Clammy Questions

Jacuzzi

Jacuzzi

New member
So I my gf decided that my reef tank which is starting to flourish, that she wanted a clam to make it interesting. So I am going to my lfs which is holding one 2.5 inch across Maxima and a inch 3.5 across gold crocea, both close in price. I have 2 x 150 watt halides and 4 x 39 watt t5's over my 40 breeder. I have very little sand bed room but I was thinking of putting it up on one of my rocks. Questions are Which clam would you pick? How fast do they attach? Do they move around and hurt corals? Flow? and do they need to be fed? Thanks all
 
My clams attached within a couple of days. I can't be sure exactly but it was quick. If they like where they are they will plant it there. IMHO and from all the reading you don't need to feed clams. As long as they have sufficient lighting they will be fine. I never feed mine. They have been thriving for years. I do feed my tanks heavily. I am sure they get food out of the water column.

They require good indirect flow. If you put a powerhead directed on them they will most likely close up some if not totally.
 
head on down to the clam section and ask there is my advice. Take this bit as second hand knowledge but I do know the smaller "baby" clams actually do need to be fed until a certain size but since I don't keep them please check with the experts before taking that bit as gospel.
 
I don't know everything that is for sure. I do know what I have done in the past 15 yrs or so in the hobby. I also read a lot. Although hands on experience and trial and error go a long way. I currently keep 4 clams. I won't get into specifics. Two of them I got at 2" - 2 1/2". I never ever have fed them. Maybe I am just lucky. I never lost a clam.

Here is something from the clam section
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17821985#post17821985

Maybe you should read this and decide for yourself.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/7/inverts
 
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I have 3 clams and one is a year old. Never feed them but I have 640 watts of light. One Crocea is on a rock, the other on the sand, and derasa is on the sand too. The ones on the sand rotate to a comfortable position which is not necessarily the ideal viewing position.
 
Clams do not need to be fed at all if you have fish.
Clams attach to rocks very quickly <1 day IME.
Clams do not hurt anything in the tank at all.
Either clam will be fine and you have plenty of light.
Both of those clams prefer to be in the rock work anyways.
Just be sure you do not have any fish that will eat them angels are notorious for this. Also watch your calcium and alk they use it up fast. Also if you can not decide get both. They will get about 8-12" so make sure you leave them room.
 
So I do have a Coral Beauty that has done well in the tank so far. So should I not get the clam or should I test it out to see if he nips at it ?
 
Pygmy angels are typically not a problem with a clam. I have 3 clams and a flame angel, the flame nips on SPS, but leaves the clams alone. Watch out for blennies!
 
It depends on the blennies. I have 3 clams in my 240 with a Mozambique Blenny and a Yellowtail Blenny and neither of them have ever touched any of my clams.

Feeding is completely unnecessary for any clams that we would buy as hobbyists. The clam farmers do feed them to raise them. But they typically do not have fish with them either.
 
I love clams! Make sure your current livestock is invert-safe and not known to nip on clams. Crocea clams require more intense light, while maximas not as intense, but still high. Deresa clams are more hardy and tolerant of lighting conditions, and squamosa clams even more tolerant. I would start off with deresa or squamosa clams if possible, and in a size of 3" or more (so that they're less dependent on targeted phyto feedings).
 
I've had problems with a lawnmower blenny, I had to remove him from the tank. The clam stopped opening up because of the constant nipping.
 
None of my fish have ever nipped on clams...but there were other hilarious issues. The amazing thing is the clams became accustomed to this. I miss that tank.

click for larger image

Clarkii liked to call one home.


Sarge used it as a lounger.
 
I believe, IMHO, that if some of the notorious fish out there that have made a meal of clam mantles may not do so if they were fed more. If they are not fed enough then they may look other places to supplement their diet. That is unless it was a part of their normal diet in the wild.

All fish are different. I have the same species of fish in three different tanks and they won't all eat the same food. It is like having children that won't eat their peas or something. One fish likes this and the other likes that.
 
Questions are Which clam would you pick? I would pick the prettiest one How fast do they attach? quickly Do they move around and hurt corals? no Flow? medium and do they need to be fed? not at the sizes you are mentioning Thanks all
you're welcome

Also would never suggest buying more than one of anything that you have not kept in the past (I understand this was not your intent, but another post suggested you potentially get both). It is always best in my opinion to start with one to see how it goes.

If you had any known clam eating fish or inverts I would say it was not a good idea....but those that are questionable...well you never can tell...and therefore it becomes a personal decision how you want to proceed.
 
My coral beauty picked at my Deresa clam so much I had to move the clam to my frag tank. By the way I don't feed my clam either.
 
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