisstech
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Just stopped to say this. I'm far from an expert but I starved the first couple of clams I tried because I was guessing at my par levels. I find all clams look best top down but I think derasas look better than say a maxima or crucea from a front view. Probably because they are in the bottom so there is a bit if a downward view.
sgrosenb
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Hi all - thanks for all the tips on clams. Any suggestions on good places to purchase WYSIWYG clams? Clam Mania seemed to be a source, but I've read some pretty bad reviews on responsiveness. Looking to purchase a few clams for my tank. Thanks!
-Scott
-Scott
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