New to this and need help

jtl · Feb 5, 2019

What is a fair price for a clam? Looks like Maxima are the most expensive. I have sort of ruled out Sqamosa due to the colors. One of my LFS who is known to be expensive has a 5" Maxima for $189 which is more than I want to pay for my first attempt at raising a clam. I am hoping to find one that is around 3-4".

DSC reef · Feb 5, 2019

That's a typical price for a larger maxima. Derasa will be cheaper. Smaller maximas and crocea are cheaper as well.

jtl · Feb 5, 2019

I guess price is all about what is hot and what is not in this hobby or in the case of corals the latest clever name. I don't mind spending the $ but not until I think I can keep one alive. What is your favorite?

DSC reef · Feb 5, 2019

Clams are cheaper when they are smaller due to survival rates as well. My personal favorite is squamosa. They can develop nice colors over time plus the blue variants are beautiful but pricey. This was one we had for many years that developed blue spots.

Steve Elb · Feb 5, 2019

Hemmdog said:
I have an ORA aquacultured maxima. He’s doing great and was very cheap. I would recommend that over dropping hundreds on some big clam that’s just going to get bigger and bigger.

I have a maximus from ORA as well. I highly recommend them

jtl · Feb 5, 2019

DSC reef said:
Clams are cheaper when they are smaller due to survival rates as well. My personal favorite is squamosa. They can develop nice colors over time plus the blue variants are beautiful but pricey. This was one we had for many years that developed blue spots.

For whatever reason I thought that all Squamosa were brown/yellow combinations. That is a beautiful specimen. I guess I better not rule them out after all.

What is considered "small" and are there any good online stores to buy from if I cannot find one locally?

DSC reef · Feb 5, 2019

3" is as small as I'd like to buy. I'd look at pacific east aquaculture, Austin aqua farms, pieces of the ocean.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 5, 2019

Assure your parameters are optimum and stable before the investment and know who the enemies and predators of clams are and assure none are present.

jtl · Feb 6, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Assure your parameters are optimum and stable before the investment and know who the enemies and predators of clams are and assure none are present.

The tank has been up and running for 1.5 years and the params are rock solid and have been for quite a while. I have testing records going back to day one. Light is good for the corals at my present settings but who knows if a clam will be happy. I have the room to crank it up another 10% if necessary without bleaching, since I am only at 45% blues and 15% white. That gives me 150-160 par at the sand bed and 250-270 at the upper levels where my sps is.

ngoodermuth · Feb 6, 2019

I’m going to +1 to the derasa being a good, hardy “beginner” clam. I’ve had great luck with them, and only marginal success with maximas... they are beautiful but much more temperamental IME.

VSVP bet · Feb 6, 2019

jtl said:
Why not crocea or maxima? My wife who is the reefkeeeper does not like browns and yellow colors, blues reign in this adobe

Go with a derasa. This was my first clam, bought one around 3inches, its now 5 and growing FAST. I wasnt a fan of the pattern and brown, but they are hearty, and thats whats most important. You can always get another clam, I'd go with the easy one first, see how it does, then try a maxima. That was my plan, but I love my derasa at this point, I have no interest in getting another clam...

jtl · Feb 6, 2019

VSVP bet said:
Go with a derasa. This was my first clam, bought one around 3inches, its now 5 and growing FAST. I wasnt a fan of the pattern and brown, but they are hearty, and thats whats most important. You can always get another clam, I'd go with the easy one first, see how it does, then try a maxima. That was my plan, but I love my derasa at this point, I have no interest in getting another clam...

The brown/yellow coloration was my concern but it appears they do come in other colors so this may be the best option for us.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 6, 2019

jtl said:
The tank has been up and running for 1.5 years and the params are rock solid and have been for quite a while. I have testing records going back to day one. Light is good for the corals at my present settings but who knows if a clam will be happy. I have the room to crank it up another 10% if necessary without bleaching, since I am only at 45% blues and 15% white. That gives me 150-160 par at the sand bed and 250-270 at the upper levels where my sps is.

Sounds like you deserve a clam !!!!!