Growth rate on clams

[55semireef]

How fast do Crocea and Maxima clams generally grow cosidering you have aquedate lighting and water parameters? No additional feedings.

 

[mbbuna]

on average Crocea' around 1.75 to 2 cm per year

Maxima 3.5 to 4cm per year

 

[55semireef]

That is really slow.

 

[mbbuna]

it is what it is

 

[reefkoi]

yeah its true they are slow maybe even slower than that. Now gigas is a different story one of Mine has put on 1.5" of shell height since mid september when I installed the calcium reactor.
Its so easy to see the fresh new shell as it is very white
C

 

[55semireef]

Yep...I can see some new shell growth on my maxima but not my crocea...yet.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[ezcompany]

im actually glad my babies grow slow

 

[quandary_23]

You got that right ezcompany, I put a 3 in Dersea Clam in my tank recently and now I have time to kill before I have to make room for its projected size inthe years to come.

 

[55semireef]

Do clams have growth spurts? Like will they grow, then go idle and not grow for a period of time and then grow again? MY two clams, Maxima and Crocea are now both showing very white shell thats popping up. Will this contiue on and on gradually?

 

[Jeepman3sk]

Just tagging along to get more information.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8692868#post8692868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Do clams have growth spurts?

the growth rates are genetically programed(for lack of a better term)Maxima A may grow faster then Maxima B. if conditions are kept optimal there growth rates should stay fairly consistent untill they reach sexual maturity, then growth will slow

 

[Aquagoblin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8671281#post8671281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
on average Crocea' around 1.75 to 2 cm per year

Maxima 3.5 to 4cm per year

Is the growth you mention in height or length?

I ask because I have a Crocea and just noticed after trying to move him that there is about a 2mm growth at the top (I've had him for around 2 months now). If it's possible that he grows in length more than height, I forsure have to move him.

Thanks!

 

[acarson19]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8692868#post8692868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Do clams have growth spurts? Like will they grow, then go idle and not grow for a period of time and then grow again? MY two clams, Maxima and Crocea are now both showing very white shell thats popping up. Will this contiue on and on gradually?

I just finished reading a bunch of journal papers for work and some were on growth rates of marine bivalves. Freshwater mussels and marine mussels lay annual growth rings, like you'd see in a tree. These annual rings are caused by slowed wintertime growth due likely to decreased temperature and food sources. They will also slow growth in response to environmental conditions (e.g., pollutants from point sources) and also even from handling. In fact, freshwater mussels show significantly slowed growth from handling. I have not read anything about the species that occur in the trade and I infer they don't have slowed caused by cold weather, but they may (and I suspect do) have slowed growth in response to pollutants, minor temperature change, food availability, and possibly may have slowed growth during rainy season or vice versa dry season, but I didn't read that, I'm just speculating on that one. Some marine bivalves actually have daily rings that are visible with certain techniques and a good microscope, again these rings are caused by growth likely slowing during a certain time of the day, but I'm not sure what variables cause this. I think it would be interesting to see how handling, water quality, temperature and food affect growth in tank settings where hopefully there isn't high variation in any of these variables. I thought these papers were neat and saw a chance to share the info here.

Of course MMBUNA is correct, some species of bivalves grow faster (much faster) than others because of their genetics. Freshwater mussels also slow growth upon reaching sexual maturity, busy putting all their energy elsewhere I guess .

 

[55semireef]

acarson19, very interesting. Did your readings explain which type of bivalves grow faster than others? I was speculating the other day that the giant Tridacnid Clams will have faster growth due to their size they reach once fully grown.

Since there is no real weather in a fish tank, I wonder if they still respond to any changes in their fish tank.

 

[acarson19]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8782174#post8782174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Did your readings explain which type of bivalves grow faster than others? I was speculating the other day that the giant Tridacnid Clams will have faster growth due to their size they reach once fully grown.

Hey Semireef,

I don't know enough about the growth rates of Tridacnid clams to know which ones grow faster. It looks like there might be a lot of literature on growth rates of different Tridacnid clams because of their importance in the aquaculture trade. And I bet folks on here who aquaculture clams would know.

It seems intuitive that the larger clams would grow faster. However, most super fast growing freshwater mussels have super thin shells which affects their survival due to increased susceptibility to predation and injury.

My young T. derasa is growing pretty fast (>1 cm in three months) and has a relatively thick shell.

My head is spinning now thinking about all this. I think I need another cup of coffee...

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8782174#post8782174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef


Since there is no real weather in a fish tank, I wonder if they still respond to any changes in their fish tank.

there may be no real weather in our tanks but unless your tank is really dialed in and just about fully automated there will be fluctuations that effect clams growth rates.

i dont know what the fastest growing bivalve is, but the fastest growing Tridacnid is T. Gigas

 

[55semireef]

What gets bigger, a Gigas or a Deresa? I have seen some HUGE Deresa's before. They must be like 20 years old.

 

[mbbuna]

Gigas can get twice the size of Derasa

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8785251#post8785251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
Gigas can get twice the size of Derasa

:eek2:

 

[mbbuna]