Buying small clams

[Reef Newb11]

Hi, I was just wondering if there are any issues as to why you should not buy a small size clam? like 1 to 2 inches. Do they not survive as long in tanks? higher mortality rate? require additional anything? Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Fishymurray]

Small maximas and croceas do fine between 1/2" to 2".
-less stress at smaller sizes
T. squamosa between 2" to 4".
And T. gigas and derasa 3" to 6".
-tend to ship better
As for small sizes in the tank, they should be fine, but some people supplement them with Phytoplankton.
I bought a 2" maxima and 2 1/2" squamosa, from ORA, and they are doing great.

 

[Reef Newb11]

Great thank you, I had seen that some people supplement with phytoplankton and was wondering if it was soley due to the size of the clam or not.

I have a 3 1/2 crocea, and I was looking to get another, but the majority of what I have found locally have been very small, 1 to 2 inches. Thank you for the information.

 

[IslandCrow]

Adding some phytoplankton to the tank certainly doesn't hurt, but research has shown that small clams have no more need for phytoplankton than larger clams. I believe it was the Fitt & Trench experiment where they put squamosa sperm and egg in sterile seawater for 10 months, and they grew, showing their zooxanthallae were providing them with sufficient nutrients for growth. Your tank will have plenty of other types of plankton, so they'll be just fine without supplemental feeding.

The biggest problem I've heard with smaller clams is survivability during shipping. It does seem that they're coming in smaller and smaller these days. For aquacultured clams, the earlier they can get them out of the grow out tanks and sell them to fish stores, the more money they make. Croceas only grow to 5 or so inches anyway, so I'd have no problem buying a 1" clam if it looked healthy.