This weeks Invert of the Week is going to be clams! There are several different types of clams and different ones require different things. All require proper levels of Calcium and iodine for proper growth.
Crocea Clams
The first type I am going to talk about is Crocea Clams. They are one of the more commonly sold/wanted clams but also are the most light demanding. They are generally blue/purple in color, they can also be green and different shades of these colors.
Placement: These clams can be on the rock or on the sand. They will often burrow into the rock if placed on the rock. It might be a good idea to put them on the rocks for lighting issues as well.
Lighting: These are possibly one of the most vibrant color clams and because of that, to maintain their bright colors, they need intense lighting. It is not recommended that you keep them in anything less than halides, VHO, or T-5 if you can get them close enough to the light.
Size: They are one of the smallest of the clam species only growing to around 6 inches.
Derasa Clam
Next is the Derasa clam. They generally have a smooth shell with striped patterns and sometimes a blue rim. They are the most widely available and are also one of the most hardy of the giant clams.
Lighting: They can due with power compacts or halides, this depends on the depth of the tank.
Size: These clams can get to be 20 or more inches in length. They are one of the larger clams!
Placement: Best placed in tank is in sand with a flat rock buried beneath it so it can attach to the rock (in the sand)
Maxima Clams
They are considered "Holy Grails" of reef aquariums. They are possibly one of the hardest clams to keep due to their need of a stable tank and extreme lighting needs.
Placement: They do best when kept on your rocks.
Lighting: They do best with halides and supplemental feedings of phytoplankton.
Size: These can grow to be around 20 inches also.
Picture from reefscience.com
Squamosa Clams
They are one of the easier clams to care for. Can be nipped and harassed by clown gobies, blennies, shrimp, and most Angelfish and Butterfly fish.
These clams are very similiar in requirements to Derasa clams.
Please feel free to ask questions/comment/post pics!
Matt