My First Clam!

Usatennisfan · May 17, 2014

I picked up this little (1" tops) maxima from my LFS a week ago. So far he seems to be doing great. Any general advice on these guys would be greatly appreciated. I hear the little ones are even harder to keep alive so I'm a little worried :-/ To me he looks like he isn't as open as he was when I first got him and maybe the black in the flesh isn't as black. Maybe a little too much light?

Tahoe61 · May 17, 2014

Make sure placement is in a stable spot that the clam will not fall from. Monitor Ca/Mag/ALK, intervene as need.

Congrats.

Z06-Hec · May 17, 2014

I have a 3-4 crocea and derasa both are doing great. I had a 1.5 inch maxima and it did not make it. It was fine for a month, threw itself off the top of the tank where it was all that time and I figured it wanted to move down. I placed it on a lower spot and it lasted 3 weeks down there before it died. I think it preferred the top of the tank, closer to the light but the current started bothering it since the water was evaporating and creating more splash/current. I suspect had I brought it back up after the top off it would've done fine.

Usatennisfan · May 17, 2014

He has already attached himself to the rock I put him on so I guess that's a good sign.

FlyinBryan · May 17, 2014

Usa, first off congrats! I love clams! Just curious, how old and established is the tank? If he doesnt like where he's at he'll detach. They take about a day or so to acclimate and find a place they like.
Make sure your Mg is in the 1330-1380 range. If your tank is less than 6 mo's old it'll be rough going. I keep my phos around .03-.05 w/lps and sps. Good luck and dont move him, imo!

Usatennisfan · May 17, 2014

Tank is 18 months running as a reef and 12 months as a mantis tank prior to that. I primarily have sps and chalices in there. I'll test my water tomorrow and see where everything is at. I've seen through research that clams use up calcium more than anything. Any specific range for that that they thrive in?