Anyone know anything about Derasa Clams?

[moongoddesss007]

My LFS is selling Derasa Clams and they are absolutely stunning with irridescent blues and greens. I would love to have one, but I am questioning their lighting needs. I know they prefer metal halides but I have two 36 watt 10000k lights and two 420 actinic lights (basically two sets of T5 compacts). Does anyone know if this would provide enough light? Also, what other needs does it have? Thanks for any info!

 

[xtrstangx]

On a 29g, you have 72w of 10K and 72w of actinic?

IMO, you may get by with those lights, but you are really better off to wait till you either get a few more T5's or upgrade to a MH setup.

They need a stable tank (stable temp and salinity). They have a high calcium and alkalinity demand as well.

 

[Markk96]

[moved]

 

[Ironman]

Mine has grown so much since I first got it. It doubled in size in about three months. They can grow very large from 24 to 30 inches.
Here's a pic of mine when I first got it, I like to show it off lol

Cheers

 

[mbbuna]

Derasa' as with all other clams have a high lighting need.But Derasa' can tolerate a little less light then say T.Maxima or T.Squamosa. the lighting you have may be good enough for a Derasa but you need to make sure that your Ca/Alk and Sg. are high and very stable. a smaller water volume can shift faster and cause problems for clams.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I think the derasa would easily bust your 29gallon at the seams too quickly.

 

[marine134]

derasa clam can grow like 1/2-3/4 inch a month

 

[masterqaz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7712094#post7712094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
Derasa' as with all other clams have a high lighting need.But Derasa' can tolerate a little less light then say T.Maxima or T.Squamosa.

You sure you dont mean crocea and maxima.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7733652#post7733652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masterqaz
You sure you dont mean crocea and maxima.

no. i meant what i said. Croceas are on a level all there own as far as lighting is concerned.

there are no "low light clams". all the clams we keep are found in relatively shallow water and prefer intense lighting.

the amount of light that they can tolerate (or lack of) comes in to play with the heterotrophic ability of the individual clam species.
the larger clams(Gigas, Derasa and i'll through Hippopus in here too) have a higher heterotrophic ability.