Tridacna deresa shell development questions..

6-line · 03/05/2002, 08:58 AM

Why is it, and perhaps it's my own experience, that when you purchase a new clam, be it from the LFS or elsewhere, the shell seem almost pristine,, white as if grown in some type of sterile environment? After a few months in my tank the shell darkens and develops snails (vertimid) and coralline and other algae.
Also, the shell is often smooth. Why, after growing in my tank, is the new growth obvious (as in layers) whereas the old growth prior to my aquirement of the mollusk is visually nonexistent--just smooth shell with no 'layers' of growth. Is this something to do with a different type of calcification of the shell (because of switching from one method to another...i.e. natural s.w. to kalk dosed s.w.)?

Thanks...

chewie · 03/05/2002, 09:22 AM

bump! I wanna know too!

Laura D · 03/05/2002, 02:29 PM

I have a derasa that I have had for quite a while. When I got it the shell was smooth, just like all the derasas I have seen. What is strange is that over time it has been growing "scutes" on the shell, like it thinks its a crocea.

Hammer · 03/05/2002, 02:38 PM

Most noteably with crocea and maxima, wild 'caught' clams, in their proper invironment, are surrounded by rock. Especially crocea. And all the movement the clam normally goes through wears off the shutes, and keeps them clean as well. These clams hide for protection, which means that they keep most of the shells out of the light to only leave the mantle exposed.

And also I wouldn't doubt that some of these clams are cleaned off well while importing them so as not to include any hitchhickers that might be possible. But that is a guess on my part.

toptank · 03/05/2002, 06:18 PM

Hammer, I talked with a exportor in the Philippines the other day and he said that they clean there clams and check for other things before shipping. So you are correct

Barry

Hammer · 03/05/2002, 09:15 PM

I had heard about them cleaning them to make sure the clam was healthy, and that it didn't have anything attached to it that wasn't supposed to be.

simonh · 03/06/2002, 05:28 PM

In my tank I have alot of red turf algae (the tuff wirey stuff). Generally it does not cause any problems as when the SPS grow close it turns white and dies. However, some of the clam shells had some on and caused the mantle to pull in sometimes where it touched them.

I decided to clean it off and was looking for a toothbrush. Whilst looking around a toothbrush I saw the Dremel I use for fragging. Cool I thought so I put a small brush on and cleaned the algae off. Now the shell looks just like when we get them imported

Laura D · 03/06/2002, 08:04 PM

I am curious as to how they clean the shells. When I bought my Derasa, the shell was as white as if it just came out of the dishwasher lol!!

It is now so covered with growth I don't think it could ever be white again, not that I care, I just think it's strange.

Hammer · 03/06/2002, 08:13 PM

A scrub brush from what I've heard/seen.

toptank · 03/06/2002, 09:12 PM

mulberry, A BIG DISHWAHER

just kidding.

Barry

MiNdErAsR · 03/06/2002, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by simonh
In my tank I have alot of red turf algae (the tuff wirey stuff).

I had some of this growing on my clams in my old 75g. However the purple tang and the foxface both loved that stuff and it never really grew at all.

Chris_Gillespie · 03/06/2002, 10:15 PM

The layering of your derasa shell is from fluctuating calcium and alkalinity levels. You can always tell the guys who've got calcium reactors, because their clams are much smoother. It's nothing to worry about though! Just keep those levels up!

6-line · 03/07/2002, 08:13 AM

Chris,
Yes, that makes sense...I was hoping someone would address that part of the question. My deresa's new growth layers are definitely not smooth, but i guess it's better to have new growth layers than none at all. I dose kalk and no reactor (yet).

Thanks

03/05/2002, 08:58 AM	#1
6-line Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Florence, KY--across the river from Cincinnati, OH Posts: 2,230	Tridacna deresa shell development questions.. Why is it, and perhaps it's my own experience, that when you purchase a new clam, be it from the LFS or elsewhere, the shell seem almost pristine,, white as if grown in some type of sterile environment? After a few months in my tank the shell darkens and develops snails (vertimid) and coralline and other algae. Also, the shell is often smooth. Why, after growing in my tank, is the new growth obvious (as in layers) whereas the old growth prior to my aquirement of the mollusk is visually nonexistent--just smooth shell with no 'layers' of growth. Is this something to do with a different type of calcification of the shell (because of switching from one method to another...i.e. natural s.w. to kalk dosed s.w.)? Thanks... __________________ Todd If you're not obsessed, you're not doing it right... Current Tank Info: 60 gallon rimless cube; sps dominated

03/05/2002, 02:29 PM	#3
Laura D Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 1,312	I have a derasa that I have had for quite a while. When I got it the shell was smooth, just like all the derasas I have seen. What is strange is that over time it has been growing "scutes" on the shell, like it thinks its a crocea. __________________ -Laura

03/05/2002, 02:38 PM	#4
Hammer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Onalaska, wa Posts: 343	Most noteably with crocea and maxima, wild 'caught' clams, in their proper invironment, are surrounded by rock. Especially crocea. And all the movement the clam normally goes through wears off the shutes, and keeps them clean as well. These clams hide for protection, which means that they keep most of the shells out of the light to only leave the mantle exposed. And also I wouldn't doubt that some of these clams are cleaned off well while importing them so as not to include any hitchhickers that might be possible. But that is a guess on my part. __________________ "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand" - Homer Simpson

03/05/2002, 09:15 PM	#6
Hammer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Onalaska, wa Posts: 343	I had heard about them cleaning them to make sure the clam was healthy, and that it didn't have anything attached to it that wasn't supposed to be. __________________ "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand" - Homer Simpson

03/06/2002, 05:28 PM	#7
simonh Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: England, UK Posts: 2,257	In my tank I have alot of red turf algae (the tuff wirey stuff). Generally it does not cause any problems as when the SPS grow close it turns white and dies. However, some of the clam shells had some on and caused the mantle to pull in sometimes where it touched them. I decided to clean it off and was looking for a toothbrush. Whilst looking around a toothbrush I saw the Dremel I use for fragging. Cool I thought so I put a small brush on and cleaned the algae off. Now the shell looks just like when we get them imported __________________ -Simon Deltec trendline aquarium + Royal Exclusiv technik. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon, mainly Acropora dominated

03/05/2002, 09:22 AM	#2
chewie Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Portland OR Posts: 1,170	bump! I wanna know too!

03/05/2002, 06:18 PM	#5
toptank Moved On Join Date: May 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,327	Hammer, I talked with a exportor in the Philippines the other day and he said that they clean there clams and check for other things before shipping. So you are correct Barry

03/06/2002, 08:04 PM	#8
Laura D Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 1,312	I am curious as to how they clean the shells. When I bought my Derasa, the shell was as white as if it just came out of the dishwasher lol!! It is now so covered with growth I don't think it could ever be white again, not that I care, I just think it's strange. __________________ -Laura

03/06/2002, 08:13 PM	#9
Hammer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Onalaska, wa Posts: 343	A scrub brush from what I've heard/seen. __________________ "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand" - Homer Simpson

03/06/2002, 09:12 PM	#10
toptank Moved On Join Date: May 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,327	mulberry, A BIG DISHWAHER just kidding. Barry

03/06/2002, 10:15 PM	#12
Chris_Gillespie Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Fargo Posts: 90	The layering of your derasa shell is from fluctuating calcium and alkalinity levels. You can always tell the guys who've got calcium reactors, because their clams are much smoother. It's nothing to worry about though! Just keep those levels up!

03/07/2002, 08:13 AM	#13
6-line Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Florence, KY--across the river from Cincinnati, OH Posts: 2,230	Chris, Yes, that makes sense...I was hoping someone would address that part of the question. My deresa's new growth layers are definitely not smooth, but i guess it's better to have new growth layers than none at all. I dose kalk and no reactor (yet). Thanks __________________ Todd If you're not obsessed, you're not doing it right... Current Tank Info: 60 gallon rimless cube; sps dominated