ID Please!

wilsonh · #1 03/20/2007, 12:10 AM

I'm brand new to clams, however I purchased this one around 10 days ago. I have attempted to ID from the literature here, however to my eye anyway, it appears to have characteristics of both Maxima, and Crocea, I need some expert help.

What's confusing is it has scutes more like a Maxima, but has 7 ribs, unlike a Maxima.

It is around 1 1/2 inches long, and the pic does not quite catch it right, it is longer relative to hight than it appears in the shell pic, as the pic was taken on a bit of an angle.

Unfortunately when I got it, i did not know enough to look to see how big the byssal opening is, now it is firmly attached & I don't want to disturb it. Anyhow, here it is.

The second part of my question, is to do with the health of the clam. It is currently 16 inches below a 14,000k 250 watt halide.
I read about "gaping" in unhealthy clams, and when I got this one, it was doing it. Now though the inhalent syphon has turned more into a narrow slit and the mantle is spreading out more. Does this mean it is doing OK and getting all it needs?

BTW that frogspawn is not a danger it is a frag that I've since moved.

a4twenty · #2 03/20/2007, 07:34 AM

i'd say tank raised crocea

crocea's lose their scutes by boring between rocks and corals in the ocean.

the term "gaping" is often misused in reference to clams. quite frequently crocea's will allow their incurrent siphon to open more than usual, especially during acclimation. Gaping is more of a pre-death symptom or condition where the mantle has pulled inside and the clam loses control of the abductor muscle, basically he can no longer close his shell.

he look ok, how big is he?

WayneY · #3 03/20/2007, 09:01 PM

I'd say a crocea as well.

Rovert · #4 03/20/2007, 09:23 PM

Ditto a Crocea. The even, higher shape of the shell (rather than elongated as it is in a Maxima) was the clue for me.

a4twenty, my guess - he looks to be under 2", based on the size of the Frogspawn next to him.

wilsonh · #5 03/21/2007, 03:00 AM

Thanks guys

, I was leaning toward Crocea as well.

You are correct Rovert, it is around 1 1/2 inches long.

I also have a feeding question, having read that clams under 3 inches should be fed. I don't have any phytoplankton but am working on getting some, although not so easy in my country.
However in the mean time, most days I feed the tank some blended frozen food made to my own recipe, and the fine stuff clouds the tank for an hour or so. I allow this as the corals seem to like it. Would this feed the clam also? or does it HAVE to be phytoplankton?

a4twenty · #6 03/21/2007, 07:03 AM

clams don't 'HAVE' to be feed phyto but it doesn't hurt and probably does help ( i dose 3 times a week

). the meaty food you give your tank is probably to big for a clam but will in the end produce nutrients (N&P's ) for the clam to use.

looks like you have a really nice BB tank, any chance of a FTS ?

wilsonh · #7 03/21/2007, 08:32 AM

Well here is a link on our local forum to my tank page, although a bit out of date, but the idea is there.
BTW there seems to be something wrong with photobucket at the moment but no doubt they'll have it fixed soon.
http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/was...k-vt10027.html

Clamtopia · #8 03/21/2007, 10:17 PM

Farmed Croceas are pretty rare here in the US.
Did the place you got it from state where the clam originated?
Also how many did they have to choose from?
Thanks

wilsonh · #9 03/22/2007, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the responses, good info.

I did not ask where it came from but I'm catching up with the guy in another week or two so will ask. However sometimes the info he is given by his suppliers is unreliable it's better to attempt my own species ID.
There were maybe a half dozen to choose from, although this was the only small one, the others being double or triple that size. I got the smallest as it was the easiest on the wallet!

They were all pretty much identical other than size.

mbbuna · #10 03/22/2007, 04:24 AM

im not convinced thats a Crocea. the scutes are too widely spaced IMO more typical of a Maxima. try to get a direct side on shot and one of the byssal opening like this

a4twenty · #11 03/22/2007, 07:03 AM

maybe it's the elusive hybrid EZ was talking about

i keep looking back at those pics and changing my mind. i settled on crocea because of the mantle and shell shape & symmetry. right after i posted my answer i thought of changing it to squamosa because of the symmetry of the shell and the spacing of the scutes. but i wasn't sure of the size ( yeah i know it was in the first post, i must have been still sleeping ) and the mantle didn't seem to fit.

when you try to take the other pics, maybe try to get one of the incurrent siphon as well. this may help if he has attached to the bottom already.

PS thanks for the link to the tank photo's, your tank looks awesome

wilsonh · #12 03/22/2007, 07:27 AM

Hmmm....

Just when i thought i knew what it was!

I feel like it is just settling & not keen to uproot it at the moment, but was thinking of placing it on its own rock. So hopefully within a few days I'll get a suitable rock sorted for it, & then I'll get the needed pics at the same time I move it.

BTW I'm told to unstick him I slide a razor underneath, is that correct?

And thanks for the extra opinion Mbbuna, be good to get 100% to the bottom of this.

mbbuna · #13 03/22/2007, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilsonh

BTW I'm told to unstick him I slide a razor underneath, is that correct?

tip it to the side a little then slide the razor along the bottom of the tank

onehundred20 · #14 03/22/2007, 05:05 PM

id say maxima by the scutes and the shape of the mantle

wilsonh · #15 03/22/2007, 07:28 PM

Herewith the pics, what do you think?

Couldn't get a decent one of the inhalent syphon, I'll come back with that if I can do it.

Good to see some decent new growth in only two weeks

mbbuna · #16 03/23/2007, 07:09 AM

definitely a Maxima

critterkeeper · #17 03/23/2007, 10:32 AM

Maxima - take a look at the last pic in the column here:

http://www.picsbase.com/james/defaul...=293&offset=15

and here:

http://www.picsbase.com/james/defaul...=293&offset=30

They're are occasaional ones that have a much shorter shell than normal...

wilsonh · #18 03/23/2007, 10:52 AM

I'll agree it does look like a maxima, just the only thing is it has more ribs than any pic of a maxima I have ever seen.

mbbuna · #19 03/23/2007, 11:05 AM

heres the best explantion of how to ID clams ive ever seen clam ID

and this ones kind of ok

clam ID 2

J/K JF (aka flunky)

wilsonh · #20 03/24/2007, 06:01 AM

Thanks Mbbuna, good stuff!

Last question ( well maybe! )

Assuming it's a maxima, what sort of growth rate should I expect from him?

mbbuna · #21 03/24/2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilsonh

Assuming it's a maxima, what sort of growth rate should I expect from him?

no need to assume any more

growth rates for Maximas are about 2.5cm to 5cm per year

wilsonh · #22 03/26/2007, 05:54 AM

Thanks.

Problem though. Yesterday I found it lying on its side a few inched from where it was anchored, and a piece of torn off foot still stuck to the rock. I cleaned the rock up & put him back, not sure what happened, I don't really have any fish strong enough to do that.
He opened up & looking fine, but today it is off the rock again. Does this mean it does not like the place where it is? Or what?