White spots on maxima
- Thread starter Dave-T
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Dave-T
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Both pictures are actually the same clam. It’s about 5 inches, I got him from an LFS last weekend. I have him under about 150 PAR, not sure what it was at the LFS. He’s had the white spots since I got him. It’s my first clam so I’m not sure what to look for. Could it be part of his normal pattern? He does retract quickly if you throw a shadow over him.
He isnt over extending for light. Small clams can benefit from phyto but your doesnt look that small. Has it attached to the rubble he is on? Just ensure water quality is good, its getting light, and its happy in the location. The possible bleaching could have happened at the store.
Typically you want to keep clams at higher par. People do have success at 150 par and you do want to acclimate them to light. The mantle isnt overextended-see below
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Mantle hyperextension
When clams, especially the species that require high light, do not get the light they needed, they hyperextended their mantle to collect more photons. Here are examples of hyperextensions. the two Noae I got from a dealer did not get adequate light. Picture from the dealer show a lot of...
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I have had a small maxima that is growing well and is probably under 200 par. They do say the are more light dependent as the grow and i feed my tank phyto. Like is said above, see if it is attached.
Let's get some experts opinions on here as well. Maxima are typically thriving at 300+ par in the rocks. They also are grown in very shallow water.
Let's get some experts opinions on here as well. Maxima are typically thriving at 300+ par in the rocks. They also are grown in very shallow water.
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Dave-T
Well-Known Member
He’s in my frag tank, I can give him higher PAR when I move him into the display. I’m check if he attaches to the rubble. I was hoping he would, that would give me something to glue to the rocks in my scape. What causes bleaching in clams?
minus9
5000 Club Member
It's lost zooxanthellae in those areas from low light. 150 micromoles is really low for maximas. You need more light, as these are signs that zooxanthellae are dying or left those areas of the mantle. It's hard to judge size in your pics, but I'm guessing wild caught if it's over 4", which tend to be a little harder to keep. You should be striving for 350+ micromoles for at least 8hrs a day with full spectrum lighting, not just heavy blues.
While you're at it, buy James Fatherree's new book on clams, it's $36 on Amazon.
Also, check to see if there's new growth at the upper margins of the shell right under the mantle.
While you're at it, buy James Fatherree's new book on clams, it's $36 on Amazon.
Also, check to see if there's new growth at the upper margins of the shell right under the mantle.
Dave-T
Well-Known Member
Like I said, he had those white spots when I got him, so it isn’t due to the amount of light I’m giving him. I have him at about 200 par now. But 350 par, really? Do people do that? Doesn’t everyone keep maximas on their sandbed?
Mr. Mojo Rising
7500 Club Member
yes, highest PAR possible. There are studies showing they can accept over 1000 PAR.
No, maxima's don't belong on the sandbed, they are rock boring clams.
Dave-T
Well-Known Member
Yes, I know they are rock boring, but I thought most people kept them on a rock sitting down on their sandbed. No? I could move him up, but I’d be concerned about how he fit in the rockscape as he grew.
I think those are gold spots on a green clam. Normal coloration of your clam, in the usual spots. They do need to have more light. PAR at 150 is really too low. Where it is in a tank, is not an issue as long as the clam get enough light. I keep them on the sand, on the rock and on other table SPS corals. Very natural looking and beautiful top down. I like them low in the tank. They look better for mainly front of tank viewing low, and front of the reef tank.
Bruce Burnett
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Get the book as suggested off Amazon. If you don’t have enough par it will slowly die. I have a derasa easier to keep and it is getting close to 300 par. Maxima require a lot of light. They grow in shallow water, even some times exposed to air at low tide. That should give you an idea of how much light.
These are gold color spots on mostly blue clam. More prominent than your clam's but from what I see of your clam, it is basically the same but less clearly seen. This is a picture of Dr. Mac's clam (PEA), not mine.
I have not really measure it currently, but it is right under two Radion side by side (G5 pro) at max intensity 11 hrs a day with ramp up 1/2 hr and wind down 1/2 hr. The lights are 6 inches above the water and the clams are about 12 inches under the water surface.
