New Clam

[jay24k]

Picked up this 5 - 6" Maxima yesterday. Very responsive. Last night took a dive off the rock so I moved it lower. It's a really nice blue but in my tank, it's showing some nice greens.

 

[Vili_Shark]

Looks like a crocea.

 

[jay24k]

I'm pretty sure it is a Maxima. The shell is exactly the same as my maxima you can barely see in the picture. It's a bit more blue then the picture shows. Isn't there a website where it tells you what type of clam based on shell structure?

 

[Whisperer]

The mantle pattern looks like a maxi. Can you take another/closer pic?

 

[jay24k]

Sure. The odd thing is from top view it looks green. From direct side view, deep blue/purple.

 

[jay24k]

Notice how green it is from top? Camera makes it appear a bit greener but it is similiar

Here is a side shot.
The side has the same ridges that Maxima's usually have I believe. I could be wrong though. I flashed the camera then took a picture so it retracted so you could see better.

 

[Whisperer]

With those latter pics your clam appears to be a crocea (sorry for "flip-flopping").

 

[jay24k]

How can you tell? Is there a site for determining clams?

 

[jay24k]

Well I was reading a reefkeeping article and I noticed that crocea's usually don't have scutes but this one does. Granted they don't go all the way down and they are very close together. The gland on the bottom is similiar to both maxima and a crocea. The only thing I notice is the lack of being asymmetrical. Any other hints that point to a crocea?

 

[smokinreefer]

yeah, its a nice crocea!

 

[Vili_Shark]

You can see from the 1st pic it is a crocea and a nice one.

 

[Scuba Dog]

It's a crocea...the shell is more smooth that what a maxima would be..and by the pattern of the mantle(lips ) is also an indication, try puting it on a flat rock so it can atach, they typicaly like rocks better than sand.....with a flat rock it will be more secure.....preferably one that you can move around if necessary...

 

[hwynboy]

It's a crocea. The scutes are USUALLY not on a crocea because the bore into rocks...their rocking motion causes the scutes to wear away so the shell is smooth. So actually they DO have scutes but as their nature they are usually worn away from the rocks.

 

[jay24k]

I have it on a rock right now. So far it is responding very well. Either way I think the clam is really nice and I was planning on buying a crocea.

 

[sdm]

Great Crocea! Yeah, thats a crocea, I have one one right now (first one! ), and the shell's nearly identical. Most often wild ones dont have em (mine does though... wait... I DIDN"T KNOW IT WAS WILD UNTIL A WEEK LATER WHEN THE STORE CALLED ABOUT IT!!! ...dont throw rotten fruits at me... ), but Aquacultured ones almost ALWAYS do because of a lack of rock to bore into while growing. Great Clam!

 

[Scuba Dog]

Nothing wrong with croceas, I have three, sometimes the LFs get the croaceas and maximas mixed up name wise......and yes its a really nice clam you have there!