Jumping Maxima

[Timmy's Marine]

Ok, I know that this has been addressed before, but I just need to clarify for my own comfort:

I have had this Maxima for a brief tims (couple of months) and has been in the same spot since we placed him there. The other day I woke up to find that it took the big jump into the sand, I moved him into the same spot but differently just in case something was aggrivating it (yes I have checked for snails). Came home from work and it jumped again and had happily burried itself into the sand.

We moved it to another location - jumped, and now we have just left it in the sand. It has dug itself right into the sand almost upto the mantle

Sooo......is there any problem with it growing in the sand. I have read that some do this but is there any shorting of lifespan? Also, what is the digging about, is it a comfort thing, or for protection?

[Woodstock]

Interesting. I say leave it were it is but I will tag along to learn...

[billyr98]

i say let him be and keep an eye on him... He will be happy if he attached...

[lcstorc]

Apparently that is where he wants to be. Kind of odd since maximas usually like the rocks, but if it jumped that many times I would leave it alone and see how it does.

[sasquatch]

You could get anothe shell half or piece of flatish rock to put in the sand, if it gets to the tank bottom and attaches they are VERY difficult to remove without damaging or killing, second thought would be identification, how sure are you? Steve

[BHinAK]

I dont have clams due to my fish so all I can say is read

http://www.aquacon.com/clams.html

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef/clams/tridacna.htm

[cheeks69]

Maxima's are rock boring clams and you should place a flat rock under it so it can lay it's byssal filaments and then place it on the rockwork.

Barry Neigut:

If your ideal location for your Tridacnid is going to be on the substrate, I would suggest that you place a small piece of rock or tile about 1/8” to 1/2” below the substrate. When the clam starts to lay down its byssal filaments, it can attach to that object. This will also prevent potential predators from entering the byssal opening and doing damage to vital organs.

Tridacnads

[Timmy's Marine]

I have had the Maxima ID'd by a couple different people and feel comfortable with the ID. At this point, I cant take a pic of the shell (mainly cause it is burried. I do have to admit there is a nice length of new growth. And before anyone says anything about the Zebra crab - it is not bothering the clam...it was eating stuff off the rock beside the clam - I actually haven't seen them bother the ones I have. The pic is where I had placed it prior to the big jumps.

PS - what colour would you classify this as?

[cheeks69]

That is a Teardrop Maxima and it's gorgeous ! What type of lighting do you have ? If using MH then you could leave it on the substrate with a flat rock under so it can attach.

[lcstorc]

Beautiful clam. I hope it does well for you.

[Timmy's Marine]

The tank is a 72g bow tank with 4 T5's (geismans).

Thanks for the compliments. I enjoy clams alot - only wish that I could have more....

[Lakmo99]

Awesome looking clam. Good luck.

[Timmy's Marine]

Well, we took a piece of lettuce rock, dug it into the sand a bit, put the clam on it, and within minutes it was half off. This morning when we came downstairs - the clam had moved itself aprox. 4 " away from the rock and dug itself into the sand again. I would leave it where it is but it is right up against the glass and the mantle is open but against the glass in an upwards fashion.

So the clam wins, we are going to move it to where it had dug itself deep and hope for the best.

[sasquatch]

Laying the mantle on other corals and rock or glass is pretty normal, as they grow the mantle gets heavy so they like crutch, why its on the run ?? not happy with something?. steve

[surfzone]

are you sure it's not a small squamosa?