New to clams......id and care?

[Waters]

I picked up a new clam yesterday and was told the species and some general care, but by the time I got home, put it in the tank, and started to read about it I forgot the type. I was told to put it on the substrate and that it was one of the easier clams to keep. I had a couple of questions.......is the substrate the proper place for it? After doing some reading, it appears different types like different locations. Also, it appears that the foot was attached to a very small rock which they broke off and shipped with the clam....still attached (which you can see on the left of the clam). Should I bury this rock and partially bury the clam? It has opened to this point the first day but quickly closes when you are near the tank...which I assume is a good thing. The LFS said it was aqua cultured which is also good. Finally, being that it is a small clam (shell length is about 2.5 inches), does it need to be fed? I am embarrassed to say I didn't ask enough questions and do enough research before purchasing which I normally do.

 

[creefer]

That looks like a maxima.

 

[Robink]

I have the same species... forget the name. They must have good lighting, get most of their food from photosynthesis and I would add a phytolankton twice a week. I use dr g's. Have had my clam for over six months no problems and it's grown since i've had it. The sand bed is the best place for it... it would fall off the rocks and could land upside down which would be bad... Must be upright to get all the light it needs.

 

[Waters]

It definitely isn't a Maxima (I do remember him saying it began with a T and he specifically said that it is an easier to keep clam than the Maxima). His requirements sound similar to what you are talking about Robink so I am guessing we have the same species. He continues to slightly lean to the side even though I stand him straight up. Should I leave him? I am concerned about him getting enough lighting so far down on the sand bed...him leaning to the side means he is getting even less.

 

[phoenixstar89]

Tridacna crocea. No need to feed, just needs sufficient light. I would suggest putting the clam higher up on the rockwork. In the wild they prefer rock to sand and will often bore into rock and just leave their mantle exposed

 

[hart24601]

Light, light and more light. That is number 1 issue by far with this species.

Fyi all clams in the hobby are now maricultured.

 

[Waters]

Tridacna crocea. No need to feed, just needs sufficient light. I would suggest putting the clam higher up on the rockwork. In the wild they prefer rock to sand and will often bore into rock and just leave their mantle exposed

Yeah, that is the name he gave me. How do you safely put them in the rockwork? I assume they need to be wedged in somewhere allowing them to open but not allowing them to fall? That may be difficult in my setup.....I may have to rearrange some coral to make that happen.

 

[jeremy]

Mine is in sand bed and has been for 3 years.

 

[Waters]

What kind of lighting are you running? My concern is trying to get enough par down to the bottom while not frying the rest of my coral (LPS and soft)? My lights definitely have the capabilities of providing enough light....it is just doing it without harming everything else.

 

[ReeferBee]

Crocea can be difficult, the gaping mouth isn't a good sign. Is it always like that? If you're looking for a sand dwelling clam check out derasa, they're a good first clam.

 

[Sangheili]

Crocea. No need to feed but make sure your tank has nitrate to feed it.

 

[Waters]

Hmmm....this isn't looking good. I don't have a place on the rockwork to place it nor do I have any recordable nitrates. I may have to return him :-(

 

[jzaso]

Yes the fine scuting says crocea-probably the most difficult to keep-they are rockboring bivalves best placed in high light on hard substrate-in the wild they are found in very shallow water embedded in a coral head-your LFS didn,t do you any favors-A derasa would be a better choice

 

[Waters]

Well I was able to raise him off the sand bed and into the rocks (only had to relocate one small coral ) so I will watch him and see what happens. I would prefer it a little closer to the lights but I moved him a good 6 inches higher up so that is a start.