Big or little clam? (first purchase)

[highlands]

I have a confession to make, yes, I am a closet clam coveter...

I have wanted to get a Tridacnid clam for years (perhaps decades even) but have put it off for fear of killing the beast. I am finally going to make the plunge. I have Knopp's book (very heavily reread). One question in my mind is should I go with several smaller clams (e.g., 1", 2", etc) or one larger clam to start with. What is the survival rate of small clams?

I'm leaning toward Maxima or Crocea. Opinions of which to get for an experienced reefer but one new to clams?

This will go into a very well established DSB skimmed 55 gallon tank (35 gallons of water due to LR & LS bed) with corals (sps mostly), two small fish (A. oscellaris) and a refugium. Lighting is 220 watts of VHO for about 6 watts/gallon.

I haven't finalized on a vendor so any suggestions are appreciated as well.

Cheers,

-Walter
in Vermont

 

[Julio]

in your case i would recomend a maxima of about 3-4".

 

[highlands]

Sounds like a nice size. What reasons?

 

[Julio]

at that size they usually well establish with their Zooantheallae and will not require as much food and care as a younger clam would.

 

[lunkerbunker]

Young clams are difficult especially if its your started clam. 3-4" is perfect because you won't have to target feed them.

 

[B Pierce]

Young clams are also more dependent on phyto then larger clams. Younger clams are also easier victums form hitchhiker crabs ect then the larger ones.

Bill

 

[highlands]

Thanks, that is the sort of thing I need to hear. I knew that they tended to do feedings of very small clams and would like to avoid that. I stir up my tank which provides stuff for filter feeders but don't know if that would do for the clams.

Any suggestions on your favorite vendors for clams? I'm in Vermont if that makes any difference at all.

 

[B Pierce]

www.clamsdirect.com :thumbsup:

 

[cristhiam]

My first clam was a maxima about 1 to 1.5", 8 months later still with me is about 2+ inches. I've been using kents phyto, I just feed the tank. I'm addicted to clams now I have a crocea and a gigas.

 

[mbbuna]

if u get a clam u wont be able to stir ur sand,it will clog there gills and kill it

 

[killereef]

get the 3-4 inches, so you do not have to spot feed them.

 

[DavidG1966]

clams cant expell sand? doesnt sand get stirred up naturally in the ocean?

 

[Snarkys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=5277546#post5277546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DavidG1966
clams cant expell sand? doesnt sand get stirred up naturally in the ocean?

lol good point

 

[vthondaboi]

if you get a maxima stay away from the bright ones as they may require more light than say a gold