Big squamosa

Giovanni · Jan 20, 2013

I purchase the squamosa on the left 5 years ago and it was smaller than the crocea on the right that is around 2 inches. I estimate it at 8 inches. What is the most you have seen one grow in captivity?

BTW for size reference this tank is 96x30x30

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mc-cro · Jan 20, 2013

Here was my prized clam. Not a squamy, but a Derasa. I lost him last year after about 8yrs in my tank and growing him from about 4"

Giovanni · Jan 20, 2013

Man that sucks! Post a photo of him alive!

skinz78 · Jan 20, 2013

Nice looking Squammy!

The most I've personally ever seen one grow in a short time period was my Giga's.

Here it was at 1.5" being drug around by a Conch...

And here it is one year later at 6", this was right before I sold it due to tank downsizing.

Giovanni · Jan 20, 2013

How big do the gigas get in captivity. You don't seem them FS that often anymore.

FishLipz · Jan 20, 2013

Here is mine. The squammy is about 9 inces inches now and the maxima is around 8.

Giovanni · Jan 20, 2013

Nice. How old is the squammy?

FishLipz · Jan 20, 2013

I've had it about a year or so. It's grown a couple inches since I got it.

skinz78 · Jan 20, 2013

I know of one Giga's that is over 30" grown in captivity.

FishLipz · Jan 20, 2013

There's a gigas at the Waikiki aquarium that is absolutely a monster.

Tridacna gigas: chronicle of the Waikiki Aquarium’s 30 year old giant clam

mc-cro · Jan 20, 2013

ha, it is alive in this picture, it was just in the sink for its monthly scrubbing. I had a very bad bubble algae outbreak and had to take the clam out several times to get rid of all the bubbles down in its crevices

mc-cro said:
Here was my prized clam. Not a squamy, but a Derasa. I lost him last year after about 8yrs in my tank and growing him from about 4"

Giovanni · Jan 20, 2013

I wonder if cleaning the clam out of the water put undue stress on the internal organs and possibly cause an early demise?

skinz78 · Jan 20, 2013

It shouldn't have, I've heard that the Giga's that I know of gets a yearly pressure washing.

mc-cro · Jan 20, 2013

It is not unusual for clams to be out of the water in nature. I do think its important that they are slowly removed from the water, that way fast exiting water doesnt damage their organs.

I had my clam for almost 8yrs, and cleaned him many times over the years. I only lost him due to prolonged stress and bad lighting during a system tear down and rebuild.