best clam for a noobie?

[jenajet]

So I've gotten really good at my husbandry or wivery in my case, lol. What would be the best clam to start out with. This will be in the 90 with (2) 250 watt mh.

[Wiskey]

With that lighting I say get what you like.

Derassa, Gigas, squmosa get larger and like to be on tank bottom in the sand.

Maxima and Crosea are rock burrowing clams, higher light, and like to be up in the rocks by the lights, they also stay a bit smaller (12 and 8 inches if memory serves)

I have not noticed any difference in the hardness of any of the clams provided you have the light, you need to keep CA and Alk in check with all of them.

Side note:
With any clam, make sure the one you buy is 3 inches plus, this is because the smaller clams will need to be fed phyto and this is a real pain to do without fowling your water.

Whiskey

[jenajet]

Thanks Whiskey. Good to know they are about the same as far as hardiness. I am planning to get a 4 inch or so clam for sure. I need to do more research as far as what each type is. I was thinking a maxima tho I did come across one similar to the brown/gold marbled looking one you have. See got to get my id's in check! It was about 3 1/2 inches.

[abigtroutt]

What light is the minimum for a clam? I have a nano 10 gallon with a 65 watt light that I want to put one in.

[jenajet]

From what I understand clams have to have mh and I don't think there are any that will fit in a 10 gallon but not sure on that.

[wharyat]

Gigas, deresa, hippopus, and squamosa are deeper water clams, hence they don't need quite as much light; and have been kept successfully under PC, VHO, and T5.

Maximas and croceas need MH or strong T5 arrangment on a shallow tank.

I have had the same experience as whiskey; they are all pretty much the same care level as long as the light is there.

[Wiskey]

Oh Jenna, another side note. It can be a little more difficult to find a healthy Maxima or Croshea, the reason for this is they are rock burroring clams, they dig themselfs into the rocks making them difficult to remove for the divers. If the divers rip the clam off the rock they will damage it's byassal gland (leathal), the threads need to be cut, not pulled. If cut they will grow back in a short time.

I have never had a problem with this, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by abigtroutt

What light is the minimum for a clam? I have a nano 10 gallon with a 65 watt light that I want to put one in.

I don't think any clams would do well under that, there is a certian level of light that needs to be past and I don't think you got it, even though you have such a small tank.

I did keep a Derassa, and Gigas clam under 2*55W PC in my 15 for a long time, it worked great and they did grow, outgrew the tank accually (at least without removing the rock). The problem is that these clams eventually will get far larger than the tank itself, so you need a larger tank to eventually move them into. The other problem is that Derassa and Gigas grow fast, and suck CA so you need some kind of automated way of keeping up, or at very least dose 2 part every day at an ammount you caculate by the clam's usage.

HTH,
Whiskey

[Kalkbreath]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Oh Jenna, another side note. It can be a little more difficult to find a healthy Maxima or Croshea, the reason for this is they are rock burroring clams, they dig themselfs into the rocks making them difficult to remove for the divers. If the divers rip the clam off the rock they will damage it's byassal gland (leathal), the threads need to be cut, not pulled. If cut they will grow back in a short time.

I have never had a problem with this, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Whiskey

Aquacultured Maximas dont have a problem with collection stress.
They also dont really need to be fed, even at small sizes.
We grow out seed clams in 54 gallon tanks under one 250 HQI lamp per tank.
we have forty to fifty clams(two inch )per tank and they grow and do fine with limited feedings.
High light , a mature tank , and keeping the water ballanced is all that is really important.
This three inch rule for clams is really silly, (Who ever started this notion?)
Most of our Baby clam systems have a one gallon of water per clam ratio.
(ie:500 clams in a five-hundred gallon system)
Bowl feeding is not only not needed , its harmfull.( again who suggested clam bowl burnings?)
(Too much food clogs the gills and spending time in a poor water quality soup bowl can cause Ammonia burn depending on what liquid food is used)
Tank raised Clams are pre-adapted to aquarium life, aquarium foods and artificial lighting.
Look for Tank raised clams to be hitting the market next month.