Question about big clams...
- Thread starter BigStun
- Start date
Finding large clams for sale through retail outlets is near impossible. My understanding is they don't ship well at all.
Their growth is not limited by tank size....they outgrow tanks shockingly quickly sometimes. I know two folks with 275ish gallon tanks, both clam freaks, who will not put a gigas in their tank!
Large clams are usually no more or less hardy than the smaller (3-8) inch ones. There have been reports that large clams (big gigas) are far more sensitive too, reacting badly to even being moved within the same tank,
Their growth is not limited by tank size....they outgrow tanks shockingly quickly sometimes. I know two folks with 275ish gallon tanks, both clam freaks, who will not put a gigas in their tank!
Large clams are usually no more or less hardy than the smaller (3-8) inch ones. There have been reports that large clams (big gigas) are far more sensitive too, reacting badly to even being moved within the same tank,
Large Clams?
If available I would check with Barry at clamsdirect.com
I have not seen many large clams for retail sales, about the biggest I've seen is 5" Gigas from time to time.
I currently have an 8" Gigas in a 90 gallon reef and it grows about 2-3" a year, again this depends on lighting, temp, and water quality.
I did move him around several times during the first year with no ill effect, although now he has not been moved in over a year.
Good Luck, Gigas get quite large but they are an awesome site.
If available I would check with Barry at clamsdirect.com
I have not seen many large clams for retail sales, about the biggest I've seen is 5" Gigas from time to time.
I currently have an 8" Gigas in a 90 gallon reef and it grows about 2-3" a year, again this depends on lighting, temp, and water quality.
I did move him around several times during the first year with no ill effect, although now he has not been moved in over a year.
Good Luck, Gigas get quite large but they are an awesome site.
npaden
New member
To answer the question
- they will grow regardless of tank size
- hardiness IME is the same for a 2-4" clam once acclimated
And lastly:
Large clams are difficult for a number of reasons:
1) They are hard shippers regardless of species. Another consideration for large clams is the shipping weight, a vendor takes a large loss if he loses one based on the fact that freight costs are a very large percentage of the price.
2) The market for large clams is very small, for the hobby on a whole, not many people can keep clams much less large ones.
3) They present dangers to tank equipment. I know this sounds odd but a large clam would have no problem shooting water 1 foot out of a tank to hit your nice MH lighting. Not to mention your other equipment and room surroundings.
BigStun, if you have any more specific questions shoot me an e-mail or pm. Preferable e-mail if you want a faster response.
- they will grow regardless of tank size
- hardiness IME is the same for a 2-4" clam once acclimated
And lastly:
Large clams are difficult for a number of reasons:
1) They are hard shippers regardless of species. Another consideration for large clams is the shipping weight, a vendor takes a large loss if he loses one based on the fact that freight costs are a very large percentage of the price.
2) The market for large clams is very small, for the hobby on a whole, not many people can keep clams much less large ones.
3) They present dangers to tank equipment. I know this sounds odd but a large clam would have no problem shooting water 1 foot out of a tank to hit your nice MH lighting. Not to mention your other equipment and room surroundings.
BigStun, if you have any more specific questions shoot me an e-mail or pm. Preferable e-mail if you want a faster response.
Adressing your point #3. I read recently in my club that happened to someone...it craked the outer envelope of the bulb exposing UV to the corals and killing many of them...OUCH! THe same thing happened to David Saxby's tank (IMO, the greatest tank out there!) not too long ago, though I'm not sure a clam did it.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Re: Question about big clams...
Suggestion: get a medium sized derasa and give it a couple of years to grow large. Large clams do not appreciate being moved.
BigStun said:
Suggestion: get a medium sized derasa and give it a couple of years to grow large. Large clams do not appreciate being moved.
OrionN
Moved on
Get a small one and let him grow.
It is great to have a 20 inches Gigas that you grew from 1.5 inches in 5 year rather than spen 1000 dolars for a 20 inches clam that may not make it to your tank and you tank the loss.
Barry at Clamdirect.com have several T. gigas on sale for 89.00 right now. They will grow very quickly. Unless you got a large tank where you can leave an area of about 2X2 for him and a huge Ca reactor, I do not recommend one.
Minh
It is great to have a 20 inches Gigas that you grew from 1.5 inches in 5 year rather than spen 1000 dolars for a 20 inches clam that may not make it to your tank and you tank the loss.
Barry at Clamdirect.com have several T. gigas on sale for 89.00 right now. They will grow very quickly. Unless you got a large tank where you can leave an area of about 2X2 for him and a huge Ca reactor, I do not recommend one.
Minh
Sullyman
Premium Member
I bought a 13" squamie 6 months ago for $100, it was special ordered for me from Quality Marine, so it shipped from LA to Chicago. Came healthy and has stayed healthy, amazing creature, not very colorful but it's a squamie. My bi-color blennie loves to sit on it's mantle and chill. I'd love to post some pics but I'm still not very good at resizing my pics. I do run a calcium reactor. I've also been told they like kalk drips.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I traded some captive raised coral frags for a {smaller} squamosa several years ago.
I kept the picture the same size, looks fine to me. I expected much bigger. 
