Small Maxima's, how are they doing for you?

[skinz78]

Back in the day, lol makes me feel old... the small Maxima clams were touch and go. People always said don't buy them they'll just die on you. It is my belief that the reason for them dieing is stress from being bothered and man handled too much by their new owners.

I've had some recent success with the smaller Maxima clams by making them stay in one spot by placing them inside my Monti Cap. This makes me wonder if anyone else is having similar success with them?

Lets see some Maxima pic's to go along with this thread!

 

[Loki]

I have one. Have only had it for a few weeks though so nothing to really report. I'll see if I can snap a picture.

 

[Loki]

Here it is sitting next to its bodyguard. I did not put it there. I am letting it acclimate to my tank for a bit longer then I will move it up onto the rocks.

 

[ritter6788]

Mine wasn't super small but about 2 inches when I got it. I think I've had it for 3 years now.

Bottom right in this pic.

 

[skinz78]

Wow Chase, how small is that little guy?

 

[ritter6788]

Wow Chase, how small is that little guy?

Lol, I was thinking that one is really big or the other is the smallest I've ever seen!

 

[skinz78]

If memory serves me right, he told me that the big one is 5"

 

[Loki]

About 1/2-3/4" the other is 7ish maybe more

 

[skinz78]

Holy moley, where did you get one that small?

I do have a buddy who lives in Austrailia who got both a blue Squamosa and a gold Maxima clam in on live rock as hitch hikers, they both were about 3/8" of an inch long when he got them. Raised them both up to be 5 to 7" before he took his tank down.

 

[creefer]

Great thread. I have been considering a small maxima from a LFS. They have just received a few that are 2-2.5" and beautiful with a reasonable price. I just have not yet pulled the trigger. I've never had a clam and don't want to risk its livelihood.

 

[skinz78]

I wouldn't hesitate one second to buy a Maxima over 2" if it caught my eye.

 

[Loki]

The LFS. They have a new owner with deep pockets so he orders the weirdest stuff. I was worried about this little guy when he started moving. But he nestled right up against the bigger one and hasn't moved much. It may be 1" now. It's hard to really tell when it's sitting next to a monster .

 

[Loki]

I do have a buddy who got both a blue Squamosa and a gold Maxima clam in on live rock as hitch hikers.

geez! What a great deal! All I would get is coral herpes.

 

[creefer]

I wouldn't hesitate one second to buy a Maxima over 2" if it caught my eye.

That's good to know. They have a few that are quite nice. I was just concerned about what kind of care they may need being that small and how I can support it. I have never had a clam, always wanted one, but don't want to do so incorrectly.

 

[NewB87]

I bough a ultra maxima clam a month ago and it died after just a week. I did move it twice only bc it was moving towards a BTA that was stuck to a rock and didn't want him to get stung. I thought maybe my tank wasn't ready for one but maybe it was bc it was move around to much like u said. Here it is made me pretty sad it only lasted a week.

I also read bristle worms kill them also.

 

[skinz78]

Hmm, could it have been getting stung by the Dendro's?

 

[skinz78]

Bristle worms don't kill them, they are just there after the fact to do the cleanup.

 

[wrasseluver]

Skinz78 I agree that small clams need a stable spot where you don't have handle or move them.

 

[Shauno]

All of my maxima clams were under 2" when I first acquired them. Infact, most were about an inch or less. So, I do recommend small clams as I have only lost (1) due to it unattaching from a rock and tumbling face down on an acro which I could not dislodge- acro won, clam lost

I agree with wrasseluver and skinz that you should not move these little ones around and to leave them alone as the do not tolerate molestation and constant man handling.