Clam Care Info Needed

[CoralsAddiction]

I am thinking about getting a clam. Based on appearance, price and availability a Maxima clam would be my first choice. However, I've been told Maxima clams do not do well long term no matter how clean the water is or how strong the light is.
My second choice would be a Squamosa and third would be Derasa clam.
Any information on their care would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KWoo008]

I hear that Derasas are probably the easiest, but Squamosas are my favorite. You may want to check out the clam forum here in RC... http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=41

 

[m0nkie]

I have several maxi. I dont think they are hard to keep. They just need strong lighting. My maxi is sitting 2-3 inches below water surface. Kessil 360we at about 60%, 8 inches above water. I tried a few lower spots under kessil, all died after a few months. My current ones have been with me for a year now. Grew twice the size

Once acclimated, these guys are very hardy. They even get exposed to air during water changes. Tolerate paremeter swings a lot better than my corals and anemone.

Gfo particles will kill them if released into tank. So be careful switching gfo. I lost 3 overnight after a gfo mistake.

Jayson @ ellis has the cheapest maxi clam i've seen.

My tank is not "clean".. 15 nitrate with vinegar dosing, 0 - 0.2 phosphate..

 

[CoralsAddiction]

My current ones have been with me for a year now. Grew twice the size

This is encouraging to hear. Thanks.

 

[eelk]

In my personal experience, my maxis have been very easy to care for! I've had a few ( in my sand bed) for several years (5+) now. I have em under 250 wt radiums. They don't get any special care.... Just lighting and whatever they filter out of the water.

 

[Barney97]

I got a Derasa(?) clam about 5 months ago. It is on the bottom under LET's and it has grown a bit. The white part of the shell is the growth since it has been in my tank and I have done nothing special for it

 

[Barney97]

Dont remember how to make the image smaller, sorry

 

[badbreath]

Are bristleworms a problem for clams?

 

[Reefer54]

not if the clam is healthy.

on a segue, Bristle worms are not a problem in general....they look nasty, and they can stick your fingers if you dont wear gloves, but why they get such a bad rap i will never know. they eat waste!!! that is good for us.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I got a Derasa(?) clam about 5 months ago.

Nice one.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

What type of a clam prefers or is at least more tolerant of high-medium/high flow?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Here's my new addition: 5.5" Maxima clam. It's acclimating to new light and flow. Thanks everyone for your input and participation.

 

[eelk]

Beautiful!
Awesome color.
Enjoy!

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Beautiful!
Awesome color.
Enjoy!

Thank you.

 

[Barney97]

Awesome

 

[Bman562]

Thanks to this thread, i might pull the trigger on a clam soon...

Congrats OP, clam looks great!

 

[m0nkie]

Congrats! A bit late but ellis is having maxi clam sale

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Thanks everyone. The clam is doing great and prefers strong light like my Gigantea carpet anemone.

 

[organism]

On a side note I used to keep clams until a 4" crocea spawned in my tank, it turned the water in a 40 gallon tank white and almost nuked everything from the nutrient overload. After that no more clams in my tank...