Starter Clam

Dub V Dolamite · Apr 24, 2011

I have a 29 gal and wanted to add a clam what would be a good starter???

Troylee · Apr 24, 2011

If you have the stock lighting prolly none.... Also if the tank is new another no no IMHO... Hold off for awhile and upgrade the lighting if possible...

fsu1dolfan · Apr 24, 2011

Dub V Dolamite said:
I have a 29 gal and wanted to add a clam what would be a good starter???

How old is your tank, water parameters, etc....not thinking clams are good to add if your tank hasnt been up and running for a while.

xmetalfan99 · Apr 24, 2011

I think all clams are easy to care for. I love maximas, but I would say a crocea would be good as a starter clam for you.

reefkoi · Apr 25, 2011

You know its wierd I think Maximas are easier than Croceas but I hear the opposite a lot so I think it just depends on the health of the specimen and the general health of the tank too. My vote goes to Derasa. Yeah it will outgrow the 29 in 2 years or so (assuming you buy a 3" specimen) but they are the cheapest and pretty dang easy and dont require near as much light as the maximas and croceas IMHO.

C

skinz78 · Apr 25, 2011

reefkoi said:
You know its wierd I think Maximas are easier than Croceas but I hear the opposite a lot so I think it just depends on the health of the specimen and the general health of the tank too. My vote goes to Derasa. Yeah it will outgrow the 29 in 2 years or so (assuming you buy a 3" specimen) but they are the cheapest and pretty dang easy and dont require near as much light as the maximas and croceas IMHO.

C

I totally agree with Chris on this one. Derasa's are quick growers but IMHO very easy to keep happy. If you don't want to have to deal with finding a Derasa a new home in the near future I would say go with a Crocea. Maximas are pretty easy as well but I have found that it is hard to keep the small one's happy. They move around a lot and I think the constant moving stresses them out and can cause death. If you get a little one and can keep it happy with it's placement they do just fine.

lax5710 · Apr 25, 2011

where in your tank would u put your new clam on the sand or in the rock work

fsu1dolfan · Apr 25, 2011

lax5710 said:
where in your tank would u put your new clam on the sand or in the rock work

Most of the clams i have seen are on the sand...if on rock work you run the risk of it detaching itself and falling.

xmetalfan99 · Apr 25, 2011

fsu1dolfan said:
Most of the clams i have seen are on the sand...if on rock work you run the risk of it detaching itself and falling.

However, some clams are rock boring (croceas and maximas). This means they should be kept in the rockwork. Derasas and squamosas shoul dbe kept n the sand/

Rayzback · Apr 25, 2011

In a 29 I'd go with smaller slow growing crocea.

skinz78 · Apr 25, 2011

lax5710 said:
where in your tank would u put your new clam on the sand or in the rock work

It really depends on the clam, I have Maxima's up on the rocks and some that just want to be on the sand. In the reefs most clams are found up on the rocks and usually amongst SPS corals.

xmetalfan99 said:
However, some clams are rock boring (croceas and maximas). This means they should be kept in the rockwork. Derasas and squamosas shoul dbe kept n the sand/

Maxima's aren't actually rock borers but I have seen pic's of them embedded in Montipora's. It is the Crocea's that are rock borers and that is why we usually see them come in without scutes.