Looking into getting a clam: need pointers

Kevin34 · 01/10/2009, 03:55 PM

well after deciding to scratch the copperband butterfly and angel from my stocklist I realized it would be safe to get a clam. I really like the maximas the best. Do they have any special needs? Are they completely photosythetic or do they need to be spot fed too? How big do the maximas get and are they better off in the sandbed or rockwork? Tank is a 125 with 2 250w 15K MH bulbs and has been setup since March 2008.

tank inhabitants:
sixline (in tank)
true percs (in tank)
jawfish (in QT)
midas blenny
lieutenant tang
male blue throat trigger

I might add a second tang to the list or another medium sized fish but I am not sure yet.

IridescentLily · 01/10/2009, 03:57 PM

You may want to try in the clam section here. Here's the link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=41
Good luck.

E.intheC · 01/10/2009, 04:05 PM

I agree.. also, I think your tank is too young for a clam. .they're expensive additions, but look great. Maximas are better starter clams than croceas though, so that's a good thing.

Be careful of your blenny as well. My blenny never bothered my corals, but you can't be sure. I've heard of blenny's causing trouble with clam mantles as well.

Good luck either way

Kevin34 · 01/10/2009, 04:11 PM

thanks

cloak · 01/10/2009, 04:26 PM

Here's a couple good articles about clams.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php

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

wrott · 01/10/2009, 05:33 PM

I would not buy one <4", smaller clams need phytoplankton.
I have a 4-5" crocea in my clown tank now for 2 yrs, that gets minimal maintenance--no problems so far.

crvz · 01/10/2009, 07:24 PM

The need for supplementing smaller clams with phytoplankton has been show to not be accurate, as is my experience as well. Maxima clams are rock boring, and do require a bit more light than others (though similar needs to crocea clams). The maximas gets to a max size of about 14", and clams are pretty hardy and are more forgiving that a lot of other inverts. They do tolerate, and will even consume, nitrate in the water column and you can often have success with adding them earlier in a tank's history. I do not think your setup is too young for a clam, I say give it a try.

redhanded77 · 01/10/2009, 07:51 PM

i have 2 croceas, one it about 3"s and the other is about 4"s and they have been fine for the past 6 months. i added them to my tank when the tank was 3 months old and then i had to do a tank switch and added them to a 3 week old tank. they are still doing awesome and the colors are great. i dont do anything special besides weekly ocean water changes. the first tank they were in they had 2x250 watt 14k halides. the tank they are in now have 6 t5's.

Kevin34 · 01/11/2009, 11:23 AM

I have decided to not get the blenny because I would rather have a happy clam than a midas. but what is everyones thoughts on the blue throat trigger?

crvz · 01/11/2009, 06:02 PM

blue throat trigger would be perfectly safe with the clams.

Kevin34 · 01/11/2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
blue throat trigger would be perfectly safe with the clams.

good to hear. thanks for the info

Sk8r · 01/11/2009, 06:15 PM

fangtooth as opposed to combtooth blennies have been known to nip clams.

I added a crocea to a 6 month mh reef and it has done very well, in its third year, now, including one house move.

I found a dead piece of montipora coral that made a perfect pedestal: he sits about 3" off the sand on his pedestal and is always fully extended.

m2434 · 01/11/2009, 06:23 PM

My bicolor blenny killed a clam. I don't think it nipped the clam, but rather algae growing around the mantle. Either way it was enough to keep the clam closed for the entire time I was trying to catch the blenny, and by the time I got the blenny it was too late. At first I didn't know what was going on, but I watched for a while, and every now and then, the clam would open and the blenny would nip and then it would close again.

01/10/2009, 03:55 PM	#1
Kevin34 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 178	Looking into getting a clam: need pointers well after deciding to scratch the copperband butterfly and angel from my stocklist I realized it would be safe to get a clam. I really like the maximas the best. Do they have any special needs? Are they completely photosythetic or do they need to be spot fed too? How big do the maximas get and are they better off in the sandbed or rockwork? Tank is a 125 with 2 250w 15K MH bulbs and has been setup since March 2008. tank inhabitants: sixline (in tank) true percs (in tank) jawfish (in QT) midas blenny lieutenant tang male blue throat trigger I might add a second tang to the list or another medium sized fish but I am not sure yet.

01/10/2009, 03:57 PM	#2
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	You may want to try in the clam section here. Here's the link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=41 Good luck. __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

01/10/2009, 04:05 PM	#3
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	I agree.. also, I think your tank is too young for a clam. .they're expensive additions, but look great. Maximas are better starter clams than croceas though, so that's a good thing. Be careful of your blenny as well. My blenny never bothered my corals, but you can't be sure. I've heard of blenny's causing trouble with clam mantles as well. Good luck either way __________________ -Eric

01/10/2009, 05:33 PM	#6
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I would not buy one <4", smaller clams need phytoplankton. I have a 4-5" crocea in my clown tank now for 2 yrs, that gets minimal maintenance--no problems so far. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

01/10/2009, 07:24 PM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	The need for supplementing smaller clams with phytoplankton has been show to not be accurate, as is my experience as well. Maxima clams are rock boring, and do require a bit more light than others (though similar needs to crocea clams). The maximas gets to a max size of about 14", and clams are pretty hardy and are more forgiving that a lot of other inverts. They do tolerate, and will even consume, nitrate in the water column and you can often have success with adding them earlier in a tank's history. I do not think your setup is too young for a clam, I say give it a try. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

01/10/2009, 04:11 PM	#4
Kevin34 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 178	thanks

01/10/2009, 04:26 PM	#5
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Here's a couple good articles about clams. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-10/jf/index.php

01/10/2009, 07:51 PM	#8
redhanded77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: pacific ocean Posts: 413	i have 2 croceas, one it about 3"s and the other is about 4"s and they have been fine for the past 6 months. i added them to my tank when the tank was 3 months old and then i had to do a tank switch and added them to a 3 week old tank. they are still doing awesome and the colors are great. i dont do anything special besides weekly ocean water changes. the first tank they were in they had 2x250 watt 14k halides. the tank they are in now have 6 t5's.

01/11/2009, 11:23 AM	#9
Kevin34 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 178	I have decided to not get the blenny because I would rather have a happy clam than a midas. but what is everyones thoughts on the blue throat trigger?

01/11/2009, 06:02 PM	#10
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	blue throat trigger would be perfectly safe with the clams. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

01/11/2009, 06:15 PM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	fangtooth as opposed to combtooth blennies have been known to nip clams. I added a crocea to a 6 month mh reef and it has done very well, in its third year, now, including one house move. I found a dead piece of montipora coral that made a perfect pedestal: he sits about 3" off the sand on his pedestal and is always fully extended. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/11/2009, 06:23 PM	#13
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	My bicolor blenny killed a clam. I don't think it nipped the clam, but rather algae growing around the mantle. Either way it was enough to keep the clam closed for the entire time I was trying to catch the blenny, and by the time I got the blenny it was too late. At first I didn't know what was going on, but I watched for a while, and every now and then, the clam would open and the blenny would nip and then it would close again. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman