About to get a Maxima....

Futuretotm · Sep 2, 2020

What is your dipping protocol?

- I have heard about the FWD for PMD, however thats only if you see signs of PMD. Should I do it anyway as I think this is a wild specimen (3+ inches, cheaper ie 50$ to be exact, just came in)
- Should I brush the shell for any snails?
- I am thinking of placing it higher in my tank with a separate dedicated 6500k LED in addition to my reef blues led.

PicassoClown04 · Sep 2, 2020

I only buy maximas in store. After they bag it for you, check the outside thoroughly for pyramid snails, they will be white on the outside of the Shell, make sure you check near the foot very well. I do not dip my clams, but I do drip acclimate for 30-45 minutes after floating the bag, same as I would do for any fish.

Futuretotm · Sep 2, 2020

footgal said:
I only buy maximas in store. After they bag it for you, check the outside thoroughly for pyramid snails, they will be white on the outside of the Shell, make sure you check near the foot very well. I do not dip my clams, but I do drip acclimate for 30-45 minutes after floating the bag, same as I would do for any fish.

thank you
its funny, my lfs gets a few clams per week, they throw the bags into the tanks, then after a while drop the clams into their system... no drip......

PicassoClown04 · Sep 2, 2020

pics of where I placed my maxima

directly underneath an AI Prime HD on 100% intensity

PicassoClown04 · Sep 2, 2020

Futuretotm said:
thank you
its funny, my lfs gets a few clams per week, they throw the bags into the tanks, then after a while drop the clams into their system... no drip......

I think the drip may be optional, I’d rather not take any chances though because they are very expensive and I feel like the drip lowers stress. I do not drip any of my corals, just clams, inverts, and fish

OrionN · Sep 2, 2020

Back in the 1990's, Dick Perrin, the owner of Tropicorium in Romulus, Michigan used to FWD his clams when he first imported them to control disease and parasite. I know this becasue I was ordering clams from him back then, and we talk when the shipper delayed my shipment by 1 day. He said that healthy clams are very hardy and resilient. Once he forgot a tray of clam, 3 inches maxima, in fresh water for several hours. They got stressed but all survived. He mentioned this as example of how hardy clams are.
Knowing this, and when I struggle with PMD, I guess that this is a surface infection, I experiment with FWD as a treatment, and was able to find a cure for PMD.

I would not recommend prophylactically FWD a newly shipped clam, but once you see him recovered from shipping, you can if your want. Of course, you should QT clams, especially WC clams on arrival. I would not put them into your large DT right away.

NitrateKillah · Sep 3, 2020

What is PMD? fwd fresh water dip?

OrionN · Sep 3, 2020

NitrateKillah said:
What is PMD? fwd fresh water dip?

Please see this sticky thread:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Pinched Mantle Disease in Giant Clams.

Introduction It was almost 20 years ago when I first introduced the Fresh Water Dip (FWD) protocol for the treatment of Pinched Mantle Disease (PMD). Over the years, many reefers altered the protocol somewhat but, on the whole, it still is the only tried and true way to treat PMD, a universally...

www.reef2reef.com

vetteguy53081 · Sep 3, 2020

One of the best clams !! Things to know:

Salinity no higher than 1.026
Ph no higher than 8.3
Temperature no higher than 80 degrees
Calc no higher than 450

Inspect inner clam shell for Pyramid snails and presence of a crab. Shrimp is ok.

Pyramids:

OrionN · Sep 3, 2020

Here is my article on Pyramid parasitic snails:

How I deal with Pyram snails, the Giant Clam parasitic snails.

How I deal with Pyram snails, the parasitic snails that infected and kill Tridacna Clams

www.reef2reef.com

User1 · Sep 3, 2020

Pacific East Aquaculture imports clams and help setup the farm he uses / sources. He has some good articles for acclimating clams. I personally would not do a freshwater dip but I understand it is one of the protocols used as noted in this thread and others.

When I attempted my first clam I was not sure how to handle them or what to look for. I reached out to Pacific East and then watched this. Whatever you choose to do what may be useful is watching how he handles them. In any case enjoy the clam and good luck!

User1 · Sep 3, 2020

OrionN said:
Back in the 1990's, Dick Perrin, the owner of Tropicorium in Romulus, Michigan used to FWD his clams when he first imported them to control disease and parasite.

He worked with the owner of Indo Pacific Sea Farms I believe who has done a lot of research on clams. They also created a coral food that is amazing.

OrionN · Sep 3, 2020

saf1 said:
He worked with the owner of Indo Pacific Sea Farms I believe who has done a lot of research on clams. They also created a coral food that is amazing.

Gerald Heslinga, the owner of Indo Pacific Sea Farms is the person who pioneer Farm raise of Tridacnid Clams and save these species from extinction.

User1 · Sep 3, 2020

OrionN said:
Gerald Heslinga, the owner of Indo Pacific Sea Farms is the person who pioneer Farm raise of Tridacnid Clams and save these species from extinction.

Yeah - he is amazing. Back when I first started I ordered one of their starter packs. I had some really stupid / dumb questions so called them. He picked up the phone and spoke to me for about 30 minutes. I really appreciated the time he took out of his day. I don't do much but at least twice a year I place an order for the macro algae as my tangs love the stuff and it supports them.