mikesommers
Premium Member
I am getting ready to add a Blue Maxima Clam and was wondering if anyone had any input on them! Would like to learn as much as possible about them before I buy one.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Clams????
- Thread starter mikesommers
- Start date
kar93
Active member
Alot of people will say clams under 2" need to be target fed plankton but this is not true, clams dont really need to be fed at all however i do think they benefit from phytoplankton being in the water. The mantle should be facing directly upwards towards light. They are generally a easy to keep clam if kept in the right conditions IMO. Just keep up regular maintanence and good water quality.
mikesommers
Premium Member
Cool! Thanks man!
seapug
Premium Member
Yeah, the tiny maximas have a bad survival record. Like Potsy said, look for one over 2 inches long for the best chances of survival. Make sure it has the mantle fully extended with no"out of place" looking pale spots and the mantle has smooth edges all the way around. Try not to expose it to air when you put in your tank and place it on a level, flat rock in strong light and gentle currents with the byssal opening (the foot part) down. Make sure it's somewhere it can't be knocked off and fall into the rockwork before it attaches.
Also check the shell for pyram snails and remove them with a toothbrush or tweezers. They will look like little grains of rice.
Also check the shell for pyram snails and remove them with a toothbrush or tweezers. They will look like little grains of rice.
mikesommers
Premium Member
Ok. Cool It sounds like they are pretty easy to take care of then. Any thing they are sensitive to?
When you take it home, inspect the base of the clam and between its grooves for sesame seed sized white snails. They are parasitic and can eventually kill a clam in large numbers. They are called pyramellid snails in case you want to google image search them. Place it high on the rock work and avoid fiddling with it - just let it attach. If the clam knocks itself over repeatedly, just move it to another flat spot Avoid direct blasts of current.
mikesommers
Premium Member
Mantle being the shell? Dont mean to sound dumb just never have had any clams.
Thank you!
mikesommers
Premium Member
Thank you I will do that.:thumbsup:
macreefster
New member
i've always had a lot of clams in my tanks and i love them. the small maxima's can be difficult at first, unfortunatly finding any over a couple of inches isn't easy. a lot of light and good water quality and they are quite happy...i'll refrain from saying happy as clams...oh wait, i just did..lol. you might want to try a crocea for your first clam, they seem much easier as the little maxima's can have a high mortality until they get past that first month in a tank. good luck!
boomsticks
New member
Yeah go with a Crocea, they stay small-ish I have one that I just got from my LFS because Tom (owner) felt bad I had my wisdom tooth yanked and gave me a choice of three! Mine is about 3" across. I have a 30 gal with 150 watt MH 14K and it loves it.
ReefTECK
New member
It really depends on what type of clam you get as far as survivability and concerns go when placing or acquiring a clam. A T. derasea adapts quite well underneath relatively low levels of light, as they are commonly found at depths of up to 20m.
Maxximas, and croeceas are rarely found beneath 9-14m depth, indicating that their nautural lighting conditions in the wild are quite intense, and in fact these clams have poor survivability if they are subjected to inadequate lighting. It would be advisable to put one of these types of clams on a rock, hoisted higher towards your 175watt MH.
If their lighting needs are met, clams can produce (or rather their zooxanthellae can produce) up to 195% of their metabolic needs! They of course filter feed all day on naturally occurring plankton in the tank, and I suppose it doesn't hurt to feed some phyto or oyster eggs every once in a while.
And as far as survivability goes, clams are relatively hardy as long as their environmental criteria are met, so I wouldn't worry too much about getting one "at least 4 inches" But don't get a ridiculously tiny one. 2-3" is fine.
croeceas and maxximas have especially sensitive photo sensors "eyes" on their mantles, and will usually be quite responsive to shadow over head, dereasas, not so much so.
happy clamming!
ltz,
andy
Maxximas, and croeceas are rarely found beneath 9-14m depth, indicating that their nautural lighting conditions in the wild are quite intense, and in fact these clams have poor survivability if they are subjected to inadequate lighting. It would be advisable to put one of these types of clams on a rock, hoisted higher towards your 175watt MH.
If their lighting needs are met, clams can produce (or rather their zooxanthellae can produce) up to 195% of their metabolic needs! They of course filter feed all day on naturally occurring plankton in the tank, and I suppose it doesn't hurt to feed some phyto or oyster eggs every once in a while.
And as far as survivability goes, clams are relatively hardy as long as their environmental criteria are met, so I wouldn't worry too much about getting one "at least 4 inches" But don't get a ridiculously tiny one. 2-3" is fine.
croeceas and maxximas have especially sensitive photo sensors "eyes" on their mantles, and will usually be quite responsive to shadow over head, dereasas, not so much so.
happy clamming!
ltz,
andy
ReefTECK
New member
croeceas, and i think maxximas...maybe not but definitely croeceas, should not be kept on the sand. Their bysus secretes a chemical that dissolves rock beneath them, and overtime they will seat a little 1-2" indentation into the rock where they settle in nicely. And sand irritates them.
fuschia_red
In Memoriam
Mac's right about this. I have two croceas and a derasa and all 3 are practically indestructable. Well, that's not true but I have had my 3 for what feels like...forever. With your normal maintenance, clams (even maximas) should do fine in your tank. However, clams < 2" in size SHOULD be avoided; aquacultures keep sending these little guys out and they don't do well.
What I once did in the past was weigh the pros and cons to keeping clams. They are beautiful; they do control nitrates and ammonia (to an extent); hardy and are somewhat easy to care for. However, they do take up a considerable amount of space over time (since they grow quite rapidly depending upon which one you want); sometimes they can even be difficult to remove (especially if they're croceas since they attach themselves to the rock; if that's where you put them). If you keep ALOT of clams?! You can see your calcium level drop considerably which may not be good if you also keep SPS corals. But frequent water changes will help especially with a good quality salt mix.
Of course, drip kalk/calc. reactors do help to rectify that as well but should not be an excuse to avoid performing water changes. But don't let these pros/cons discourage you. I love clams and a lot of people do...especially at a good restaurant with the right kind of sauce...hahaha. Just kidding. Clams are beautifully colourful and under good conditions, they are easy to care for.
Good luck.
What I once did in the past was weigh the pros and cons to keeping clams. They are beautiful; they do control nitrates and ammonia (to an extent); hardy and are somewhat easy to care for. However, they do take up a considerable amount of space over time (since they grow quite rapidly depending upon which one you want); sometimes they can even be difficult to remove (especially if they're croceas since they attach themselves to the rock; if that's where you put them). If you keep ALOT of clams?! You can see your calcium level drop considerably which may not be good if you also keep SPS corals. But frequent water changes will help especially with a good quality salt mix.
Of course, drip kalk/calc. reactors do help to rectify that as well but should not be an excuse to avoid performing water changes. But don't let these pros/cons discourage you. I love clams and a lot of people do...especially at a good restaurant with the right kind of sauce...hahaha. Just kidding. Clams are beautifully colourful and under good conditions, they are easy to care for.
Good luck.
ConsultantERP
New member
I have read (and experienced) that clams are a little sensative to PH swings. Try to keep Alk, Ca, and PH fairly steady along with a good aclimation procedure and you should have good luck with any clam you keep.
mikesommers
Premium Member
So should I drip aclimate the clam. If so how long maby an hour or so. As far as light goes I have 570 watts total.
