Maxima Incurrent Siphon Open (mouth gaping)

hart24601 · May 1, 2019

I wanted to share this and maybe it will be of assistance if people have questions about an open mouth. I put gaping but it's really not, but people often confuse them.

Had this clam over 2 months from PEA and its mouth is always open. Typically with every Maxima I have had it might do this a day or two but then close up more. All I have had open long term died.

For reference here is what I expect. Same tank.

And here is this guy. Been open like this every day and really most the time even more. Hard to capture in pics.

However it has new growth! This is all since I got it so I guess some individuals just hold their mouth open. I hope this is useful if anyone is concerned about their clams mouth. Keep in mind this is not typical from my experience and it's generally a sign they are upset.

And last overall pic of the 'clam section'

homer1475 · May 1, 2019

My maxima is well, happy as a clam and has been that way for 5 years now. Mine also always has its mouth open and I often wondered early on if it was gaping. Started out as a tiny little 2 incher, to a now 8 inches.

New squammy next to it for size reference. The maxima was about that same size 5 years ago.

Current pic, but it's often open quite a bit more then this.

hart24601 · May 1, 2019

That Maxima is 8" in the photo? How big is the squammy? Looks great!

homer1475 · May 1, 2019

1 1/2 maybe 2 inches. Tiny little guy, just got him a day ago, but my maxima was that size originally. It's was also sold to me as a squammy, until a year or so ago I always thought it was(never had any reason to doubt the LFS, and from my reading tiny squammy's and tiny maximas look very similar). Then did a bit more research, and low and behold its a maxima!

Great hardy clam in my experience. Been through a tank crash, moved a couple times, and even likes the sandbed despite always being told to never put them there(it's lived its entire life on my sandbed). Never has any bysal threads, so it's not attached to my bottom pane of glass either. Funny clam and doesn't act like a maxima, but it's certainly happy as one.