Info on T. Gigas?

[MarkS]

I realize that these are the largest of the giant clam species and think that it would make a nice "feature" for my upcoming 224 gallon tank.

What I want to know is:

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI> How much light do they need? I will have halides and VHO actinics.
<LI> How much current do they like?
<LI> Do they like to be placed on the sand or on rocks?
<LI> Do they need any special care?
<LI> How fast do they grow and how long would it take for them to reach maximum size? Do they even have a maximum size? 18" would be the max that could fit in my tank and I plan on getting a small one.
<LI> Where is a good online vendor that sells them? I do know that people have had trouble in getting them lately due to harvesting restrictions in Australia.
</UL>

TIA,
Mark

 

[Anonymous]

Where is a good online vendor that sells them? I do know that people have had trouble in getting them lately due to harvesting restrictions in Australia.

You'll be very lucky to find one, and it's not because of harvesting restrictions. The simple truth is that japanese restaurants will pay a lot more for a gigas clam then an american hobbyist will. Those that are harvested have ended up almost exclusively in the food trade for the past few years.

I'd try Harbor, but I wouldn't count on anything. You might also try to give Jeff's a call, I think the Vanisi family might be able to supply a few, possibly.

 

[jamesw]

Yep,

Right now T. gigas are very hard to get. That doesn't mean that they aren't cool though...

They live on the sand always.
They need medium to high light.
They grow about 1" of shell margin every 3-4 months in a good reef system and in the wild.
They don't need any more special care than say a T. derasa.

Max size is about 3-5 feet and many hundreds of lbs.

HTH
James Wiseman

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I got a T. gigas. They are not particularly hard to keep. Mine is about 14-16 inches now. It start out as less than 2 inches 12/98. I love him. you can see a picture of him at my reef page.

 

[outerbank]

Minh, are you sure that clam is only 14-16 inches? It looks to be about 18 inches to me!!

Scott

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I need to take him out and measure him.

 

[outerbank]

Just don't break your back lifting the monster out of the tank!!!

Scott

 

[MarkS]

Thanks Mihn! WOW! My mind is set...

The max size that I want to know is from the bottom of the clam to the top. The tank is 48"L x 48"D x 24" H. I am going to have a 6" sand bed so that leaves 18" for the clam to grow.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Minh Nguyen]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MarkS:
<STRONG>The tank is 48"L x 48"D x 24" H. I am going to have a 6" sand bed so that leaves 18" for the clam to grow.

Thanks,
Mark</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
T. gigas will out growth a 120 g tank in a few years if the tank and the clam is healthy. You don't really wanted this clam too close to the surface MH. Height is about a little over half of lenght. I expect my clam will reach 24 inches in 2-3 more years if it continue to grow at this rate. I know that people have donated T. gigas to puplic aquarium before because they out-growth their tank.
The same clam will be OK in a 220 g for many years.
Im my tank, I will have to rearrange the rock in the near future because mine is reach from the front to the base of the wock cave in the back now. I either move him sideway or remove some of the rock.
He is a very beautiful clam. Not flashy like my T. maxima or T. crocea but beautiful nevertheless.