clam selection (im a clam newb)
- Thread starter MattG
- Start date
lebowski
Notorious Reeferus
First off, do you have the right requirements for a clam? ( Sorry, you may or may not, I have no idea!)...
Lighting, water quality, some form of calcium supplementation to the tank, blah blah...
When looking for a healthy clam, make sure it's mantle ( the colorful part ) is extended completely, not retracted in any areas.. Make sure there are no ripples or what would look like bite marks on the edges of the mantle.. When a clam is gaping, the intake siphon ( large hole ) is open completely you can tell.. Maxima's usually have it almost completely closed or opened just a tad bit.. If the hole is very large and open, if it looks like it's yawning to you, then it's more than likely gaping..
Also, look for good coloration of the mantle, good reflexes ( meaning that if you swing your hand over the tank or touch it, move your hand by it the mantle retracts...look under the mantle, top of the shell and check to see if there are any white cone looking snails.. ( parasitic snails you explained )..
You'll be fine... I'd buy from clamsdirect.com if you could.. Barry has the nicest healthiest clams I've ever seen.
Lighting, water quality, some form of calcium supplementation to the tank, blah blah...
When looking for a healthy clam, make sure it's mantle ( the colorful part ) is extended completely, not retracted in any areas.. Make sure there are no ripples or what would look like bite marks on the edges of the mantle.. When a clam is gaping, the intake siphon ( large hole ) is open completely you can tell.. Maxima's usually have it almost completely closed or opened just a tad bit.. If the hole is very large and open, if it looks like it's yawning to you, then it's more than likely gaping..
Also, look for good coloration of the mantle, good reflexes ( meaning that if you swing your hand over the tank or touch it, move your hand by it the mantle retracts...look under the mantle, top of the shell and check to see if there are any white cone looking snails.. ( parasitic snails you explained )..
You'll be fine... I'd buy from clamsdirect.com if you could.. Barry has the nicest healthiest clams I've ever seen.
MattG
Premium Member
thank you for the reply.
i have 2 175 10kab halides and 440 vho actinic. i plan on placing the clam probably midway up the rockwork. i also have a calcium reactor for supplimentaion. the tank has been setup for maybe 6 months. it was setup a year before that (i moved). water quality is great.
thanks again for the reply
i have 2 175 10kab halides and 440 vho actinic. i plan on placing the clam probably midway up the rockwork. i also have a calcium reactor for supplimentaion. the tank has been setup for maybe 6 months. it was setup a year before that (i moved). water quality is great.
thanks again for the reply
Diehl
New member
thebigmg said:
HI partner
I also have a 90gal. Reef with SPS, LPS and softies. And I have a 4 inch Blue Maxima Clam which is very healthy and colorful. My lighting is Duel 175 watt Ushio 10K MH's and Duel 110 watt VHO actinics. You will get some people on here that will tell you 250-400 watt MH's are the only way to keep clams but there wrong in my opinion and Barry from Clams direct also said the 175watts are fine as long as the clam is not to far from the light. If you want the best and healthiest clam with no fear of snails then buy from Clams Direct, he QT all of his clams before selling. Check out his web site. Oh by the way make sure all your parameters are perfect like Calcium and ALK. I did'nt add mine till my tank was 6 months old. Let us know what you decide Check out my clam in my gallary
http://www.clamsdirect.com/
