Joshua1023
New member
I saw these tiny 1" blue maximas for sale and just wanted to check to make sure there was nothing special I needed to know about these tiny ones.
Tiny Maxima
- Thread starter Joshua1023
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phishcrazee
Member
You'll have to feed them phytoplankton about every other day until they are big enough to live off of the zooanthelae (mainly). They also need very stable water parameters.
not to start any debates or anything and not to say that clam wont benefit from some filter feeding,but clams need intense lighting and can sustain themselves on light alone even when they are very small. heres a study that was done with larval clams and they never received any particulate to filter.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0006-3185(198110)161:2<213:SDAAOZ>2.0.CO;2-N&size=LARGE
phishcrazee
Member
Well, of course they will also need intense lighting........ but from everything I've read, the smaller clams seem to benefit the most from additional feedings, as well as living off of light.
Joshua1023
New member
Would freeze dried cyclopeeze suffice?
Joshua1023
New member
sounds cool. I bought it today. 30 bucks is worth the effert. I've noticed that when I look at the clam from the top down it is very blue. If I look at it through the glass it is dull brown. Anyone else have this experience? Is there anything I can do to keep the brilliant blue from being lost in translation?
![[17]shawn[17]](https://reefcentral-data.xenforo.cloud/avatars/m/126/126091.jpg?1649697472){kind=avatar}
[17]shawn[17]
New member
i got a 1.5"maxima about 2 weeks ago if i look through the glass it looks purple if i look down on it its blue as hell
you may not NEED to feed it but for a couple bucks a month why not help to protect your investment
you may not NEED to feed it but for a couple bucks a month why not help to protect your investment
thats not really the point. for a few years now its been beaten into peoples heads that small clams will die if they are not feed "phytoplankton" and that is simply not true.
to keep clams healthy and growing they need very intense light and a source of N&P. if you have intense lighting and a healthy, well feed fish population there will be plenty of N&P for the zoox in the clam.
King-Kong
New member
I confirmed this also, in my tank. I purchased one of these tiny maximas and I never feed any phyto directly, or to my tank. I only feed my fish large particle food. I run BB and skim wet, and my corals are lightly colored. My maxima has shown good solid growth and coloration for the past 6 months.
Atticus
New member
I believe the original intent of phyto feedings to less than 2.5 inch clams has been scewed a bit. The original reasoning behind the advice is actually supported by article you referanced above. The advice to give phyto feedings was to help suppliment clams with small surface area. This small surface area does not allow for large amounts of zoox to be exposed to our lighting. Unfortunatly we do not have lighting with nearly the spectrum or intensity of natural sunlight, this was especially true when this feeding advice was originated.
So, we can see where a disadvantage can occur when trying to support a small clam. Low light and small surface area mean the clam is meeting its minimum if it survives. Supplimental feedings will allow a clam to gain extra nutrients that will allow it to grow and increase its surface area.
We also have to admit that nature does not waste time building structures that are not important to an animal's survival, these animals are well equiped to be filter feeders and should be fed as such. The benefits of faster growth and greater coloration far out weigh the minimal cost of additional feedings.
i disagree, do you mind showing me where?
the size of the mantle is proportionate to the size of the clam throughout its life. so proportionatly a 1/2" clam has the same mantle surface area as a 10" clam
again, the mantle is proportionate to the size of the clam, and so is the size of the zoox population
lighting has improved since then. we still cant place the sun over our tanks but i always recommend intense, full spectrum light.
clams use there gills for other things also, and just because one says that clams can sustain themselves on light alone doesnt mean they don't or wont filter feed.
its not a cost thing, the food is already there. i don't intentionally feed my clams. i have a large system with a large fish population that is feed well. i also have a large clam population that grows very well and is very colorful.
this all go's back to an article that was written that claimed if you don't feed clams"phytoplankton" they will die, this is untrue. this article also claimed that clams "only"eat phytoplankton, this is also not true.
None of the replies are wrong just based on individual experience and situation. Supplemental feedings need to be administered, i have two; dang peppermint stressed one to death. I think if you take all of the advice and choose a technique of your own. you will be giving someone totaly different advice a year from now.
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0504/baby_maxima.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0504/baby_maxima.html
Atticus
New member
i disagree, do you mind showing me where?
Quote from article:
This article does not tell what lighting they used. They said zoox was key, so those stessed by transport or other stressors that have lost zoox will be at a severe disadvantage, nothing we didn't know. I would like to know how many clams they lost while trying to grow them out in filtered water. The article only shows they "CAN" survive, it does not imply that is how they should be raised.
lighting has improved since then. we still cant place the sun over our tanks but i always recommend intense, full spectrum light.
That was my point. The information was dated and the technology was limited when phyto advice was being handed out.
because one says that clams can sustain themselves on light alone doesnt mean they don't or wont filter feed.
Agreed
its not a cost thing, the food is already there.
Not in the quality or quantity it could be with occasional supplimental feedings. We have already learned that corals do better with supplimental feeding, why go backwards with clams?
this all go's back to an article that was written that claimed if you don't feed clams"phytoplankton" they will die, this is untrue.
this article also claimed that clams "only"eat phytoplankton, this is also not true.
Again agree fully. That is the problem with hobbies, there is no regulation on what gets printed and little research is done before an oppinion becomes gospel.
Quote from article:
This article does not tell what lighting they used. They said zoox was key, so those stessed by transport or other stressors that have lost zoox will be at a severe disadvantage, nothing we didn't know. I would like to know how many clams they lost while trying to grow them out in filtered water. The article only shows they "CAN" survive, it does not imply that is how they should be raised.
lighting has improved since then. we still cant place the sun over our tanks but i always recommend intense, full spectrum light.
That was my point. The information was dated and the technology was limited when phyto advice was being handed out.
because one says that clams can sustain themselves on light alone doesnt mean they don't or wont filter feed.
Agreed
its not a cost thing, the food is already there.
Not in the quality or quantity it could be with occasional supplimental feedings. We have already learned that corals do better with supplimental feeding, why go backwards with clams?
this all go's back to an article that was written that claimed if you don't feed clams"phytoplankton" they will die, this is untrue.
this article also claimed that clams "only"eat phytoplankton, this is also not true.
Again agree fully. That is the problem with hobbies, there is no regulation on what gets printed and little research is done before an oppinion becomes gospel.
Joshua1023
New member
Well I've had mine for a week and its doing great so far. I have it about 7" from the mh light. I do like Prugs said and clean the glass daily. My other clams seem to have perked up as well. I don't know if that is in my head though.
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