xchrisjb's first clam ...

[skyfireblaze]

Well, I figured that I'd go ahead and post pictures of my first clam. I picked it up last Wednesday from my LFS. They sold it to me as a squamosa, but it looks like a maxima to me.

I'm slowly acclimating it to my lights. It looked like it was starting to bleach just a bit, so I put some eggcrate and screening material over the tank to block the light a bit. I'm taking off a piece of screen every other day. It's starting to color up nicely and is showing some gold highlights in a few places. I'm excited to finally have a clam and see how it'll turn out in my tank.

Scrubbing the shell and checking for pyramidellids and other "unwanteds" --
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2344034149/" title="Clam by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/2344034149_40cdeb9299.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Clam" /></a>

Picture of the byssal opening --
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2344034869/" title="Clam Byssus by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2344034869_3b56b094b5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Clam Byssus" /></a>

The clam on it's first morning in my tank --
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2344035467/" title="First Clam by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2344035467_98717923fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="First Clam" /></a>

I'll have to try and get a good picture of it tomorrow now that it's starting to settle in.

 

[bboy aqua]

looks like a maxima too me also
nice clam btw

 

[BLKTANG]

Nice.It is a Squami.

 

[skyfireblaze]

Thanks guys - I think it's got potential. The only reason to care whether it's a maxima or a squami is to make sure it's taken care of. Either way, I like it ...

 

[johnnybravo234]

Maxima has my vote. Looks healthy.

 

[skinz78]

nice lookin maxima

 

[BLKTANG]

Squami.The shell,& byssal is a dead give away.

 

[BKtomodachi]

That is T. Maxima IMO.

 

[skinz78]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12130172#post12130172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BLKTANG
Squami.The shell,& byssal is a dead give away.

Its a maxima.

Here is a great link for clam id that mbbuna made.

 

[BLKTANG]

ok maybe not a squami,but i still dont think its a Maxima.

The only reason why i say this is because how the shell is wavy at the mantle,& dosent have those little "cup" shaped structures on it.

 

[skinz78]

I have a 5" squami that hasn't any of the scutes either, when I recieved it it had none and now it has a few under the mantle. The clam was in bad shape from shipping and the mantle was loaded with holes, they are healed over now and are getting their color back. I am supprised the clam lived.

 

[skyfireblaze]

Hey guys, here's the best picture I could get of the clam tonight (really struggled with the white balance). It's still not really used to my lighting yet. Hopefully I'll be able to get a good shot of the whole clam one of these times ...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2347163572/" title="Clam Exhalent Siphon & Mantle by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2347163572_2eb618f423.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Clam Exhalent Siphon & Mantle" /></a>

 

[shakanoi]

either way, nice specimen

 

[johnnybravo234]

Yes, he looks healthy. Thats weird that he doesnt have scutes. Ive never seen a max without scutes. Its usually the croceas that dont have the scutes.

 

[skyfireblaze]

Now that my clam has been in the tank for a couple of weeks, I thought I'd post some update pictures. Enjoy.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2401742329/" title="Clam 04/09/2008 by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2401742329_0d1b569b56.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Clam 04/09/2008" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2402571304/" title="Clam by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2402571304_4607269da8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Clam" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2402572028/" title="Clam Mantle by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2402572028_972fd724fe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Clam Mantle" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957489@N08/2402573286/" title="Top Down Clam by skyfire.blaze, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2402573286_cb72914dd1.jpg" width="399" height="500" alt="Top Down Clam" /></a>

 

[prestage3ek]

what was the advertised size of your clam, it fits in your hand but in your tank it looks bigger