Clam Placement

[Lknapp]

I purchased a T. Maxima about 7 days ago. I wanted to place the clam on the bottom of my tank in an open area so that it could be easily viewed. I do not have much in the way of sand on the bottom of my tank (maybe 1/2 inch) so there is really nothing to support the clam in an upright position. The clam is attached to a very small piece of rock, which basically just covers its byssal apparatus. I had heard that a clam will move enough to attach itself to something in the tank (other than this small piece of rock it is currently attached to). I was hoping it would be the glass bottom of the tank. Instead the thing fell over. Will it right itself? Should I support it? It appears to be doing fine on its side, however this is not the position I had expected it to prefer.

 

[pathos]

you definitely don't want to leave him lying down sideways in the sand. if I were you i'd leave him attached to his rock and epoxy the small rock to a larger one. Maximas need intense light so put him up high, and as perpendicular to you as you can where his mantle gets good exposure.

 

[davelin315]

It shouldn't be on the bottom in my opinion. You should allow the clam to attach to a rock higher up in the water column. I don't agree with keeping clams on the sand bed, as that leaves them unable to attach (I doubt it will ever attach to your tank bottom, and if it did, it could get buried under the sand) although some species do live on the sand in nature from what I've been told. I think that all tridacnid clams should be elevated to protect them and to allow them to live in their real environments. In nature, they live in rock, not on it, as they grow in cracks and crevices and grow into their living spaces. They also have the ability to shave the rock to fit them. I had one clam that took out about an 1/8" of rock from where I had it in an effort to stabilize itself by shaving the rock away with its shell.

 

[Lknapp]

I have 400 watts of pc above this 100g tank. Isn't that enough light? Seems like I see photos of t. maxima on the bottom of alot of tanks in most books. Not sitting on a pile of rock halfway up the water column.

 

[npaden]

I don't think that is enought light for a maxima unless it is at the VERY top of your rock structure directly underneath the brightest light you've got.

I've got Maximas and Croceas in my tank under 400W MH lights and I don't keep them on the bottom.

I do think that Derasas and Squasmosas will do fine on the sand of a well lit tank but I'm afraid even a Derasa or Squasmosa would need to be elevated in your tank. Especially if any of the lights are actinic as they don't put out my PAR and should be rated as about .5 watts IMO.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[chris_h]

Where ever you put it dont move it once it has attached to the rocks.

 

[kevjtomy]

Regarding your second post - I have a 72 gal tank with 4x96 PC's. My maxima is on LR about 6" to 8" from the lights. Has been about 4 weeks and doing great. I know some will say that this is not enough light but... My LFS has the same clam in about a 200 gal corner tank with the exact same lights, but the clam is about 12" to 14" from the lights. I have been watching that clam for close to a year and it is doing great. Just a comment, take for what it is worth.. Good luck..

 

[howie099]

I have 4 baby maximas and 1 deresa in my tank under a 400w MH and 95w VHO. 2 of the clams attached to rocks and the other 2 did not, They keep on moving a bit, only one knows him self over. One did bury himself in the sand all but his mantel. I just burried a piece of rock in sand and placed the clams over them to let them attack and than you can move them. My tank is a 30g and I will be upgrading to a 75g

 

[Lknapp]

This clam appears to be acclimating to the bottom of the tank nicely. It is not gaping any longer and is fully extended. The tank is 22" deep.