Has anyone had luck keeping clams under 4" alive?

SINNERMF · Mar 7, 2017

Only clam i under 4" i ever had luck with was a Gigas and wow did it grow fast. I've tried several Maximas over the years from 1"-3" and they never make it over 8 months. I've tried multiple different feeding methods and they never last. I used to have them under dual 175 watt metal halide system with vhos for supplemental lighting. My new system has a ai hydra 52 hd led light. Debating trying this again. Any thoughts or input?

Empress · Mar 8, 2017

I have a baby clam (Maximus) about 1 1/2" in QT. I've had it for about 2 weeks now. It was slow to open up, but now it opens every morning when the light comes on. I only have a simple T5 10k and a 420-460 actinic over it. The light is about 10" above the clam on for 12 hours a day. It's in a small plastic Tupperware container filled with sand. I've been feeding every other day with Reef-Roids. And so far it's doing great. It goes in the DT in June. So we'll see what happens. It's too early to tell right now. I may raise it up closer to the light in a few days. I'm taking it slow because any clam under 2" is still a baby and needs special attention. Dirty water, good light, low flow until it gets older.

My other maxima in the DT is about 7". It was 2" when I got that one. Under 400 w and 2 250 watts: metal halides. Total 900 watts. 20k.

DereksReef77 · Mar 8, 2017

I've got a maxima that I've had for 2months going on 3 months now. Doing great and can tell it's already growing. It's on a 3" disk currently. Growing under 8 bulb ati fixture.

First pic is from the day I got him and the last pic is current up to 2/28/17

Empress · Mar 8, 2017

DereksReef77 said:
I've got a maxima that I've had for 2months going on 3 months now. Doing great and can tell it's already growing. It's on a 3" disk currently. Growing under 8 bulb ati fixture.

First pic is from the day I got him and the last pic is current up to 2/28/17

I have a 6" round glass plate under mine and the plate is covered in sand where the foot has taken hold. It's a good thing to do in case I ever have to move it. Just move the whole plate...clam and all. [emoji886]

Empress · Mar 8, 2017

DereksReef77 said:
I've got a maxima that I've had for 2months going on 3 months now. Doing great and can tell it's already growing. It's on a 3" disk currently. Growing under 8 bulb ati fixture.

First pic is from the day I got him and the last pic is current up to 2/28/17

Beautiful clam btw.

DereksReef77 · Mar 8, 2017

Thanks he has come along way since I got him. After looking at the first pic again he has really improved since then.

AlexG · Mar 8, 2017

Small clams under 3" range depend mostly on direct feeding rather than photosynthesis. I have had success with keeping small clams 1-3 inches but I kept them in a dirty system. I would also put these small clams in a phyoplankton bath several times a week where I knew they could feed for a couple of hours each time. The bath would be a gallon of tank water with one or two cap fulls of phyoplankton. Even then I did lose a couple of these clams.

Empress · Mar 8, 2017

AlexG said:
Small clams under 3" range depend mostly on direct feeding rather than photosynthesis. I have had success with keeping small clams 1-3 inches but I kept them in a dirty system. I would also put these small clams in a phyoplankton bath several times a week where I knew they could feed for a couple of hours each time. The bath would be a gallon of tank water with one or two cap fulls of phyoplankton. Even then I did lose a couple of these clams.

What an awesome idea about the bath. I'm going to try it but I don't have any phytoplankton. I've been using Reef-Roids.

laga77 · Mar 8, 2017

AlexG said:
Small clams under 3" range depend mostly on direct feeding rather than photosynthesis. I have had success with keeping small clams 1-3 inches but I kept them in a dirty system. I would also put these small clams in a phyoplankton bath several times a week where I knew they could feed for a couple of hours each time. The bath would be a gallon of tank water with one or two cap fulls of phyoplankton. Even then I did lose a couple of these clams.

Please read this entire article.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/7/inverts

AlexG · Mar 8, 2017

laga77 said:
Please read this entire article.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/7/inverts

I will retract my statement then about the 3 inch rule. Last time I kept clams was 2003 but even with feeding my small clams I still blasted them with light. Great article.

Empress · Mar 8, 2017

laga77 said:
Please read this entire article.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/7/inverts

Laga, Thank you for sharing this very informative article about clams. So what it all boils down to is that all they need is high quality lighting and nutrients from the water. Filter feeders..... just like a feather duster or a cucumber. So easy to take of. [emoji228]

And it saves me $; I won't have to buy phytoplankton.

JP79 · Mar 8, 2017

I had a Maximus that was about inch half. It's was healthy and happy. I had if for over a year. Then one night my heater **** the bed. So that was the end of that. Someday when the price is right I'll do it again.

Tahoe61 · Mar 8, 2017

In my experience a 3 in clam is a good sized specimen.

They have the ability to absorb DOC, dissolved organic carbons. Yes the water moves from inhalant siphon to exhalant siphon but it passive water movement. Adding the typical filter feeder products to a tank with the intention of providing nutrition to a clam will only add nutrients to the system. DOC are removed via skimmers and water changes, it's my experience that clams do better in the long run in the presence of DOC levels not conducive to a ULNS, appropriate Ca/alk levels (you're going to have to eventually dose as the clam gets larger), intense lighting and moderate flow to optimize gas and water exchange.

Common causes to the demise of Tridacna, are Pyramid Snails, insufficient lighting, and lower than optimal values of Ca/alk/mag. Tridacna can become calcium sponges as they grow, in smaller tanks this utilization of calcium can be hard to keep up with.