Big Squamosa wont close

[Chrismo]

I have an 18" Squamosa which I've had for a few years now. 4 years? He seems to be doing well, (not gaping, mantle nicely extended), but if I touch him, he never closes completely. When I first bought him, he did. But now It's like he has too much fat in him to close. Is this normal in a big clam or is it something I should worry about? I noticed it a year ago, and so I tested him a few times since then.

He never closes. He doesnt even come close. His mantle retracts and he closes a bit but there is a good 2 inches of his "belly" showing.

What does this mean?
Thanks,
Chris

 

[mbbuna]

its completely normal, now stop testing it and enjoy

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

my maxima clam does the same thing, it will react very fast but won't close all the way.

BTW do you have a full tank shot. :d

 

[Chrismo]

Thats normal eh? Good to hear but strange - Seems like an easy meal for a hungry fish.

Here is a full tank shot from a few years ago - kau_cinta_ku. It's not much bigger It's a 150g tank.

There is a video of it on my reefvideos website, but I'm not sure if I can put links?

Chris

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

wow that is a beautiful tank.

I don't think it is a prob. posting websites to videos unless your selling something on it.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12535571#post12535571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrismo
Thats normal eh? Good to hear but strange - Seems like an easy meal for a hungry fish.

yes its normal, when clams get as large as the one you have they can't just clamp shut, when they close they have to expel a lot of water. not easy to get rid of one or two gallons of water very quickly

gorgeous tank BTW, more pics please

 

[Stoneyscoral]

I had two 14" Gigas that hardly noticed if I touched em. It was difficult to get any significant response at all.

They were both rockin to, 1/2" of razor sharp growth in one month!

 

[cweber]

Very beautiful tank!!! Love the clam btw.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

warning

warning

Halichoeres chloropterus is known to attack clams when mature

 

[Chrismo]

Re: warning

Re: warning

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12541034#post12541034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
Halichoeres chloropterus is known to attack clams when mature

Thanks for the heads up. So far he is a model citizen and hasn't nipped either of my clams. But then again he seems to have just reached his full size, so maybe isn't fully mature? ( He still laughs at fart jokes ). How common is it for them to attack clams?

He ate all my flattworms for me, so I owe him the benefit of the doubt.

Chris

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

H. chloropterus eats hard-shelled prey (including mollusks, crustaceans and sea urchins) in the wild. Every large specimen that I know of in captivity has attacked Tridacna.

 

[Chrismo]

Wow. Good to know, but he will be impossible to catch!
Thanks for the info Gary

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

you're welcome.
I hope it behaves for you. Very nice aquarium BTW.

 

[lawboy888]

i have the same damn green wrasse...it did killed several of my clams, but they were small. i am keeping an eye on him with my 8 inch max...so far so good. i just cant catch him