clam

[SteveS]

still early days yet, but got my new clam today, pic taken after only half hour in the tank, so hopefully it will open more over the next few days. thanks to ray for collecting it for me.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n93/_SteveS_/clam.jpg

steve

[Kev]

Steve, thats going to look very nice when open. How big is that guy?

Kev

[TerraC]

no probs m8. looked fantastic in the LFS, should open up nicely for you soon..

[SteveS]

its about 4" m8, just read gillys thread about acclimatising and i spent just over 2hours doing that, wouldnt dream of just throwing it in!

steve

[Kev]

Don't blame you. I rushed mine cos it came mail order, and was in crap shape when it arrived. I figured it was better to get on with it. Turned out just fine, now nice an healthy. Great colour you have in that one.

Kev

[Gillybaby]

That is a stunning clam - nice one Steve ;)

Can't wait to see a pic of it fully open.

[mark d]

Nice clam Steve!

Noticed from your stock listing that you have a Bi-colour Angel. I too bought one that immediately decided that clam mantles were the tastiest treat going!

My recommendation would be to keep a close eye on your angel! Some are fine (currently have a Majestic and have kept a Flame with clams too) and some are terrors.

I think it can be down to the individual as much as the species.

If you do notice pieces out of the clam's mantle then try and separate one of them quickly! I ended up putting my clams in the sump until I trapped the bi-colour a few days later. The mantles did re-grow fairly quickly.

Good luck

Mark

[Kev]

I have noticed, very occasionally that my Bicolour has a gentle nip at the clam too. Although has not caused any damage to the clam.

Kev

[mark d]

Mostly angels just forage on the algae / critters living on the shell. I think one of the misconceptions that they are coral botherers is due to them nibbling at previously dead areas which have since become grown over with algae.

You'll soon know when it decides the mantles are tasty! Watch for nibbled-out mantle edges and the clam closing up.

Mark

[Reefer]

Nice Clam, i fancy 1 but have never risked it as they are quite expensive.
Are they relatively easy to keep or difficult?

[Kev]

Hi Reefer

I purposely got myself a Deresa Clam. Research suggested it was probably the hardiest of the clams, and does not require quite as demanding light levels. Another reason I got this one, my current tank is quite small, and I was a bit worried about stability, although this worry has proved unfounded. I felt the hardiest would best cope with this potential instability.

I understand that brighter lighting can help growth, along with the addition of calcium. I do not add calcium, or do any target feeding with the clam. I think I have had it about 7 months now and it looks nice and healthy. I do regular partial water changes.

It looked pretty miserable when it arrived mail order, and I rushed it into my tank. 3 days later it was open wide and had attached.

Hope this helps, I am not the biologist or chemist, but these are my experiences.

[callum_parsons]

that clam is a really nice colour congradulations

[Reefer]

Cheers for that Kev, I may risk one. Can I be a pain and ask you to take a photo of said clam so I know what I'm buying is the right one?
Thanks mate.
p.s. what should I be paying for one?

[Kev]

Here you go Reefer. If I remember rightly, this little Deresa cost me £35.00.

Kev

[Reefer]

Kev
Thanks for that, its a beauty isnt it.
Gonna have a word with my man at Leicester Aquatics and see if he can get me a small one. Any specialist feeding or water flow requirements I should know about?
Cheers

[SteveS]

Nice clam Steve!

Noticed from your stock listing that you have a Bi-colour Angel. I too bought one that immediately decided that clam mantles were the tastiest treat going!

My recommendation would be to keep a close eye on your angel! Some are fine (currently have a Majestic and have kept a Flame with clams too) and some are terrors.

I think it can be down to the individual as much as the species.

If you do notice pieces out of the clam's mantle then try and separate one of them quickly! I ended up putting my clams in the sump until I trapped the bi-colour a few days later. The mantles did re-grow fairly quickly.

Good luck

Mark

thanks for the info mark, i was aware that i had to keep an eye on the angels, and it seems the bi colour does have an eye for the clam...so im looking to remove him asap...shame really as i really like him...my flame angel aint looked twice at the clam so im lucky there.

dwarf angels are my fav fish, so ill be reading up for a clam safe angel to replace the bicolour.

just to add, the clams foot has attached to the rock, i just feel if the bicolour wasnt hassling it, it would open up more

steve

[SteveS]

Kev
Thanks for that, its a beauty isnt it.
Gonna have a word with my man at Leicester Aquatics and see if he can get me a small one. Any specialist feeding or water flow requirements I should know about?
Cheers

hi reefer,

ive read that clams need the intensity of halide lighting, nice high calcium readings, a little nitrate and phosphate wont do any harm...and feed the tank with live phyto or marine snow 2/3 times a week...and remove any bi colour angels! will let you know the results

and you can pick them up for between 30(online+p&p) or lfs' for about 40/45 quid,

steve

[Kev]

Kev
Thanks for that, its a beauty isnt it.............Any specialist feeding or water flow requirements I should know about?

Cheers Reefer

Deresa's are forgiving in respect of light levels, and don't need the same intensity as other Tridacna imo.

The downside is the colour in the Deresa is quite dull, compared with the cracking blue colour in Steve's photo.:)

Nice currents around them are appreciated, but not direct flow from a pump. Personally I do not target feed. Regular water changes help imo, and calcium if you want faster growth, but not a necessity imo.

Kev

[Reefer]

Went to look at some tonight, there was 2 small 1" Blue ones as in the pic at the top and a 1 1/2" Deresa, really quite small, I didnt buy the price tag was £35 each. Not sure if buying one of t'internets a good idea is it? Kevs experience sounded a bit dodgey.
James do you sell them??

[callum_parsons]

i plan to keep a clam in the future after doing research. they are so elligent!

[Kev]

Hi Reefer

They so seem a little overpriced to me?

Kev

[Reefer]

Maybe, seems to be the going rate in Leicester.

[Kev]

Another thing to bear in mind price wise, buy via mail order and the clam will likely be cheaper. When you add post and packaging, it will work out the same or even more as over the counter.

[SteveS]

update:

came downstairs this morning and a bloody p/head had slipped, blasted the egg crate box i had covering the clam was floating, and the clam laid in the sand blasted off the rock it had attached too :mad:

settled it back onto a rock, hoping the foot hasnt been damaged in anyway, took this pic later on today

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n93/_SteveS_/clam1.jpg

after lights out, bloody hermits knocked it off twice, so ive had to relocate it again, getting worried now that it aint settled

caught bicolour angel in a fishtrap(thanks ray) and its now at my lfs, tank looks empty without it :(

steve

[Kev]

Bit of bad look Steve. Hopefully it should be fine. I would not have thought the flow would have caused a problem, it would have just closed up.

I used 2 bits of rubble carefully placed to allow the clam to open, but to keep it upright until is became secure. When secure I took the rubble away.

Kev

[SteveS]

clam looks great today :)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n93/_SteveS_/clam2.jpg

steve

[Kev]

Nice one. One of the nicer things about the Maxima compared to the Deresa I have is that the mantle on the Maxima is much more pronounced with some lovely folds over the shell.

Looks great.

Kev

[moorish]

very nice looking clam,its mainly the dwarf angels that pick at them most of the large angels dont.derek