Best first clam?

[ivtec247]

Hi,

Am hoping to get some advice on the best clam for my tank.

46gal bow with a 3" sand bed. Tank is 5 mo old. Lighting is 2x175W 13K PFO MH w/ PC actinics. Water parameters are stable with good alk and ca.

I'd like to get a colorful specimen that I can leave on the sand bed (don't have any real shelves in the rockwork to keep the clam on) that won't get too big and outgrow the tank.

This will be my first clam.

Any suggestions?

 

[llamart]

Try a crocea, they stay small.

Before upgrading my lighting I had a 175w MH and the clam did well sitting on my sand bed.

http://members.cox.net/llamart/crocea.htm

 

[Typhon]

Well normally I would recommend a deresa for a first clam, but you want something that will stay small.

Deresa are hardy and will tolerance less than perfect water conditions. But if you want some thing to stay small then a Crocea is the way to go. But they are also probably the hardiest to keep. They required strong lighting. With 175w MH, keep a Crocea on the sand bed shouldn't be a problem. What is the depth of your tank??

 

[Tek]

I have a Deresa for my first clam and the guy is happy. He was yellow with purple edges and a month later now has blue edges after being under my 250w MH. Go with a Crocea as suggested since then stay smaller.

 

[SaltyDogg]

A Crocea isn't a good choice for a first clam......You all know that.

A Deresa or a Squamosa would be a better choice even tho they get bigger then a Crocea...At least you would have a better chance of keeping it alive and isn't that what its all about?

Just my 2 cents...........

 

[Typhon]

You are right.. Croceas are probably the most diffcult clam to keep. But it seem that he understood what it take to keep a clam. Also in a 46g a Deresa would out grow it pretty quickly.

Maybe a Squamosa would be better. They are very hardy and only get a little bigger than Maximas.

Also, I recommend anyone that is interested in purchasing a clam to read "Giant Clams" by Daniel Knop. Great book and will answer any question that you have about taking care of clams.

A Crocea isn't a good choice for a first clam......You all know that.

A Deresa or a Squamosa would be a better choice even tho they get bigger then a Crocea...At least you would have a better chance of keeping it alive and isn't that what its all about?

Just my 2 cents...........

 

[ivtec247]

how about a blue maxima?

 

[Typhon]

Maximas are probably just slightly easier than Croceas ,but not by much.

They both required excellent water quality, very strong lighting and low-medium current..

 

[SaltyDogg]

Maximas are probably just slightly easier than Croceas ,but not by much.

They both required excellent water quality, very strong lighting and low-medium current..

You got that right Typhon, maybe a Squamosa would be the best way to go.....

ivtec247, it would be a better experience all the way around for you if you got a clam that is easier to take care of....

Good luck with whatever you decide to get........

 

[SOMEthinsFISHY]

HEY doogg did ya order johns new big clam yet ??

 

[kayl]

I wanted to get a squamosa for my first clam, but i just don't have the space in my 29 gallon tank for it once it gets bigger...so I'm gonna try a crocea...i know it is tough, but I've been watching my CA levels for a while now, and am doing a good job keeping the CA up around 400. I'm looking @ a crocea from live aquaria right now, they're running a special on their super-colored ones...I plan on feeding Dt's daily, using a dish of some sort to cover the clam...maybe a pop bottle. I'm buying Daniel Knop's book this week as well...any more tips? Right now I keep my tank at 81 degrees...is this too high for a clam? All my corals seem to do fine (Xenia, Candy-Cane, Acro, Mushrooms)...
Thanks!

 

[SOMEthinsFISHY]

buy the smaller ones kay and when they get 2 big call me !!

 

[Bass Master]

As long as you maintain good water quality you can get what you want. The only thing that makes one harder than the other is lighting requirements imo.

 

[Tek]

As long as you maintain good water quality you can get what you want. The only thing that makes one harder than the other is lighting requirements imo.

agreed!

 

[Typhon]

Not just good water quality and lighting. Stability is a bigger issue for Croceas. Saq and Dersea can better handle changes in the environment such as small swings in pH, temp, Ca, salinty, etc..

I am not saying Saq and Dersea can handle constant changes ,but they are just little less sensitive.

As long as you maintain good water quality you can get what you want. The only thing that makes one harder than the other is lighting requirements imo.