Clyde February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 I just got a very small maxima clam, about 1 inch. It does not want to stay on the rock. Should I just let it be on the substrate? It seems happy there. Thanx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 If it is getting enough light then it is fine on the bottom. It you don't have enough light at the bottom the I would put it back up in the rocks and put small rocks around it to hold it in place until it attaches. Tell us a little more about the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde February 9, 2012 Author Share February 9, 2012 If it is getting enough light then it is fine on the bottom. It you don't have enough light at the bottom the I would put it back up in the rocks and put small rocks around it to hold it in place until it attaches. Tell us a little more about the tank. I have 24 gal cube. As far as light I have a coralife with actinics and 150w halide. I have about 3 inches of substrate. I think it should have enough light at substrate level. I may put a small flat rock in the sand and put it there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 It sounds like it will have enough to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri Bui February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 Look like it going to be ok but keep an eye out for it. It should be fully open and show its colors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan S February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 I have 24 gal cube. As far as light I have a coralife with actinics and 150w halide. I have about 3 inches of substrate. I think it should have enough light at substrate level. I may put a small flat rock in the sand and put it there. LFS's have these small clam mount/rock things... for like $2.99. I got one from Bankyf. I think he got it from F&F or BRK. You should get one of those for the clam, let the clam attach to it on the sand bed, then after he is attached, you can glue the rock anywhere in your tank you want... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trockafella February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 I have one of those clam holders. Your welcome to have it, its just sitting in my sump.. I got mine from one of the LFS as well.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 Placement doesn't really matter right now so much as feeding. When they are only 1" they haven't built up enough zooxanthellae to feed themselves and need supplemental feedings. They are primarily filter feeders at this point. That said, the Maximas from what I remember are most often found on top of the rock and sometimes will bore into the rock. They do not typically live in soft substrates and so should be on the rock. I would find a rock that can accommodate it's shape and "cup" it a little bit. Also, once it's attached, leave it alone. Your placement now will be important for later on, but again, right now the lighting while needed is not the primary concern nor will it keep the clam alive. It needs to get to around 2"+ in order to be successful based on photosynthesis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trockafella February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 Placement doesn't really matter right now so much as feeding. When they are only 1" they haven't built up enough zooxanthellae to feed themselves and need supplemental feedings. They are primarily filter feeders at this point. That said, the Maximas from what I remember are most often found on top of the rock and sometimes will bore into the rock. They do not typically live in soft substrates and so should be on the rock. I would find a rock that can accommodate it's shape and "cup" it a little bit. Also, once it's attached, leave it alone. Your placement now will be important for later on, but again, right now the lighting while needed is not the primary concern nor will it keep the clam alive. It needs to get to around 2"+ in order to be successful based on photosynthesis. +1... Very Very good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind February 9, 2012 Share February 9, 2012 Here is a nice article on clam carbon sources and survival rates. http://www.saltcorner.com/Articles/Showarticle.php?articleID=76 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde February 9, 2012 Author Share February 9, 2012 Look like it going to be ok but keep an eye out for it. It should be fully open and show its colors! As I said, I put down a small rock in the sand and put the clam on it. Being so small,maybe an inch. How wide should it open? It opens enough that I can see it bright yet small mantle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde February 9, 2012 Author Share February 9, 2012 As I said, I put down a small rock in the sand and put the clam on it. Being so small,maybe an inch. How wide should it open? It opens enough that I can see it bright yet small mantle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 February 10, 2012 Share February 10, 2012 My own personal thought is that it should open further than that. You should be able to see it spread its mantle out across the shell and extend them. That one looks to be only partially open, is something bothering it? It's important to take a peek under the mantle and around the scutes and the byssal opening to see if there are any predators on there. Look for small pyramid snails or other things bothering it to keep it from opening like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan S February 10, 2012 Share February 10, 2012 For what it's worth Clyde, I had 2 clams that were about that size and both ended up dying. I think they're very difficult to get to a photosynthetic size, but maybe it was just me. I'd like to try again some day, but chances are I'll just start with a bigger one from the beginning and not a baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 February 10, 2012 Share February 10, 2012 David posted an interesting article by Rob Toonen, I find that some of the information contradicts what I know and what I've been told by some of the clam "experts" out there but it's backed up by some empirical data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tri Bui February 10, 2012 Share February 10, 2012 if you see your clam not open all the way with full mantle in a week then it in the process of dying, such small clam is a bit difficult to keep if you don't have efficient supplement feeding and light, but if you already have clams in your current tank and it doing well there a good chance the small clam will do well! good luck! keep the update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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