Clam Advice & Suggestions

[RobZilla04]

Looking to spruce up the bottom of my DT so I'm considering a clam. Understanding the differences they all seem to be tough to care for. Was thinking a blue Maxima, but I'd appreciate someone with experience lookihg at my stocking list for any potential problems before I purchase.

90g mixed reef. All parameters are within the ranges. Alk is 9.6, Cal 420, Mag 1300+-.

Blue leg hermit crabs.
Yellow tang.
Yellow eye tang.
Diamond goby.
Clown (2)
Cardinal (2)
Chromis (3)
Three stripe damsel B/W.
Red anthias.
Orchid dottyback.
Peppermint shrimp (2)
Fire shrimp.
Lawnmower blenny.

Lighting is Viparspectra LED.

 

[Cheapreef]

I'd watch the Blenny and Goby they have been known to nip and bother clams. As well the Pepperment shrimp can bother it.
T. Squamosa are the hardiest IMO, saying that my T. Noae has been awesome the last 1.5 years I've had him super fast grower.

 

[Uncle99]

I have almost same inhabitants as you....I have a blue maxima positioned near the top in a live rock.....been a year now and healthy......lots of light....lots of light....and phyto.....
Keep your water in check.....have fun

 

[Uncle99]

VISPARSPECTRA, great light, clams seems to love it, running 70, blue, 40 white.

 

[RobZilla04]

I have almost same inhabitants as you....I have a blue maxima positioned near the top in a live rock.....been a year now and healthy......lots of light....lots of light....and phyto.....
Keep your water in check.....have fun

Great thx. I went to the LFS this past weekend and they only had one, $135 ! Was about a softball size blue maxima. Ill check back in a few weeks to see if they have one about half the size and half the price.

 

[mcgyvr]

The price of clams is just crazy now IMO..
Been that way for a few years now..

I always just go with a Derasa as they do not really "attach" to the substrate like other clams can so it gives me the freedom to move,etc.. as needed and not be stuck working around them..

 

[RobZilla04]

The price of clams is just crazy now IMO..
Been that way for a few years now..

I always just go with a Derasa as they do not really "attach" to the substrate like other clams can so it gives me the freedom to move,etc.. as needed and not be stuck working around them..

Kinda stuck with choosing what the LFS has because I really don't know about online orders for such an expensive and sensitive piece of livestock. I'd try to place a small rock under any attaching clam this way it could be moved in the event it was needed.

Instead of a clam I picked up a nice acan frag. :thumbsup: That'll hold me over for now.

 

[mcgyvr]

I also have been wanting a clam lately too and the "local" stock is either overpriced or just not what I want..
I'm likely going to order from Live Aquaria/Divers Den (WYSIWYG) here in the near future..
I'm quite positive that I will be happy that I did that and am not worried a single bit about it..

 

[RobZilla04]

Live Aquaria / Divers Den would be my choice as well. Reputable and reasonable (based on reviews) yet I've never purchased livestock online.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I've bought way more through Diver's Den than I care to add up. Nothing but positive experiences, though others have certainly had problems (as will be the case with any vendor).

Clam prices have changed as the hobby has shifted from wild collected specimens to aquaculture. It is a bit crazy. A softball sized Maxima (with no special colors) would have been half that 6 or 8 years ago, now to be honest, I'd say that's a great price.

There are subtle differences in care requirements between species of clam but they're all pretty similar in that they're hard. It makes sense to go as big as you can afford, bigger specimens seem to be more tolerant and are more likely to be happy without supplemental feeding.

Make sure you read up on parasites and other common problems, clams come with their own unique issues (ie pinched mantle, pyramid snails, etc).

 

[RobZilla04]

I've bought way more through Diver's Den than I care to add up. Nothing but positive experiences, though others have certainly had problems (as will be the case with any vendor).

Clam prices have changed as the hobby has shifted from wild collected specimens to aquaculture. It is a bit crazy. A softball sized Maxima (with no special colors) would have been half that 6 or 8 years ago, now to be honest, I'd say that's a great price.

There are subtle differences in care requirements between species of clam but they're all pretty similar in that they're hard. It makes sense to go as big as you can afford, bigger specimens seem to be more tolerant and are more likely to be happy without supplemental feeding.

Make sure you read up on parasites and other common problems, clams come with their own unique issues (ie pinched mantle, pyramid snails, etc).

Over research and caution is the main reason I held off. Additionally the clam at the LFS was only about half open with no mantle exposed thus I felt it wasn't smart to purchase for that price. Now if it had appeared perfectly healthy and open I may have considered.

Also the acclimation process is a bit nerve racking.

 

[C.Eymann]

I'd stick with T. deresa or T. squamosa if its going to be on the sandbed.
Light availability aside, T. maxima, T. noae and T. crocea all do best on rock vs loose substrate.
deresas and squammies always seem to be more resilient overall, not as demanding lighting wise either.
Just my .02

 

[RobZilla04]

I'd stick with T. deresa or T. squamosa if its going to be on the sandbed.
Light availability aside, T. maxima, T. noae and T. crocea all do best on rock vs loose substrate.
deresas and squammies always seem to be more resilient overall, not as demanding lighting wise either.
Just my .02

Thanks! Looking for a hardy species for sure.

 

[Uncle99]

$135 bucks and that would be Those great US $.
And your in Florida? That's nuts.
In the North here....far far away.....a good clam size of softball would run you $50....so that like $36 US$.....and there is lots to chose from.....
Plus, I never pay the posted price.....our LFS post a price then will discount a bit if you ask. Remember it's quite expensive for them to keep live stock....a third of it dies....

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

If you've got $36 softball sized clams in Ontario, I'll be up shortly with a semi truck to buy them all and resell them down here at a several hundred percent markup...

 

[mcgyvr]

If you've got $36 softball sized clams in Ontario, I'll be up shortly with a semi truck to buy them all and resell them down here at a several hundred percent markup...

And I'll take what he doesn't pick up..

A few years ago maybe.. today.. skeptical..

 

[JTL]

And I'll take what he doesn't pick up..

A few years ago maybe.. today.. skeptical..

Count me in as well. Maybe we can do a group buy.

 

[Cheapreef]

$135 bucks and that would be Those great US $.
And your in Florida? That's nuts.
In the North here....far far away.....a good clam size of softball would run you $50....so that like $36 US$.....and there is lots to chose from.....
Plus, I never pay the posted price.....our LFS post a price then will discount a bit if you ask. Remember it's quite expensive for them to keep live stock....a third of it dies....

LOL must be a Eastern thing, in the West a Softball size clam is in the $160-400 range depending on what it might be. The Blue Sqamis are the higher priced ones.

 

[Uncle99]

In my pic...maybe to small...is a blue max...4 incher....great colour....posted $50....sold for $40.....the highest I ever seen was $79......come in in batches every few months...
You guys getting ripped.....for $150-180....can get 7-12 inch derosa but these little harder to find.

 

[RobZilla04]

I'd just like one. Okay maybe two. Then bulk sell to the rest of these guys. :thumbsup: