Clam ID; I've searched but...

[sdr209]

Could not find and was not sure what to call this species I got, can you gurus help me out!

And I have another on the left side, I think its a maxima, can you confirm?

tank you!

 

[chewie]

Both are T. Crocea.

Both are beauties, but the first one is:thumbsup:

 

[Scuba Dog]

Yep I 2nd that , nice find!

 

[Vili_Shark]

They looks like croceas.
But if you wanna be sure you have to look at the shell.

 

[Peabody]

One more confirmation.....both croceas 100%

 

[sdr209]

Thanks for the input, can someone give me a little explanation on how you can tell

 

[smokinreefer]

when you become a clam junkie, you can just tell.

for a positive ID, you can tell by the shape of the shell.

but generally you can tell just by looking at the mantle.

i recommend "giant clams" by d.knopp, excellent book for the clam enthusianst.

 

[Pineapple House]

I highly recommend you take a look at the following site:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/jf/feature/index.htm

Graham

 

[eddi]

I think the one on the left is a Crocea while the one on the right is a Maxima. The shape of the mantle is what makes me lean toward Maxima.


Eddi

 

[mantisshrimp]

BOth Croceas 100 percent

 

[sdr209]

Thanks for the replies, I'm still researching now that I have a different lead here.

 

[OrionN]

Both are Croceas. 100% certain. I agree that once you look at enough clams, you can tell most of the time. There are cases where I cannot tell unless I look at the clam in person, or a picture of the byssal openning. These two clams are clearly, without a doubt, Croceas.

 

[sdr209]

So I think I have been persuaded to believe that these are croceas. So one other question before we close this up is; are croceas the more common ones, and what are the so called exotics types? Thanks!

 

[Project Reef]

when you become a clam junkie, you can just tell.

This is very true. And yes, they are both croceas.

 

[dvmsn]

You have to look at the shell to determine the species. You might be able to look at the mantle and say 99.9% but not 100%, (between Maxima and Crocea )

 

[sdr209]

Thanks, anyone have any feedback on the question I posed two posts up?

 

[Project Reef]

I've never had to deal with the whole shell-examining thing in order to properly I.D. a clam. Going by the coloration of the mantle, folds of the mantle, pattern of the mantle, texture of the mantle, 'shineyness' of the mantle is for me the easiest way to tell. When you've seen thousands of clams in person it just sort of becomes second nature.

 

[sdr209]

Excuse, don't mean to interupt but, would you happen to have any information on what posted earlier?

 

[Project Reef]

So one other question before we close this up is; are croceas the more common ones, and what are the so called exotics types? Thanks!

Sorry didn't see your question. Croceas are definitely the most common wild caught clam in the hobby. However, their abundance does not make them any less beautiful. The turquoise crocea you have is a top notch specimen, the darker blue one is more of a standard grade crocea, none-the-less a cool animal.

 

[OrionN]

...and what are the so called exotics types? Thanks!

Crocea are the most colorful and the smallest of the Giant clams. The hardest to find in the hoby is T. gigas. Gigas grow very fast and not very colorful at all. Most farm raise gigas end up as food and does not get the the aquarium because the demand is not there. I have all five tridactna species. Look at my tank, and you will see a T. gigas there.
Minh