New clam - is it healthy/happy?

[Reefer Dan]

Purchased this on Monday from someone getting out of the hobby, the person had less intense lighting than I do so I have it on the sand bed but they had it for about 2 years.

I am confused why it doesn’t have very prominent scoots? The only prominent ones are the top two rows

This is my first clam, I’ve read a lot, but wanted to see what more experienced clam keepers would say about this specific one.
Thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

It doesn't necessarily look unhealthy.

 

[moz71]

Looks fine to me right now.

 

[Miami Reef]

What lights do you have? That looks like a tridacna maxima to me. It looks good right now.

 

[Reefer Dan]

What lights do you have? That looks like a tridacna maxima to me. It looks good right now

I believe it is a maxima. I have 3 kessil 360s + t5s (4x54w)… the t5s are new so I am in the process of ramping those up slowly.

 

[hart24601]

It looks good. It was wild collected is why the scutes are missing, they wear off maxima when the are wild and embedded in rock. You can see scutes near the top, these were probably grown after collection in a tank after a few months to years.

besides size (wild being larger 4-6” vs 2” - especially with maxima) the lack of scutes with maxima and crocea are the “typical” sign it was wild collected. Doesn’t mean anything bad - and there are always exceptions of course.

 

[Reefer Dan]

It looks good. It was wild collected is why the scutes are missing, they wear off maxima when the are wild and embedded in rock. You can see scutes near the top, these were probably grown after collection in a tank after a few months to years.

besides size (wild being larger 4-6” vs 2” - especially with maxima) the lack of scutes with maxima and crocea are the “typical” sign it was wild collected. Doesn’t mean anything bad - and there are always exceptions of course.

That is very insightful, I did not know that. Thanks!

 

[Uncle99]

Hate to be moved.
He’s fine.
Longer he’s stays in one spot, the better.
I little squirt of live phyto with no flow for 15 minutes weekly is appreciated. He should pump a few times when he detects the cloud.
Keep Strontium in check.

 

[Reefer Dan]

ok, clam had developed some spots of bleaching on mantle edge and around the intake siphon. I’ve read that bleaching can mean too little light also. How does one determine if it is from too little or too high light?

still Very responsive to movement, haven’t noticed gaping. Pics included

 

[hart24601]

I have only seen it with too little. Most healthy clams just close up if light is too intense. I kept some under 1600 PAR for fun before and didn’t have bleaching fwiw but parts in the shade on another clam bleached.

 

[Reefer Dan]

I have only seen it with too little. Most healthy clams just close up if light is too intense. I kept some under 1600 PAR for fun before and didn’t have bleaching fwiw but parts in the shade on another clam bleached.

Ok good to know. I was planning to move it up, but then I noticed it started bleaching so I am trying to be more cautious.

 

[Dburr1014]

Is the clam on something or just propped up? Maximas like to be on rock.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Is the clam on something or just propped up? Maximas like to be on rock.

Currently attached to a snail shell.. I’ve been trying to get it to attach to a flat frag plug for a little more support. My lighting is more intense than the tank he came from so I wanted to acclimate it first instead of just popping it on the top and having it attach to the rock.
Planning to eventually put him here.

 

[Reefer Dan]

edit: double posted

 

[Dburr1014]

Currently attached to a snail shell.. I’ve been trying to get it to attach to a flat frag plug for a little more support. My lighting is more intense than the tank he came from so I wanted to acclimate it first instead of just popping it on the top and having it attach to the rock.
Planning to eventually put him here.

Nice you could always shade him from above if you drop him on the rock now.