Care differences for "smaller" clams?

[cdw79]

I've been doing a bunch of research on the different Tridacna clam species and their care needs ahead of (hopefully) buying one once I confirm my PAR levels. I've been seeing some websites / books say that "smaller" specimens (2" or so seems to be the cutoff) need more specialized care, such as specific feedings with plankton or specific clam foods or whatever else. I've also spoken to a local reefer who said to essentially not touch any clam that is under 2.5", because in his experience they tend to waste away while his larger clams in his system do great. Does anyone have experience with these "smaller" clams and could say if any of this is something they have experienced?

 

[hart24601]

Larger tend to be tougher especially if need to fight a pest like pyramid snails and scrub, but I have raised 3/4” size and up without any special care just 300 par or so. Those were the smallest I have raised, crocea. Smallest maxima and squammy around 1.5” again no special care needed aside from more care from fish that might pick on them and the such.

 

[DeniseAndy]

This was more true with clams that are maricultured or were captive caught. Captive bred clams (aquacultured) are hardier. Do they benefit from stirring up and phyto, sure, they are filter feeders. But light is most important. Also leaving them alone and letting them open is very important. No inverts or fish that pick on them is key.

 

[Mike1970]

i put a small 1 in my tank less than 2 inches and all that guy gets is light(220-250par) and fish poop and it seems to be doing well i heard that taking cake of clams is the tame as SPS.

 

[dedragon]

i put a small 1 in my tank less than 2 inches and all that guy gets is light(220-250par) and fish poop and it seems to be doing well i heard that taking cake of clams is the tame as SPS.

Not really, sps like more flow and intermittent flow especially, acros are definitely harder to care for than clams as well IME

 

[cdw79]

Interesting, so the consensus seems to be that phyto or other filter feeder / clam specific food isn't really necessary, just that especially optimal conditions (in terms of PAR) is?

I'm hopefully getting ahold of a local PAR meter to finally see what my levels are, but given my Hydra 32's are only at ~80% and on a primarily blue spectrum, I'm not sure that the PAR will be high enough in the sand bed area I have in mind. Does anyone have experience with slowly raising PAR to better suit a clam (especially one that will likely be in the 2 inch range based on what I'm seeing is common online)? I accidentally raised them too quickly despite what I thought were quite slow adjustments and had some bleaching on a chalice, so I'm wary to mess with it any further

 

[Pkunk35]

If you’re getting a species that needs higher light why not just put it on a clam holder and up in the rocks? Crocea seem to love them and are the smallest of the giants. Man they do love light tho.
Also I’m not sure if clams need phyto feeding but they do feed/filter when larger. Biota has a video of two giant gigas eating an entire bottle of shellfish diet on reefs.com in 24 hours or something like that, crazy.

 

[ReeferHD]

I've been doing a bunch of research on the different Tridacna clam species and their care needs ahead of (hopefully) buying one once I confirm my PAR levels. I've been seeing some websites / books say that "smaller" specimens (2" or so seems to be the cutoff) need more specialized care, such as specific feedings with plankton or specific clam foods or whatever else. I've also spoken to a local reefer who said to essentially not touch any clam that is under 2.5", because in his experience they tend to waste away while his larger clams in his system do great. Does anyone have experience with these "smaller" clams and could say if any of this is something they have experienced?

dose phyto and oyster feast 3 times a week and make sure he's in a high light - low flow area and you're set. I have a 1.5 inch crocea and he was only 1 inch when i got him less than a month ago.

 

[Sean Clark]

I've been doing a bunch of research on the different Tridacna clam species and their care needs ahead of (hopefully) buying one once I confirm my PAR levels. I've been seeing some websites / books say that "smaller" specimens (2" or so seems to be the cutoff) need more specialized care, such as specific feedings with plankton or specific clam foods or whatever else. I've also spoken to a local reefer who said to essentially not touch any clam that is under 2.5", because in his experience they tend to waste away while his larger clams in his system do great. Does anyone have experience with these "smaller" clams and could say if any of this is something they have experienced?

Mine has been with me for several years. Low light, high light, it has always hung in there for me. Very hearty. I purchased it as an ORA baby. @Miami Reef loves the clams too and is much more experienced than I am sure they would be happy to share their experience.

 

[Miami Reef]

I highly recommend this book:
I will paraphrase what I read.

The under 3” rule mainly only applies to croceas and maximas, emphasis on the latter.

There’s speculations on why these baby clams don’t do well: They have smaller/thinner mantles and depend on filter feeding when they are small, more susceptible to diseases and predation.

But you can get a parasite free baby maxima specimen and do everything right and still have it die. It’s really hit or miss with the baby clams. You will have much better chances with larger clams. People have had success with smaller clams of course, but I’d say it’s more of the exemption because baby maximas and croceas have a terrible survival rate even in the wild. That’s why they produce so many eggs to compensate.

If you already got a baby maxima clam, acclimate it to higher light slowly and feed a lot of phytoplankton. Ensure it’s clean from parasitic snails.

Good luck.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I got a 1" maxima 1.5 years ago, its doing great. I broadcast feed phyto a few times a week, for other filters feeders, but I've never done anything special for mine, it even survived through my tanks 'ugly phase'

 

[MartinM]

There’s no difference in care based on size. I’m not sure why this is such a commonly held misconception, but It’s been researched extensively by clam farmers.

 

[hart24601]

I highly recommend this book:
I will paraphrase what I read.

The under 3” rule mainly only applies to croceas and maximas, emphasis on the latter.

There’s speculations on why these baby clams don’t do well: They have smaller/thinner mantles and depend on filter feeding when they are small, more susceptible to diseases and predation.

But you can get a parasite free baby maxima specimen and do everything right and still have it die. It’s really hit or miss with the baby clams. You will have much better chances with larger clams. People have had success with smaller clams of course, but I’d say it’s more of the exemption because baby maximas and croceas have a terrible survival rate even in the wild. That’s why they produce so many eggs to compensate.

If you already got a baby maxima clam, acclimate it to higher light slowly and feed a lot of phytoplankton. Ensure it’s clean from parasitic snails.

Good luck.

I honestly think that is a bit out of date with the recent advancements in aquaculture and importation by Ora and biota when it comes to the 3” rule. They have such healthy cultured stock imo they are plenty tough. Anything that would kill a 2” clam in a system like a nipper would kill a 3” too.

I would be cautious doing anything at all for them to feed on. Gigas has legendary feeding capacity but they grow so fast anyway it’s not all that important. For other species even consumed food is often not digested and passed out as waste. Keeping good Chemistry is more important Imo so if dose that’s fine but not at expense of water quality and also realize it’s *probably* not really aiding the clams although it doesn’t hurt.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Aquaculture has changed that game a lot. Back when I first started with clams, it made a huge difference and a 3-4" clam was ideal, now, a 1.5" is fine. Crazy.

 

[hart24601]

Aquaculture has changed that game a lot. Back when I first started with clams, it made a huge difference and a 3-4" clam was ideal, now, a 1.5" is fine. Crazy.

Yeah I can’t imagine survival rates for 1” wild caught clam…. Had to be absolutely terrible.

 

[Derrick0580]

I just picked up my first clam I’ve had in 15 years since restarting the hobby a little over a year ago. Roughly a 2” derasa. Should I diy a 2 liter bottle top to place over it with an air line to inject phyto and let it sit for a while or will broadcast feeding phyto be sufficient?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Keep it well lit and away from anything that may bother it, and you can let it be. It will appreciate phyto as most animals do, but no need to feed it directly. It is better off as filter feeding itself.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I just picked up my first clam I’ve had in 15 years since restarting the hobby a little over a year ago. Roughly a 2” derasa. Should I diy a 2 liter bottle top to place over it with an air line to inject phyto and let it sit for a while or will broadcast feeding phyto be sufficient?

Also make sure to keep water quality stable. Adding phyto can get messy.

 

[Derrick0580]

Also make sure to keep water quality stable. Adding phyto can get messy.

My tank is a 48” 120 gallon rimless planet aquarium and I have 3 radion xr15 g5 blues over it!

 

[shakacuz]

the crocea i bought from my LFS was small, possibly <2in. the importance is stable parameters, and broadcast feedings of phytoplankton. obviously also making sure you get the clam from a reputable source as well to rule out pests.