I want a clam!!

[dmitry]

Okay, so I'd love to get a clam for my 29G. I have a 250W 14000K MH pendant. Should that be enough light? And crushed coral as my subtrate. What kind would you recommend as an easier to take care of type? This site has a "Spiny Oyster" listed under its Clam section and it looks kinda neat, though not exactly a Clam, is it? Or is it?

 

[yosemite sam]

Spiny oysters are filter feeders and are not photosynthetic, so it doesn't really matter what kind of lighting you have with them. You have sufficient lighting for a tridacna clam, but that is only one requirement. A well established tank with good water quality is just as important. As for good 'beginner' clams, squamosas and derasas are both good, but get big and grow fast, so they'd outgrow your tank relatively quickly.

 

[toughguy80]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam
Spiny oysters are filter feeders and are not photosynthetic, so it doesn't really matter what kind of lighting you have with them. You have sufficient lighting for a tridacna clam, but that is only one requirement. A well established tank with good water quality is just as important. As for good 'beginner' clams, squamosas and derasas are both good, but get big and grow large, so they'd outgrow your tank relatively quickly.

Yes, you have to make sure your water qaulity is PERFECT and you can keep it stable. I made the mistake of getting one to early. Now I've been doing this for a few years and have gotten the hang of it. Here's mine...

 

[dmitry]

Gorgeous clam! What kind is it??

 

[shoreliner11]

Looks like a T. Crocea to me.

 

[yosemite sam]

T. maxima.

 

[msd2]

I would think a squamosa would be fine. I have had good luck with them and they seem to be pretty hearty.

 

[crazy4reefs]

i have had a squamosa for a couple of years. it started out in my 46 gallon bow with about 300 watts of light, i now keep it in my 20 gallon long tank with 130 watts of light. the tank has been set up for a couple of years and i also have had good luck with it (the clam). it went through a ammonia spike when i had a sea hare die in my tank. i plan on putting it in my 29 gallon tank also with a 250 watt mh. i also plan on trying maybe another type of clam. hth

 

[msd2]

Just make sure you acclimate your clam to the new planned light.

 

[dmitry]

The thing about light acclimating the clam makes me wonder: how do you light acclimate something in a tank where others are already acclimated?? If you move the lights up for a week....what are the older settles supposed to do?!
Incidentally, since most clams go on the bottom of the tank is light acclimation necessary??

 

[golfish]

Originally Posted by Dmitry
The thing about light acclimating the clam makes me wonder: how do you light acclimate something in a tank where others are already acclimated?? If you move the lights up for a week....what are the older settles supposed to do?!

its not going to effect the other light loving corals in your tank because the lights are dimmer for a few daysweeks...Just tell the "older settles" that' its been raining for a few weeks.
Lets say your water quality is perfict, for that size tank I'd suggest a Crocea only because they are the smallest.
BTW, the clam pictured above is a Maxima.

 

[msd2]

Personally I acclimate everything. Luckily my lfs runs lights very similar to mine so its a null issue nowadays. Since your stepping up the lights a considerable amount I would suggest you acclimate them all, just using simple screening a few layers thick, removing one every week. If I am only adding a single animal I find out what its been getting and place it in the tank accordingly. I would also say yes its important if the clam is even going on the bottom because if the lights it was under previous was pc, and on the bottom of the tank, and u plop him under ur nice bright mh its gonna be a lot more intense for him. Its not an exact science by any stretch but its also less stress for the new animal which means less chance of it going to davy's jones' locker

 

[shoreliner11]

The reason why I saw t. crocea on the clam in the photo above is because from the picture given I can see no scutes on the shell though the mantle pattern looks more like a t. maxima. Maybe they've been broken off or just can't be seen in the pic. Good looking clam though.
Aaron

 

[dmitry]

As far as Crocea Clams go...because they don't grow as big as the others, does one still need to make sure one gets a 3-4'' specimen that doesn't rely on physical foods as much? One web-site is selling them for $30, but they're only about 1-2'', and supposedly grow only up to 6''. It's a great price, but at that size...