Tahitian maximas, yes or no?

[flyingfish27]

I know I've seen this discussed before, but things can change pretty rapidly so... I was wondering about the survivability of Tahitian maximas. They are soooo attractive, but I have heard from friends with plenty of clam experience that they don't do well long-term for them. One fellow bought four at the same time, and only one has survived a year, though he has many other clams and has been keeping them for years.

Though I know they are generally "cultured", do they come from the wild first, especially the larger ones? I would welcome any thoughts and experiences on this. Thank you!

 

[skinz78]

I vote no on the big ones... which are wild collected.

Although I just "like a few min ago" saw that they are finally releasing farmed Maxima's. I'm gonna get me some and try them out.

 

[flyingfish27]

Did you SEE those things?! The new farmed ones?! :tongue: I'm drooling... I want them all!

My feeling was that the farmed ones were a better bet for survivability, plus I just like having captive raised creatures. I'm happy that it sounds like maybe you think the same way. Thanks for the help!

Kim H.

 

[skinz78]

Haha yes I have lol. I want them all!!!:tongue:

 

[FishLipz]

I lost three of the large wild ones but I'm with Skinz on the farmed ones. I may have to take the ride over the bridge and go cherry picking soon :xd:

 

[Justjim]

I bought a clam 3 years ago from him and it died within weeks. I couldn't resist the $99 our pick, so I tried my luck with one 2 years ago and still have it.

 

[skinz78]

I bought a clam 3 years ago from him and it died within weeks. I couldn't resist the $99 our pick, so I tried my luck with one 2 years ago and still have it.

Can you post some pic's and show it off?:bigsmile:

 

[Justjim]

Sure, had to wait for the lights.

 

[skinz78]

That's a beauty! Do you have a tank thread on R2R?

 

[flyingfish27]

Well! I hadn't seen this on their site before, if it was there, about this very subject. Very interesting stuff!
French Polynesian Maxima Clams


Kim H.

 

[Justjim]

That's a beauty! Do you have a tank thread on R2R?

Thanks! I joined r2r a few weeks back. I've been doing this for 10+years. I'll try to get a thread up in the next few. I have a 240g DT which at one time was considered huge, lol. I grow like crazy in my 75g frag tank to try to offset all my crazy purchases.

 

[Jay4Robin]

Jim i could not resist. I purchased a cultured clam today! I will set it in a small bowl of sand in my display. The BB will be tough for it.

 

[Justjim]

Jay, check out mike. He sells that real reef rock or whatever its called. I got a super thin piece from him I used for a shelf. You could lay that on the bottom instead of the cup. My non cultured clam is up high in my rock work.

 

[turbo21]

I just sold this one at the lear swap. he was about 7.5" I got him at the begining of february last year. so a little over a year and no issues still growing strong
not the best pic, but man was this thing neon blue looking through the glass

 

[flyingfish27]

What a beauty!

Kim H.

 

[Jay4Robin]

Jay, check out mike. He sells that real reef rock or whatever its called. I got a super thin piece from him I used for a shelf. You could lay that on the bottom instead of the cup. My non cultured clam is up high in my rock work.

I visited Mike today and he made me a custom rock for it to sit on.

 

[Justjim]

I visited Mike today and he made me a custom rock for it to sit on.

He cut one for me. I was worried he was gonna wear out that blade, lol.

 

[ihigh]

I need to get a maxima, is it just me or their colors are better than crocea most of the time?

 

[skinz78]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Yes you are correct, the Maxima colors are way more pronounced and vibrant than the colors of Crocea's.

 

[ihigh]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Yes you are correct, the Maxima colors are way more pronounced and vibrant than the colors of Crocea's.

I mean the crocea I have (got for free) is black mantle with a really bright blue rim and patterns, but they are not even close to some of those ultra maximas I see.

I know some places LFS around new orleans that sells nice maximas that are 1.5-2inches, relatively small, but what should I do to optimize their survivability? I hear different stories from spot feeding to just light. curious is all.