First time buying clams. need some advice

[this is me]

I will in the market for a nice clam and the lfs in my area have some really nice one.
what should i look for as a sign of healthy clams(pics would be appreciated)?
I heard the term gaping in a clam but how does it look like?
and any other advice would be apreciated.
thanks!

 

[eums]

this is gaping

i have had this one for like 6 months + now and the gap is 1/4 the size it was. the clam ( crocea ) has added a new layer to its shell ( i forgot the fancy name for them )

a healthy clam would have an intact foot. i got mine and it was still attached/burrowed into its orig. chunk of rock. (lighter color rock in the picture) and for me this makes it easyer to place the clam as i can put it in the sand and it won't move/fall over. also a healthy clam will not be gaping this bad, mine was on the wall but i bought it because of the price ($20) and the color. and it has recovered great. here is a picture of the clam about 2 months after the first picture. if your tank's water is in great shape and you feed phyto a clam thats a little iffy should recover. or you could just buy a healthy/in great shape clam and not have to worry.

 

[Peabody]

Welcome to clam keeping? Have you made sure your tank is right for clams? What kind of lights do you have? What kind of clam are you thinking of getting?
Good luck!
Jeff

 

[crimson156]

good color, not bleached color sign of stress
extended mantle, intact mantle-no chunks missing
things like that

 

[this is me]

thanks guy!!
my light is 250w hqi 10" above the water line.

 

[Peabody]

Beautiful, sounds like you have MORE than adaquate light! Make sure you keep that CA/ALK up with goot test kits

 

[crimson156]

reefgeek.com has the cheapest salifert kits i could find(one other site had the ca test kit cheaper but they matched the price)