Considering a clam

aquadonkey

aquadonkey

New member
Any words of advice or experience from clam owners? I want a crocea - so that it doesn't out-grow my 29g DT, but I also realize that this type needs the most light.
I have 4x24W T5 lighting, and the spot I have in mind is about 12 inches below the lights (10 in. of water, and the fixture is 2 in. above the tank). The tank has been up for 5 months now and my parameters are stable. When is it safe to get one? Will it be able to thrive in this environment? I have read a lot of conflicting threads about keeping clams under T5 lighting vs. MH.
Any personal experience would be helpful!
Lizz
 
I just checked out jdoe's clam - didn't someone identify it as derasa? In which case it would quickly out-grow my tank and I would be heartbroken having to re-home him.
 
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What ever clam you decide to get I would purchase it locally. One thing to be aware of, when looking at clams thru the side of the tank (which most of us do) they look completely different than they do from a top-down shot. All the online shots are top-downs (which is of course the best view for coloring). So, you never know what they will really look like from a normal viewing position. Unless of course you always look into your tank from the top. :D
 
clams grow slowly but surely... it will take years for it to outgrow your tank. most of the clams on the market are actually considered a type of crocea (its a very broad type of clam). IMO i would put it as close to your lights as possible, i had a derasa on my sand bed in my 55 with 4 54 watt bulbs, which i think is 20ish inches tall, with my lights about 3 inches above that, and it eventually kicked the bucket...prob due to low light it turned a tad brown beforehand.. slow and painful death...to the wallet.
 
Another thing to consider is even though the tank is cycled and holding params personally and this is just me i would wait a while longer. Smaller clams such as the ones you have been looking at say 3inches and under are very hard to keep and the success rates really arent that high to begin with. or look into a larger clam like the one jdoe has I have the same one and love it I got it at three inches four years ago and its about 7 now so they dont grow fast at all
 
I'd love to have a deresa as well, but I don't think that will happen in my 55. I keep reading from folks who have purchased 2" deresas only to have them be 7" in a years time. That seems like pretty fast growth to me. I'm sure it slows down after that, but 55s are pretty narrow tanks....
 
aquadonkey said:
Any words of advice or experience from clam owners? I want a crocea - so that it doesn't out-grow my 29g DT, but I also realize that this type needs the most light.
I have 4x24W T5 lighting, and the spot I have in mind is about 12 inches below the lights (10 in. of water, and the fixture is 2 in. above the tank). The tank has been up for 5 months now and my parameters are stable. When is it safe to get one? Will it be able to thrive in this environment? I have read a lot of conflicting threads about keeping clams under T5 lighting vs. MH.
Any personal experience would be helpful!
Lizz
Click to expand...

IMO a crocea would be a good choice for you. Several crocea are available at LFS's that appear very similar to the one you posted a picture of.
Your lighting should be fine. It's also my experience that if conditions are ideal Tridacna grow very rapidly making it imperitive that you monitor and supplement calcium and alkalinity. I would avoid placing a derasa, gigas or squamosa in a 29 gallon aquarium because those species grow large.
 
Thanks for the words of advice.
I guess I'll slowly start checking these guys out when I see them - and be ready if I see one that suits me :)!
 
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