Squamosa or Derasa? Which is easier to care for in your exp?

[StinkinTuna]

Squamosa or Derasa?

Looking to get my first clam but wanting one with the less lighting requirements. Which one in your experience has been the easier to care for?

My sandbed is about 30" below the surface with 4 x 4' 110w daylight VHOs and 3 x 4' 110 Actinics VHOs for lighting (I suppose I could change out one of the actinics for a daylight bulb but would rather not).

Which one would you recommend?

Should / could the clam be placed at the bottom or can it live amongst the rockwork?

Thanks!

 

[ROB2005]

Derasa and Squammies are more of the hardier clams for beginners. That is not to say they dont require the same level of care as you would give the most difficult clams. The selection of either one is up to you. If you want a recommendation, you can star with a derasa clam.

They do better on the sandbed since they are not heavy light demanding clams, just place a piece of plastic circle or an old clamshell (can be found in aquarium stores) underneath them to give them somethig to attach to.

The lighting you have is pretty sufficient for them, although MH would brighten them up some more (IMO)

 

[johnnybravo234]

Deresas are the most hardy IMO.

 

[StinkinTuna]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will look into them more....

 

[quicksilverq]

I have better luck in keep squamosas I have had 3 now and they are buy far the best clams I have keep so far. My Derasa Clam died and for like no reason and I had him for less time than my squamosas and they are still doing great I love my squamosas.:rollface:

 

[quicksilverq]

I have better luck in keeping squamosas I have had 3 now and they are buy far the best clams I have keep so far. My Derasa Clam died and for like no reason and I had him for less time than my squamosas and they are still doing great I love my squamosas.:rollface:

 

[StinkinTuna]

Hmmm... we have a squamosa vote...anyone else care to chime in.....

Just want my first clam to be a winner, unfortunatley I can;t place MHs for lighting (physical area of where the tank is located, no room for MHs) so I'm stuck with the VHOs...

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[gastone]

I don't own a derasa, but I do have a squammie and a crocea. I go the squammie first, about two years ago or so. I have found it to be quite hardy and adaptive to different lighting, from 150 10k, to 250w 10k, to 250w radiums. It sits at the bottom of my tank on the sand bed, which is about 24" under the water's surface and 30" from the lighting.

FWIW my first attempt was a small maxima about 5 years ago. Now what I would call a starter clam.

GL with whichever you go with.

Garrett.

 

[skinz78]

Its Derasa hands down. They require less light and are much less susceptable to pinched mantle.

 

[volcom69]

Love the derasa more also think some of the colors they have are great, and i vote derasa.

 

[alprazo]

I've had all except gigas. Derasa is the easiest to clean because of its smooth shell, especially if you have pyramidal snails, and handles a wide range of lighting. Mine currently sits directly under a 400W 6500K Iwasaki. They grow quite large quickly and this can be a negative. Mine will rapidly close and will knock rocks and corals over and send a surge of water over the edge of the tank from time to time.

I had a power failure while on vacation. Temp dropped to 60 and out of 5 clams, only the Derasa survived.

 

[StinkinTuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12138253#post12138253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ROB2005
If you want a recommendation, you can star with a derasa clam.

They do better on the sandbed since they are not heavy light demanding clams, just place a piece of plastic circle or an old clamshell (can be found in aquarium stores) underneath them to give them somethig to attach to.

(IMO)

Is it necessary to put something underneath them for them to attatch to? Or are they just happier that way?

I was planning to just have them on the sandbed and figured if they were going to grow alot bigger it would be easier to move them without them being attached to anything....

 

[skinz78]

I don't put anything under my derasa or squamosa's that are on the sand. They usually close off thier byssal opening as they get bigger anyhow.

 

[quicksilverq]

sorry about the pictures its hard to get them with the light i have on the tank. It was only me so dont one to hold that heavy light while i take pictures. but you get the idea a few squamosas and maximas and so on you get the idea

 

[quicksilverq]

wrong forum sorry