its either a squamosa or a deresa

[kevensquint]

I have had a Crocea for the past 2 years and it has done very well. I have now possibly found my second clam. Unfortunatly I don't have enough experience looking at clams to know if its a Squami or Deresa. This is all I can say, it is 6" long, it has a very full mantle which is olive green/brown with a mixture of squigly lines and spots. the outer edge of the mantle is highlighted golden. And towards the upper half of its shell it has those half circle shapes like on a maxima's shell (sorry for my pathetic terminology). Ok, if my rediculous description is enough, what are the requirements for this type of clam? I have a from strong to extremely strong lighting(depending on placement in the tank) and I have from low to strong current. Its a 125 BB reef.

 

[mbbuna]

your lighting and current should be fine for either. the way you describe it could be either also

this first pic is a Squamosa most of the time it will have widely spaced chutes(scales)and its length and height are about the same

this is the byssal opening of a Squamosa. when they are small it will be open and the "foot"exposed like a Crocea or Maxima, but as they get larger it closes in

this is a Derasa. for the most part the shell is smooth and is about the same length as height

and the byssal opening of a Derasa. it closes in much earlier

 

[kevensquint]

I was hoping YOU would answer. Thanks and I have no idea why your not the moderator in here. I figured that the shell would be the trick to telling the difference. It is a squamosa. At the LFS, it is about 8" under a 10k 175 MH. In my tank I have 250's all around, but i can choose to place it under a 20k (dimmer), between a 20k and 10k or under the 10k. Where should I start it? P.S, it sits on a rock, if it is clasped to the rock, I should get the rock as well, so as not to damage the foot, correct?

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7528747#post7528747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevensquint
Thanks and I have no idea why your not the moderator in here.

i do it for fun, and it helps me take better care of my clams.

Where should I start it?

i would place it down low inbetween the 20k and 10k.

it sits on a rock, if it is clasped to the rock, I should get the rock as well, so as not to damage the foot, correct?

if it is attached and they will give you the rock i would take it.
if you or they want to remove it from the rock make sure they dont just pull it off. you can remove it very easily by just tipping it to one side so you can see the byssal threads then cut the threads as far away from the clam as you can. if done correctly this wont hurt the clam at all

 

[ezcompany]

just wondering mbbuna, not trying to jack the thread, how many / what types of clams do you have? link to your pics?

 

[mbbuna]

click my little red house. the pics there are about 2 years old and i have changed some things.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

From the discerption, I was thinking it was a gigas. Can you get a pic of the clam in question?

 

[parothead22]

You can tell the type of clam by the shell structure and possibly the byssal opening. Their is a great book on clams called, Giant Clams by Daniel Knop. It is awesome and will answer any question you have or will have regarding clams.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

In the mantle, does the tissue have a bunch of clear "windows" in it? This is characteristic of the gigas.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

oh, i suck, you were looking for the diff in the squamosa and the derasa. I think shell scuting is probably the best givaway, but after that last misstep, who would belive me.

 

[critterkeeper]

Derasa:

http://www.picsbase.com/james/default.asp?catID=294

Squamosa:

http://www.picsbase.com/james/default.asp?catID=295