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What is the easiest clam to keep, conflicting info


Gooburz

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Like the title says what is the easiest / most hardy of the clam species? I've read that maxima's and Crocea's are the hardest and I've read the opposite. I've read the article in here put out on them but I've seen many other articles that give conflicting info.

 

So what are the most hardy species?

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HarryPotter

From my experience, Croceas are the easiest to keep. They are not as light demanding, and once they put their foot down are completely independent.

 

I currently have two beautiful Maximas and two beautiful Croceas- and neither is difficult to keep. Just keep high lighting and make sure the water is never "too clean".

Like the title says what is the easiest / most hardy of the clam species? I've read that maxima's and Crocea's are the hardest and I've read the opposite. I've read the article in here put out on them but I've seen many other articles that give conflicting info.

 

So what are the most hardy species?

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From my experience, Croceas are the easiest to keep. They are not as light demanding, and once they put their foot down are completely independent.

 

I currently have two beautiful Maximas and two beautiful Croceas- and neither is difficult to keep. Just keep high lighting and make sure the water is never "too clean".

 

Glad to hear that, I wanted to double check for the 100th time lol. Goal is to get 2 Croceas or 1 Crocea and 1 maxima.

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I think a big part of being successful with clams is getting a healthy specimen from the start too.

 

True, I wish I could order one now and have the wife acclimate it but that's a bit much for her to do. Hopefully there will be a good selection once I'm home. Defiantly going to order through the recommended site from Harryjsinger

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dzmfkrdzrosieperez

Pretty much crocea/ maxima/ ningaloo clams are all fairly easy. Just monitor your calc levels, have good strong lighting and as mentioned before require nitrates present.

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HarryPotter

Pretty much crocea/ maxima/ ningaloo clams are all fairly easy. Just monitor your calc levels, have good strong lighting and as mentioned before require nitrates present.

You've had a Ningaloo or know someone that has one?

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True, I wish I could order one now and have the wife acclimate it but that's a bit much for her to do. Hopefully there will be a good selection once I'm home. Defiantly going to order through the recommended site from Harryjsinger

what site was recommended?

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HarryPotter

what site was recommended?

 

PerfectCorals, they have great stuff. I get most of the clams I ship out from them- plus if you use the code "HarryDiscount" you get $10 off :)

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Just be sure their "foot" was not torn free before you purchase to because that can harm them...

I've read great reviews from Perfect Corals with their clams and once I get it, it will be sitting in a clam hammock

 

 

PerfectCorals, they have great stuff. I get most of the clams I ship out from them- plus if you use the code "HarryDiscount" you get $10 off :)

SHHH don't tell them, they will buy all the good clams up on me before I get home :P

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HarryPotter

I've read great reviews from Perfect Corals with their clams and once I get it, it will be sitting in a clam hammock

 

 

SHHH don't tell them, they will buy all the good clams up on me before I get home :P

Just PM me before you order so I can tell him to add the hammocks to the box :)

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Crocea is the most light loving clam of them all. It requires extreme light to thrive.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-10/jf/index.php

Croceas live at shallower depths than other Tridacna species, where they receive intense light; so they require more light than the other species when kept in aquaria. And, on top of species-level differences, there’s also variability between individuals.

 

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/inverts

Still, in the case of T. crocea, which is apparently the most light-hungry species of the bunch, fluorescent lighting will only suffice in very shallow tanks, or if a specimen is placed very near the water's surface in a deeper tank. I would highly recommend squeezing as many bulbs into the canopy/fixture as possible at that, and then mount the bulbs so that they are as close to the water as possible, and then place the specimen within a foot of the surface, preferably less. Again, some individuals (the "tough" ones) may be able to get by at times with less light, or further down in deeper tanks, but I implore you to not take chances. So, I have to say that metal halide lighting is really the way to go for this species.


From my experience, Croceas are the easiest to keep. They are not as light demanding, and once they put their foot down are completely independent.

This is simply not true.

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HarryPotter

Crocea is the most light loving clam of them all. It requires extreme light to thrive.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-10/jf/index.php

Croceas live at shallower depths than other [/size]Tridacna species, where they receive intense light; so they require more light than the other species when kept in aquaria. And, on top of species-level differences, theres also variability between individuals. [/size]

 

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/inverts

Still, in the case of [/size]T. crocea, which is apparently the most light-hungry species of the bunch, fluorescent lighting will only suffice in very shallow tanks, or if a specimen is placed very near the water's surface in a deeper tank. I would highly recommend squeezing as many bulbs into the canopy/fixture as possible at that, and then mount the bulbs so that they are as close to the water as possible, and then place the specimen within a foot of the surface, preferably less. Again, some individuals (the "tough" ones) may be able to get by at times with less light, or further down in deeper tanks, but I implore you to not take chances. So, I have to say that metal halide lighting is really the way to go for this species.[/size]

 

This is simply not true.

I'm surprised then- my croceas did incredibly on the sand bed but the Maximas needed to be raised somewhat! That's interesting

 

 

But I stand by that Croceas are the easiest, by personal experience. Croceas will attach to a rock within hours, while Maximas take days. Croceas will come out immediately after being startled (by movement or touch), while Maximas take minutes.

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So what are the most hardy species?

Squamosas and Derasas are the hardiest, requiring less light than maximas and croceas to thrive.

Bright blue mantle in any clam means even higher light requirement as the blue pigment reflects light far more than other colors.

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Squamosas and Derasas are the hardiest, requiring less light than maximas and croceas to thrive.

Bright blue mantle in any clam means even higher light requirement as the blue pigment reflects light far more than other colors.

 

Yep

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Squamosas and Derasas are the hardiest, requiring less light than maximas and croceas to thrive.

Bright blue mantle in any clam means even higher light requirement as the blue pigment reflects light far more than other colors.

True I have a Derasas in my nano with leds doing great!

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Wasn't so much a question of lighting requirements for the clam but which ones have the most success in reef tanks. When it comes to the lighting part I have no doubts that my light is more than sufficient for any of the clam species.

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I'm surprised then- my croceas did incredibly on the sand bed but the Maximas needed to be raised somewhat! That's interesting

 

 

But I stand by that Croceas are the easiest, by personal experience. Croceas will attach to a rock within hours, while Maximas take days. Croceas will come out immediately after being startled (by movement or touch), while Maximas take minutes.

Yeah your experience of what, couple months? LOL!

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jedimasterben

Wasn't so much a question of lighting requirements for the clam but which ones have the most success in reef tanks. When it comes to the lighting part I have no doubts that my light is more than sufficient for any of the clam species.

Derasa and squamosa. Gigas would more than likely be the easiest, but there are next to zero in the hobby and they are unavailable (possibly due to CITES) at this time.

 

 

If you're really interested in giant clams, I would recommend to purchase and read this book beforehand: http://www.amazon.com/Giant-Clams-Aquarium-James-Fatherree/dp/0978619404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436902465&sr=8-1&keywords=giant+clams+james+fatherree

 

 

It was published 9 years ago, but nearly all of the information it contains is still relevant, with the major changes being penetration of high-output LED lighting, the discovery of T. costata, photos of living T. mbalavuana (aka T. teveroa), and the classification of T. maxima 'teardrop' to T. noae, and the description of T. ningaloo.

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Far out... Harry is becoming a troll!!!

 

Thanks for the correct info Kat. I was curious too as I'm keen on keeping a clam in my nano (had a few in my old 6ft tank and loved them!).

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Snow_Phoenix

Croceas aren't easy. Believe me - I kept a pair (one purple and one blue) just 12" inches away from a 96W T5HO light in a 16G tank and yet one of them didn't make it. Right now I have another larger maroon crocea at the highest ledge of my LR, just 6" under 96W T5HO light once again, but in a 30G aquarium. It seems to be doing well, but I've only had it for a few weeks so it's way too early to tell. Kat's right though, deresas and squamosas are the hardier ones.

 

Honestly you could ask the clam expert on NR - ZephNYC (I think that was his user name). He has tons of experience and heaps of reliable info.

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dzmfkrdzrosieperez

You've had a Ningaloo or know someone that has one?

Im from Western Australia. Where they're found is a 6 / 7 hour drive away. I've seen them in ludicrously shallow water.

 

Also i own 2 ningaloo and a maxima.

 

Theres a guy called acro al round the corner from me who aquacultures them

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