Clam T Squamosa or crocea

pretty much require the same. if you get one say under 3 inchs you will need to feed them more directly then one bigger then that

 

Are you saying target feed your clams? I've never heard of that...but then again, clams are not really my forté. I figured being filter feeders, there wasn't much that could be done to target feed them...then again, I don't really target feed anything in my tank. Back to the clams, I have two in my tank and I must admit, the one that I've had more issues with is the smaller clam. It's a maxima...probably about 3". I've had issues with the edges of the mantle looking a bit rough. After doing more photoplankton feeding to the tank, it came back within a couple of weeks. I have a crocea that's about 5" and it's pretty much bulletproof. I thought it was having issues, but it turned out that there were vermetid snails growing on the shell catching food in their webs and the fish would pick the food out, causing the clam to pull back it's mantle a bit. All in all, both seem to be doing great currently.

Can anyone else comment on target feeding clams? Do others do this too?

--AJ

 

Technically there are large differences between these two species of clams and might give you a few things to consider. Although general care is about the same.
First and foremost, croceas are rarely found beneath 9m depth in the wild, this is highly indicative that they require an intense amount of light in order to thrive, they should be placed on a rock not on sand, where their bysus organ will secrete a mild acid and threads that will in time burrow its way down into the rock securing it there indefinitely. Croceas get to a maximum size of about 7"
In contrast, squamosas are found at a depth of upto 18m although they generally live in much shallower waters ~6m, can and should generally be placed directly in sand. Most importantly, squamosas reach a maximum size of 20". Keep in mind, that under ideal conditions clams will reach their maximum size within 4-5 years.
By the time they are of marketable size, clams do not require feeding, AT ALL. Studies have shown that zooxanthellae can produce 160-240% of the daily nutritional needs.
For more, check out Fatherree 2006 "giant clams in the sea and in the aquarirum."
-ANdy

 

Great info. Thanks Andy!

--AJ

 

so how do you what is what i have 2 clams dont no what kind

 

Identification should be relatively easy and straight forward, each species exhibits discrete morphological features. Plus there are only 9 species in 2 different genera, only 5 of which are commonplace in the aquarium trade; t. crocea, maxima, squamosa, derasa, and gigas. I could ID any of these, plus any of the other 4 by photograph, although hybrids and deformities do exist.