learning about clams.. squamosas

D

Darrin

Member
there is a squamosa clam at a lfs store that is basically brown. if it was put under proper lighting.... would it color up like corals eventually do?
 
IMO - wouldn't it be a better choice to buy a healthy clam, and/or with the coloration you like? then to take a chance on some color that may not change even if lighting is improved?
 
Unfortunately, clams are not like acros. They won't change from brown to purple etc. The colors you are seeing on that particular clam are it's natural colors (assuming it is healthy).

The lower light clams (squamosa and derasa for example) will not have the brilliant colors you see with the higher light clams (maxima and crocea). They can still have beautiful patterns and nice coloration though.

:bum:
 
brianlena2000 said:
Unfortunately, clams are not like acros. They won't change from brown to purple etc. The colors you are seeing on that particular clam are it's natural colors (assuming it is healthy).
Click to expand...
I believed this to be true also until a couple of weeks ago a mate of mine bought a brown squamosa from an LFS and when I saw his tank a couple of days ago, it had changed to bright yellow with a teal rim. I also bought a brown squamosa recently and although the colour change wasn't huge, it did change from brown to purple/pink/blue.

Peter,
A brown clam is not necessarily an unhealthy clam. The only colour that indicates poor health is white.
 
I agree w/ firechild. Clams have the ability to manipulate their zooxanthallae. I have seen squamosas intensify their lines and change from brown to gold w/ proper lighting. Adam
 
I agree with firechild!!

My squamosa has a bright green rim all over since I put it in my tank....

and my blue crocrea has suddenly turned green all over after about 3 mths in my tank!
 
ADS said:
I agree w/ firechild. Clams have the ability to manipulate their zooxanthallae. I have seen squamosas intensify their lines and change from brown to gold w/ proper lighting. Adam
Click to expand...
It's not actually the zooxanthallae that give clams (or corals for that matter) their brilliant colours. Zooxanthellae are golden brown but the hosts (whether coral, clam, nudibranch or whatever) produce other pigments that have different purposes for different hosts. Daniel Knop has a few interesting theories to the colours and patterns produced by tridacnids in his book.
 
I also bought a brown squamosa recently and although the colour change wasn't huge, it did change from brown to purple/pink/blue.
Click to expand...

I would say that is a huge change :D I have never seen a squamosa with those colors. Do you have any pics?

:bum:
 
Unfortunately the only angle I can get a decent pic makes it look brown. I say not a huge change because although it has nice colour, the colours aren't intense but hopefully will continue to become brighter.
It has actually started to change again and is developing thin green stripes. :cool:
 
Thanks Firechild but that was not my implication. The theory of clam coloration is just that...theory. Genetics, concentration of zooxanthallae and environmental influences all contribute to the remarkable coloration of some clams. Clams can manipulate the concentration of zooxanthallae in their mantles in response to more or less light contributing to theoretical dullness or brightness.
In breeding clams, I have harvested mantle from Ultra maxs that were blue/green/turquoise to yield dark brown liquid when macerated.(all mantles donor sites grow back in ~3 months)
I'm interested in any journal articles you may have on the subject
of clam pigmentation since I see you are a Marine biology stud.
Adam
 
Check out my very large T.squamosa on the front page of my website: http://home.rochester.rr.com/garysreef
I've seen the coloration in this clam vary back and forth over the years.
Right now, as I look at the clam today typing this, the blue coloration in the mantle is very prevalent- much more so than in this picture.
When I purchased this clam it was an unremarkable dull brown.
 
My Squamy

My Squamy

Was also a plain brownish colour.

Un der my care he has deep purples, blues and greens. Not nearly as dramatic as the pic linked to, but enough to show he's no longer plain brown. A definite improvement in overall colouration.
 
Adam,
I unfortunetely don't have any papers on the subject but last year I was speaking to Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, an expert on coral pigmentation and bleaching, who has also done some work on T. maxima and he said that colouration in clams is essentially the same as in corals (accessory protein pigments) but has not been shown to be related directly to light.
I'm sure he has written a paper on his work with T. maxima so I will try to track it down for you.
 
Just my experience, I got a 5" squamosa about a month ago from a guy who was running PC only. He was very healthy, but kind of a drab, army green. The day after I put him in, he reached for the light & my wife noticed it is BRIGHT green underneath the flesh that normally rests on his mantle. Now under my MH, the fluorescent green is starting to show up on his topside. Yeah!

See if the LFS will give you a discount & heal him. :D

David
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Clam in an unfavourable position - help moving it
Replies
19
Views
633
Scotty333!!!
S
S
First time coral
Replies
5
Views
117
griss
griss
NancyT3
Display tank - algae bloom - (19 wk old 140 gal)
Replies
11
Views
386
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
C
What’s up with my clam?
Replies
4
Views
585
JohnL
JohnL
E
Looking for fake wood/resin wood post decor?
Replies
3
Views
117
ExitTrauma
E
Back
Top