gigas help

[Gobie]

Just got a gigas, first one for me, I have a crocea thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s doing well. My question is with the new gigas, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s about 8 inches, I have it midway in the tank under 175 watt halides. The clam opens wide and appears healthy, but I am concerned about the mantle, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s not extending all the way out of the shell only about a 1/16 of an inch. When in the store it was under halides and in a shallow tank and it looked the same way. It also donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t slam shut like my crocea. Is there something wrong with this clam or is this normal for this species?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I have only had one Gigas, Just looked at him, Mantal is only 1/4 beyond shell (6") and (even if I personally like alot more) I really do not believe your light is too low for a Gigas.
Unless--- Refugium only... Huh? Does that mean--- No slump? no Skimmer?

 

[Barry N.]

Tridacna gigas mantle will come to the edge or just a little over the shell as with Tridacnid crocea, they will extend much further.

 

[Gobie]

Thanks a lot!

Should I be worried?The clam is fine otherwise.
What about it not tightly closing is this normal?

And yes no skimmer over 4 years and still perfect water quality.

 

[mbbuna]

No worries!!!

 

[Gobie]

Hereââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a picture of it anyway.
The lights have been on for a few hours and this is how it looks fully open.

 

[cristhiam]

very nice! he will open more and more with time

 

[cristhiam]

here is a pic of mine

 

[Gobie]

Wow! Thanks for posting a picture, I was looking for a picture online.

Is that white area on the shell all new growth since you had it?

 

[cristhiam]

yes, it's growing fast!, I have it since May 05 about 2.5" I think is about 3.5 or 4 that about 1" what you can see in that picture

 

[cristhiam]

here is a pic when I got it. the growth in this picture has been covered with coraline algea

 

[Gobie]

Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s amazing!

 

[wakesetter]

when really happy the mantle can extend 2+ inches over the edge. I have a few 8-12 inchers that extend considerably.

 

[Gobie]

My gigas was rocking from the current this morning and almost fell, I noticed It put out itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s foot and put down some threads, so I guess it's happy with itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s location.

 

[wakesetter]

gigas should be on the bottom of the tank. Then they can never fall

 

[Gobie]

I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t think I have enough light to put it on the bottom. I only have 175 metal halides and four 6 foot VHOs. I can keep open brains on the bottom, is this enough light for a gigas?
Will it be ok where it is or does it have to be on the sand?

 

[wakesetter]

if it is a 24" tall 180 you should be ok. Just put it under one of the halides. They are not high light clams. I have deresas under 4 vho's in a 24" tank and they grow very well. 250's might be better but the 175 should work. Just keep an eye on it and look for color change in the mantle and make sure it keeps growing. They really do prefer to be on the sand. They have a smaller bysal gland and are heavier bodied.

 

[acro-wrasse]

They grow very quickly and get very heavy. If it is not on the bottom, it will eventually outgrow the spot on the rock.

In 6 years mine went from 2 inches to over 20 inches. Even in my 220 the only safe spot was on the sand!

Mine never closed violently like other clams, just flinched a little, unless really irritated.

 

[Gobie]

Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s how mine is acting. When it gets larger I will have change all the rock work in my tank so it can be placed in the sand. Is there any problems with worms in the sand that I should be worried about?

 

[acro-wrasse]

I never had any problems with worms. There may be one out there somewhere that does attack clams, but it was not in my tank!