Healthy clam?

[JoJosReef]

Hi clam experts, what do you think about this hippopus? It's hard to tell if these clams are in good shape or not from just a photo. My last derasa may have been in steady decline by the time I received him.

ORA Aquacultured Hippopus

Photo obviously heavily doctored. But does anyone see from the shell if this specimen is in decent shape?

@minus9 you and any other clam experts you know have an opinion?

Hippopus are obviously on the rarer side, so I'm interested in moving on it if it's a good bet. Would love to see it in person, but that doesn't seem possible.

Thanks!

 

[shakacuz]

very difficult to tell since it’s closed. maybe they can provide another picture? did you try messaging aquaSD?

 

[JoJosReef]

very difficult to tell since it’s closed. maybe they can provide another picture? did you try messaging aquaSD?

I called them. They said they can send some photos to email, so I plan to follow up on it tonight.

 

[JoJosReef]

very difficult to tell since it’s closed. maybe they can provide another picture? did you try messaging aquaSD?

Oh and sorry for forgetting to tag you shaka!

 

[OrionN]

It is a Hippopus clam. I never keep them but I would worry that there is no new growth.
Mantle of this clam does not extended over the edge of the shell

 

[OrionN]

I do think they are slow grower but the healthy ones I see have a slight white edge to their shells.

 

[JoJosReef]

It is a Hippopus clam. I never keep them but I would worry that there is no new growth.
Mantle of this clam does not extended over the edge of the shell

Thanks @OrionN ! Yes, they are a different sort of clam aren't they? But I still think they are interesting and beautiful.

With these website photos being doctored up, hard to tell how the shell looks isn't it? I'd be hesitant to get another clam without seeing some shell growth on it.

 

[JoJosReef]

I do think they are slow grower but the healthy ones I see have a slight white edge to their shells.

I asked for some photos from the shop with side and top views that we can inspect. We'll see if they can get back to me in time before they get sold.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

@Miami Reef

 

[mbaird]

I actually received one of these Friday. They aren't kidding about the size, it is tiny. That being said, other than no white shell around the edge mine seems healthy enough. Closes if messed with but otherwise is open a normal amount and not gaping.

 

[JoJosReef]

I actually received one of these Friday. They aren't kidding about the size, it is tiny. That being said, other than no white shell around the edge mine seems healthy enough. Closes if messed with but otherwise is open a normal amount and not gaping.

From AquaSD or Algaebarn? I see Algaebarn has them right now (2"), but $75 instead of $50 and more shipping cost. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[mbaird]

Aquasd, snagged one for 50 from clearance.

 

[JoJosReef]

..

 

[JoJosReef]

Aquasd, snagged one for 50 from clearance.

I'm tempted to go for it bc they still have the $50 promo with code going through tonight but not tomorrow.

 

[dansyr]

I got one from aquasd yesterday. there are more than listed online currently, they were kind enough to let us go inside and check out the hippos before packaging up. So far healthy and great pattern, but it's just been one night for me so far. will post photos in a sec

 

[OrionN]

How big are they?

 

[dansyr]

all iphone unedited, ~6500K led. darker one is top down, also unedited just darker from zooming the iphone.

very last one is my wife's DSLR dramatic DLSR shot, don't ask me about settings, she's the photographer not me

 

[dansyr]

How big are they?

I would guess about 1.5" ± 0.25? There were some variance in the other ones, they had one, possibly the one pictured, that was more elongated. For context the wide side of this hippo is resting on a black frag plug just underneath the sand, the diameter of frag plug is just less than the width of the clam. Can take a finger-for-scale photo if that's useful

 

[dansyr]

There were some ones with different patterns, @minus9 and I got probably the most highly patterned ones that we could see but there were definitely some interesting ones left there, plenty of others with this kind of light blue / mauve dots

 

[mbaird]