Beginner clam.

Bernard · Nov 20, 2016

I've always liked the clam. Walked into my lfs and she had a clam that was about the size of a golf ball. I like buying everything small cause I love to see it grow. I'm not one who likes buying already grown livestock so seeing this tiny one really made me want one. I've not seen one this small.
My tank is pretty well established. Is there one clam that is better to start with than others? Do you have to have sand? My tank is bare bottom.

Reeferdood · Nov 20, 2016

This might help you out..
Clams need something to attach to such as a flat rock or similar..http://m.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=117

jenreefer · Nov 20, 2016

Small clams need to be fed weekly to grow(phyto and other small particle feeds) Photosynthetic clams need good lighting as they get older. They like to be able to secure themselves either in the sand or on a rock, but should be ok bare bottom if you get them in the right spot.

tomtom2245 · Nov 20, 2016

I have had really good luck with the squamosa clams. Do you know what type of clam it is that your LFS has? I don't have a link to anything to back this up, but, it is a misconception that the smaller the clam, the more it needs filter food. They actually get more of their nutrition from photosynthesis the smaller they are. With that said, they still do get nutrition from filter feeding as well. As far as the bare bottom goes, I can't really help you out there as I have always had sand. I have placed all of my clams in the sand bed on top of a flat piece of rock buried in the sand. This gives them something to anchor their foot too. Depending on your tank size, you will need to start keeping a close eye on your calcium as they will suck it up.

Bernard · Nov 20, 2016

Awesome. Thanks for the responses.
The ones she had in the shop the other day were maxima and I think the other type was an electric something. I like the maxima but that other one was pretty sweet looking.
I can put a flat rock down for it. Didn't really know they planters a foot so that's good to know. Any fish or anything that aren't good with clams?

Bernard · Nov 20, 2016

Well I just googled electric clam and that's not it. It looked close to what a maxima looks like. I think it was $100 for it and it was pretty small. She seems to be pretty decent on prices for the most part. She had some achilis range in there for $160. Just to give an idea one how reasonable her prices are. Notnto say she sells them at that price all the time she usually just charges so much over what she pays rather than a set price on the fish or item. Explaining all of that just happened n case the price of the clam help identify it.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 20, 2016

you can check out live aquaria, its a good resource. Light is really key with these guys they like a lot of it. and picking a healthy one too. Im told squamosa is a bit more forgiving on light. I got a small one and its doing great.
they do depending on what it is have slightly different needs. A squamose is a sand clam. there are also rock attaching clams and rock boring clams.

We have a friend here who likes clams too. @Tahoe61

Bernard · Nov 20, 2016

I'll check that out. I run 2 radions over a 4' 120. Just bought the wide angle lenses but haven't installed them yet. Don't think lighting will be an issue right now and I don't have a really huge aquascape.
This is an older pic when I first moved everything over from the old tank. So the little "frag racks" are gone