New Set up - what is needed for a Clam?

winklebe · Aug 2, 2013

Greetings all,

I am in the process of setting up a new 40 Breeder that I would like to add a clam to in the future. Since I am starting from a bare tank, I want to set the future home up correctly.

The first question is the substrate: Do clams sit on the sand bed or do they attach to the rock work? And if they are in the sand what grain size should I look at? If they attach to the rock should I look to build the aquascape in a special way to provide a "home" for the clam?

If you had the opportunity to set the aquascape up for a new tank that would be used for clams how would you do it?

Thanks in advance for the help

james30ct · Aug 2, 2013

There are sand and rock dwelling clams. Some of the sand dwelling ones get quite large such as squamosa and deresa. You would probably be better off with a crocea or maxima.

rworegon · Aug 2, 2013

What he said an also a more mature tank with stable parameters. The small ones (juveniles) need to be fed, they are photosynthetic but when small can't get enough energy from their small mantle to survive. Once they get bigger no special feeding is required.
Stay away from rabbit fish and butterfly's as most will pick at the mantles.

FishLipz · Aug 2, 2013

If you have a 40B I would look at crocea clams myself. Even maximas can take up a good deal of space in a 40B. I have Maxima that is 8 inches across. That being said, croceas due best up on rockwork. They are also called boring clams due to the fact they secrete a weak acid from the mantle that allows them to bore into the substrate they sit on.

winklebe · Aug 3, 2013

Thanks for the input all,

To summarize what I am gathering so far:

If I was willing to give up a "large portion" (I am thinking 1/3 to a Half) of the tanks sand bed I would be able to put a Maxima in the sand. The question here would be how deep of a sand bed would I need and what grain size. Would a sugar grain be too small? How about crushed coral?

If I want extensive rock work, I would need to look at a corcea to be placed in the rocks. The questions here, should I look to build a "shelf" that has a flat horizontal surface to set the clam on? Or do I try to create gaps between multiple rocks to wedge the clam into? Should I build the future position closer to the bottom, top or middle? Is there a prefered type of rock (tonga etc.)

Sounds like all the other clams are out due to their maximum size. :squigglemouth:

Thanks all!