My new clams!

[sundance1]

JUST unpacked these babbies! 1 each,gold maxima,squamossa and a derasa! Hope they grow well,they are awful small! http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085newclams_002.jpg

[Ti]

nice clams!

[sundance1]

Thanks,I will post more pics tomarrow,after they calm down a little.

[Reefcherie]

They do look small, though I'm not sure about the perspective of the picture. If they are under 3", have you read about methods of feeding them and are you ready to do so?

[Don Berry]

Under the right conditions they will grow faster than you think. My Deresa has doubled in size in a matter of months. I don't have a Squamosa, but I know they are fast growers as well. My Tear Drop Maxima grows faster than my Blue Maxima as well.

[sundance1]

Yeah,I will put them in a bowl to feed a couple times a week.The squammy is about 2.5" and is the largest one.Any other suggestions?

[Reefcherie]

Please tell us about your lighting, tank and placement of the clams w/ regard to that lighting.

In order to facilitate removing it to place in a bowl, you will need to make sure the maxima doesn't attach to your rockwork or attaches to something small enough to easily move. The squamosa and derasa do not tend to attach IME.

When you feed, be sure to keep the water in the bowl warm enough. I set mine close to a light so that the water stayed warm. I don't think a cold clam feeds well, if at all.

[sundance1]

I have a 125reef with 3x250 DE 14k MH and 4x96 watt PC's.The clams are sitting on a small half shell of a deceased clam about 1/2 the way up my rockwork.

[Reefcherie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6581606#post6581606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sundance1
I have a 125reef with 3x250 DE 14k MH and 4x96 watt PC's.The clams are sitting on a small half shell of a deceased clam about 1/2 the way up my rockwork.

Nice setup! That sounds good for the maxima and squamosa. If you find the derasa is shifting around, you might try placing it on the sand. The other two will put out byssal filaments for attachment if they are happy (the squamosa tends to use weak ones compared to the maxima), but I haven't heard of derasa's doing that. Most folks I know place derasa clams on the sand bed. That is where mine has always been and since they grow very quickly (comparatively speaking), that seems to work out well.

[sundance1]

The clams have settled in nicely except the maxima,he keeps jumping around.How often should I feed these guys?http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085squammy.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085goldmaxima.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085derasa.jpg

[Reefcherie]

IME clams have their own idea about what position makes them "happy" - often not matching their owner's idea about what is most aesthetically pleasing :D

I'd go with 3 times a week if they were mine until they are a little bigger. They don't have large enough mantles yet to meet their food requirements through photosynthesis. Once they hit about 3" feeding really isn't necessary w/ good lighting like yours.

[TommiS]

Hey one of your new clam looks like copy of my clam :)
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/33058Simpukka.jpg

[sundance1]

Beautiful clam!

When I feed my small clams,how long should I let them in the bowl?

[Julio]

hey sundace, that squamie is very rare, congrats.

[sundance1]

What do you mean rare?he was only $32.00.I haven't seen any local so I ordered from e-Bay.Maybe I got lucky huh?:smokin:

[sundance1]

How often should I feed them?Every day?every other day? 3 times a week?I am using Reefchili to feed them with.

[Julio]

Is a blue squamie right? that is what it looks like from the pics. Blue squamies are really rae in this world.

[Reefcherie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6600270#post6600270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sundance1
How often should I feed them?Every day?every other day? 3 times a week?I am using Reefchili to feed them with.

I'm not familiar w/ "Reefchili".....is that a live phytoplankton product?

I fed my babies 3x a week, then cut back to 2x/wk when they hit ~2.5"

[sundance1]

This is a freeze dried product:
Bio-engineered Zooplankton

This type of zooplankton is well known for extremely high levels of important fatty acids (Omega 3). It can have as much as 40 times the Highly
Unsaturated Fatty Acids (HUFA's) of Artemia nauplii (baby brine shrimp).
Tests have also shown this zooplankton to have uniquely high levels of
beneficial antioxidants and Carotenoid pigments (astaxanthene} .
(400 to 500 microns)

Spray-dried Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton is considered by most aquarists to be the best all around feed for aquatic filter feeders. Spray-dried phytoplankton has the benefit of
being preserved at the height of its nutritional value so you always know you
are feeding your tank the very best..
(2-900 microns depending on how well it is mixed )

Artemia nauplii replacement diet

For years it has successfully replaced live Artemia nauplii all over the world. The feed contains small pockets of air that keep it suspended in the water
column and help it mimic live Artemia nauplii. Because of its size and
nutritional value it is simply prefect for supplemental coral feeding.
Contains Fish protein, whey, yeast and yeast extracts, marine fish oil, phospholipids,
astaxanthin, vitamin and mineral premixes, anti-oxidants
(1-50 mcirons and 50-100 microns)

Freeze dried Rotifers

Rotifers are a wonderful zooplanktonic treat for your corals. These rotifers are naturally enriched by feeding on micoalgaes like phytoplankton and
contain up to an incredible 60% protein. These are also freeze dried at the
peak of their nutritional value. The freeze dried rotifers completely remove the
tedious task of maintaining the cultures.
(100-200 microns)

Freeze dried Copepods

Because of the high HUFA and fatty acid content, copepods are one of the best natural foods available for invertebrates. Aquaculture companies all
over the world use them in vast quantity’s. Freeze dried at the peak of their
nutritional cycle they are able to maintain up to 57% protein.
(100-400 microns)

Dried Daphnia

Also known as the water flea, daphnia is an excellent coral food. The crustacean naturally comes packed with incredibly healthy blue-green algae
. Blue green algae are an incredible source of highly unsaturated fatty acids
(HUFA’s) like Arachidonic Acid, Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Linoeic Acid.
(5 -750 microns)

Spirulina Powder

The benefits of blue green algae are incredible. This type of algae is packed full of vitamins , minerals, carotenoid pigments and amino acids, making it
very nutritious for all the organisms in your tank
{50-100 microns).

[Reefcherie]

Thanks for the explanation. I hadn't run into this product yet.

[sundance1]

I have been using it for awhile for my corals,it really made a difference,especially in my softies and my lps.

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

nice

[sundance1]

I have decided to raise these on nothing but the reefchili and my lighting.I am going to take pictured every Tuesday and post them here.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085reefchiliclams_003.jpg

[gil716]

Nice! Something to look forward to on Tuesdays now. ;)

[JR719]

Nice clams. I am also not familiar with the reefchili but sounds good. Well, no, it sounds nasty but good for the tank. I am curious about it so keep posting on the progress with the stuff.

JR

[Reefcherie]

Do you know what proportion of Reefchili is phytoplankton? From what I understand, the phyto is the only element in Reefchili that Tridacnid clams are likely to utilize, so I would like to share my concern that in a 125-gallon tank, there may not be a high enough concentration of phyto available to these young clams.

While their mantles (especially for the two smallest) are so tiny, they will have little surface area available for photosynthesis, so they are relying much more heavily on direct feeding at this size than they will once they've grown past 3".

[sundance1]

When I feed them,I mix the enough of the food for a 140 gallon tank.I place the clams in a small bowl with the water about 1" over the mantle and feed them in the bowl.After about 20 min. I place the clams back in the tank and feed the tank what's left in the bowl.

[Reefcherie]

Thanks for explaining further. I misunderstood your intention and thought your announcement meant you had abandoned the idea of bowl feeding. If the proportion of phytoplankton in the Reefchili is high enough, and it is in a form that the young clams can utilize, this could work. I am unfamiliar w/ how well clams utilize spray-dried phytoplankton.... as I've only used home created phyto in its fresh, liquid form.

With the Reefchili in a bowl, can you see a visible difference in the appearance of the water from the time you place the clams in it until you take them out? I always found it reassuring to see that the green tinged water became noticeably clearer as the clams fed.

[sundance1]

Yes,after the 20 min. in the bowl,the water is much clearer(but not TOTALLY clear)than it was when I first put it in.I can see the water moving quite a bit from the clams feeding while they are in the bowl.

[Barry N.]

I'd go with 3 times a week if they were mine until they are a little bigger. They don't have large enough mantles yet to meet their food requirements through photosynthesis. Once they hit about 3" feeding really isn't necessary w/ good lighting like yours.

I agree. :)

IMO, we like to use a live phyto. Phyto-Feast or DT's.

Another thing I would like to add. :) Maximas and croceas grow the slowest of all the Tridacnids

In our experience the Tridacna maxima is the hardest to keep under 2.5" Tridacna derasa is by far the easiest to keep.

[CrazyLionfish]

Do you have to bowl feed them? Mine is over 4 inches and I was under the impression that if they're over 3 inches you can just feed the tank instead of target feeding.

[Reefcherie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6647675#post6647675 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CrazyLionfish
Do you have to bowl feed them? Mine is over 4 inches and I was under the impression that if they're over 3 inches you can just feed the tank instead of target feeding.

No, you don't need to bowl feed them at that size! With proper lighting, a Tridacnid clam over 3" no longer needs target feeding at all. Their mantle has reached sufficient size/surface area that they are able to meet their needs w/ photosynthesis. That isn't to say that they might not still benefit from phytoplankton feeding within the tank.

[sundance1]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085clams2706_001.jpg

[sundance1]

OK,here is this weeks pic! The date on my camer is wrong,I took this pic thismorning 02/14/2006.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085clams02142006_001.jpg

[sundance1]

The clams all seem to be doing well.A little new growth can be seen on all three of them.I am bowl feeding "reef chili" every other day.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11008502212006.jpg

[anglecoral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6638939#post6638939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefcherie
Do you know what proportion of Reefchili is phytoplankton? From what I understand, the phyto is the only element in Reefchili that Tridacnid clams are likely to utilize, so I would like to share my concern that in a 125-gallon tank, there may not be a high enough concentration of phyto available to these young clams.

While their mantles (especially for the two smallest) are so tiny, they will have little surface area available for photosynthesis, so they are relying much more heavily on direct feeding at this size than they will once they've grown past 3".

actually the clams will prolly also utilize the Artemia nauplii replacement diet. it is the same size as the phyto and contains way more nutrition than even gut loaded phyto.

[AngelReefer]

Nice clams

[sundance1]

Here's this weeks pics(a day late)I had court for work yesterday.I quit bowl feeding the Squammy and the Derasa,I will continue to bowl feed the Maxima till it grows some more.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11008503012006.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11008503012006-1.jpg

[sundance1]

These guys are still going great! Been really busy and haven't had much time lately to take pics,here's some new pics!http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11008503252006.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085032520062.jpg

[JmLee]

i bought a 2inch blue maxima about 3 months ago and i dont feed him directly. I dose my tank very lightly about 1-2 times a week with DT phytoplankton and hes growing like crazy.

[Snprhed]

Anybody know what became of the lawsuit of DT's against Phyto?

[alien9168]

Nice clams!

I like your squamosa. :)

-alien

[Snarkys]

any updates ? still feeding them ?

[sundance1]

Yeah,still feeding the reef chili.they are doing fine and are growing.The Maxima is growing slowly though.I been really busy working OT and fishing,but I'll try to get some pics up tomarrow.

[sundance1]

Here's some updated pics,still feeding ONLY on reefchili and my lighting.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085clm.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/110085clms.JPG

[Snarkys]

they look fantastic

[hairymushroom]

awesome squamie , makes me feel jealous

[Snarkys]

So do you think the Reef Chili worked pretty well for feeding the smaller clams ?

[sundance1]

I think it is working fine,the maxima is growing slowly though.The Squammy and the Derasa are growing at a good rate though.

[Kaykay55]

Very Nice !!

[Victoria]

I'm a little confused with the dates on your pictures. Are these recent photo's?
Victoria

[sundance1]

The ones dated 2005 are not the correct date,I had just replaced the battery and forgot to set the date.