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FAQs about Identifying Giant Clams, family Tridacnidae
Related Articles:
Got Tridacna? A beginner's guide to keeping Tridacnid clams
by Laurie Smith,
Example Chapter from NMA Reef Invertebrates book, on Giant Clams,
Tridacnids,
A Brief Guide to the Selection and Placement of Tridacnid Clams
by Barry Neigut, Bivalves,
Mollusks,
Lighting Marine Invertebrates,
Related FAQs: Tridacnids 1,
Tridacnids 2, Tridacnids 3,
Tridacnids 4, Tridacnid Clam Business, Tridacnid
Identification, Tridacnid Behavior,
Tridacnid Selection, Tridacnid
Compatibility, Tridacnid Systems,
Tridacnid Lighting, Tridacnid
Placement, Tridacnid Feeding,
Tridacnid Disease, Tridacnid
Reproduction, Bivalves,
Bivalves 2,
Lighting Marine Invertebrates,
Kitty in a Clam | 
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ARKive - your image of
Tridacna tevoroa 5-7-09
Dear Robert,
<Eleanor>
I hope you do not mind me contacting you but in searching the internet
for images of tevoro clam (Tridacna tevoroa) I found a fantastic image
of yours on
http://www.arrecifevivo.com/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=49
which I would be interested in using for ARKive, if you would like to
become involved.
ARKive - www.arkive.org - is a unique conservation initiative.
<Ah, yes. A worthy effort. You are welcome (as are all non-commercial
concerns) to free use of any of my content; per here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMUsePolicyStmt.htm
Thank you for your efforts. Bob Fenner>
Films, photographs and audio recordings of the world’s animals, plants
and fungi are being gathered into one centralised digital library. To
date we have created digital multi-media profiles for nearly 4,000
species, digitising and storing more than 25,000 still images and over
60 hours of moving footage. These important audio-visual records are
being preserved and maintained for the benefit of future generations and
are being made available via the ARKive website.
I have attached some documentation that will tell you a lot more about
the ARKive project. However, in summary:
· It is ARKive's current aim to compile audio-visual records for the
17,000-plus species currently threatened with extinction, according to
the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
· We are looking for media (moving footage, still images, audio) to
depict each species' life history as comprehensively as possible. In
order for us to achieve this aim we need help from as wide a variety of
donors as possible and would like to be able to add you to our list of
contributors.
· The ARKive website acts as a showcase for image providers, displaying
copyright and contact details with every image and links to each media
donor's own web activities.
See examples of species which have been ARKived at www.arkive.org.
Please let me know if you would like to contribute to ARKive or if you
have any queries.
I look forward to seeing your images.
Best wishes,
Eleanor Sans
"ARKive is a noble project, one of the most valuable in all of biology
and conservation practice. It has whatever support I am able to give
it."
Professor E. O. Wilson, Harvard University
"Over the past few decades a vast treasury of wildlife images has been
steadily accumulating, yet no one has known its full extent - or its
gaps - and no one has had a comprehensive way of gaining access to it.
ARKive will put that right. It will become an invaluable tool for all
concerned with the well-being of the natural world.”
Sir David Attenborough
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleanor Sans
ARKive Media Research Assistant
BBC E-mail: New giant clam species discovered
8/30/08
<Thank you Neale. BobF>>
Neale Monks saw this
story on the BBC News website and thought you should see it.
"The
coral reefs in particular... may still harbour very large surprises,"
said Dr Richter.
** New giant clam species discovered ** Scientists
have discovered the first new living species of giant clam in the Red
Sea in over two decades.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7588857.stm
Tridacnid care & placement 4/1/07
<Hi Glen, Mich here.>
I have recently purchased two Tridacnid clams which I am very
pleased with. So pleased that I forgot their names and could use
some help with the ID. Both are young clams, slightly larger than
4" long. In the attached picture I have tentatively identified T.
derasa in the foreground and T. Crocea in the background (thanks to
the descriptions in The Reef Aquarium, Vol 1).
I am fairly sure
about the ID of T. derasa due to the white, plate-like, symmetric
shell which lacks scutes, displays very little ribbing and has a
narrow byssus gland. The other, I believe, is T. Crocea due to the
overflowing blue mantle, wavy edges and scutes prominent only on the
upper shell margin. The rest of the shell has well-defined
ribbing. Additionally, the shell edges are asymmetrical, with the
hinge side being shorter than the byssus gland side. The byssus
gland is also very large, rounded, and extends almost to the shell
edge. A few of the eyespots also appear to extend above the mantle
surface as if they were little, short tubes. I am less sure of this
ID since it also comes very close to that of T. maxima and most
pictures of clams are of beautiful mantles, not shell
features. Line drawings are of very little help to me.
<These
ID's are correct.>
Right now the clams are placed directly on
a 6" DSB, the top 2" being comprised of CaribSea Reef Base
substrate, which my sleeper goby loves to sift through in this
little lagoon. I am concerned that as he does his work, the Reef
Base falls onto the open mantle of the clam and may aggravate the
clam. I have even seen the clam quickly close it's shell in order
to eject a few particles which have fallen into its incurrent
siphon. I'm sure that these animals are designed to contend with
this situation, but should this be a concern?
<I would move
these clams.>
Since my light source is two 65W PC 10,000K
daylights and two 65W dual actinics (260W total), I am planning to
move them up onto the rockwork to get closer to the light.
<I
think this is wise.>
Currently they are 18" from the light
source and 14" under the surface of the water, which is mediocre
lighting. Moving them up on the rockwork would put them 5" - 7"
closer, which should be much better for their health, but worse for
our viewing pleasure.
<May want to consider moving them even
higher.>
My only concern with placing them on the rocks is how
to move them when they grow bigger. Do I rock them a bit and cut
the byssus strands close to the rock?
<I would avoid doing
this if at all possible.>
Can I damage the clam if I do this?
<Absolutely. Hopefully the clams have not attached to the bottom of
your tank. What I would do is lift these clams up off the sandbed
and place them either on a flat rock, a large reef plug or in a
clamshell and allow the byssal apparatus to attach. This will make
the clam portable and allow you to move the clam if the need arises.
Basically it provides options and I think options are good.
More here and links in blue at the bottom: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/Clam_care/Clam_care.htm
-Mich>
-Glen | 
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Giant Clam Species Identification - 02/24/06
I think I sent to
wrong email address yesterday....
Nice website!
I am trying to
identity a couple giant clam specimens so I can read about their
individual needs. Attached are photos of these specimens. Any help you
can provide in identifying them would be very helpful. You will also
notice that the brown clam's mantle is a bit washed out (white) in the
middle. At night the incurrent siphon is more round than oval which is
also concerning. I have been feeding it a combination of DT's marine
live phytoplankton and marine snow typically daily. Lighting is 280
Watts T5 bulbs for 46G tank, both clams are within the top 10" of the
tank.
Thanks
Greg
<<Greg, the pictures won't open/are
corrupted...do try sending again. Regards, EricR>>
Clam I.D. and care. 1/31/06
hey guys how is
everything going.
<Great, thanks for asking.>
Well i
recently purchased a small clam at my LFS and I know its super
healthy it reacts to the slightest shadow or movement. I have had it
for a week now. The problem is I don't know what type of clam it
is. the guy at the store told me he thought it was either a maxima
or Crocea.
<Looks to be T. Crocea.>
I have provided some
pics so you can help me out. He is currently sitting about 14"
under a custom sea life 130 watt fixture 65 of 10,000k and 65 of
actinic.
<Move him as close to the top of the tank as possible
with this lighting. And remember to change your bulbs at least every
9 months.>
I also have moon lights and am feeding him DT's
Phytoplanton 3 days a week. any suggestion.
<Keep calcium high
and water quality stable.>
please let me know thanks again. Ohh
i almost forgot its a 30 gallon tank.
<Adam J.> | 
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Tridacnid ID - 01/28/06
Hello Wet Web Media Friends,
<<Hello
Darryl>>
Like many before I love (like very much) your website...
Thank you.
<<Good to hear.>>
I have the opportunity to purchase
a clam, I've been wanting one for a couple years but have felt my tank
wasn't ready, it is now a thriving two years old.
<<Cool!>>
The
clam in question is the one in the attached pictures. I am told it is a
Tridacna Squamosa but from the research I have done I
believe it is
a Tridacna Crocea clam, can you confirm my suspicion for me as this will
obviously have an effect as to the placement of the clam in my tank
(among other things).
<<Hmm...the pics are a bit fuzzy, but the
absence of 'prominent' scutes (the scalloped projections on the shell),
and the color/pattern, lead me to think you are correct.>>
I am also
concerned about the opening as it seems quite large. It has great
coloring and it responds well to the fish swimming by, very responsive
opening and closing.
<<It does look to be "gaping" a bit...but this
may simply be dir to handling/shipping stress. The responsiveness is a
good sign.>>
I have a 180 gallon tank with 2x250watt 10,000k metal
halides, 2 96 watt 10,000k power compact fluorescents and a 96 watt
actinic. The clam would be about 8" from the top of the water and
directly under a halide that is another 6-8" from the top of the
water. It would be sitting on the center of a rock 'plate' that is
about 12" in diameter. Would this be a good place for him/her?
<<Should be fine, though this is really more light than it "requires" to
survive. I have two T. crocea sitting on the bottom of a 30" tank (6"
DSB/24" water column) under 250w 10K MH lighting. They have been
thriving and growing for more than 18 months now.>>
I have already
used Wet Web Media and other sources to answer the rest of my questions
(assuming I'm correct in the identification:)
<<Excellent!>>
Thank you for your time,
Darryl K.
Edmonton, Alberta
<<Welcome, EricR...Columbia, SC>> |
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Coral question and clam identification?
Water quality in 55
gallon tank.
PH 8.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Calcium
340ppm
Alkalinity 9.8 dKH
Salinity 1.025
Temp 78 - 80
Lighting 1-Actinic 95w VHO 1- Aquasun 95w VHO 1-Actinic 30w Coralife 1-
10,000k 30w Coralife
<Okey-dokey>
This piece of coral is about 6
inches from the top of the tank and has looked like this for a few days
now.
<lighting is somewhat weak for this Neptheid (AKA "Kenyan Tree
Coral"), but unlikely to elicit this response>
It was about 12 inches
from the top a few weeks ago and looked good when I moved it but now it
looks like this.
<perhaps a just acclimating>
Is this normal or
is it to close to the top of the tank?
<definitely not too close...
in fact, this beautiful coral will turn turquoise under a bank of VHO
blues (2-4 lights)>
Also can you please identify this type of clam
for me. It has a brownish look to it although it looks a little
different in the picture. Thank You.
<I would need a better picture
to be sure but you may have a very interesting clam here! Tridacnids are
rather easy to identify but yours looks like it could be a hybrid of two
species known to hybridize. The mantle is conspicuously like a T.
squamosa... but the shell does not have the characteristic worn scutes
of a T. squamosa, and instead looks worn and ribbed like a T. derasa.
Still the picture is not clear enough. A close up of the shell and
mantle separately would help if clear. Best regards, Anthony> | 
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Tridacnid clam
Hi Bob,
<Anthony Calfo in your service>
I
have a really good relationship with my LFS.
<excellent! a blessing
that not all aquarists enjoy>
Due to this I am able to order some
unusual items, and can pick them up on delivery from the suppliers,
before they even enter their tanks. For this reason I sometimes have to
rely on them for quality, and it works out to be beneficial 99% of the
time. However about 3 1/2 months ago I asked for them to get some
Tridacnid clams, and gave my list of preference. When I arrived they had
hand picked a blue Maxima or derasa (my guess I was too excited to ask)
for me still in it's bag and difficult to visualize.
<T. maxima it
is>
When I got home it unfortunately had some brown areas along both
sides of the mantle (see picture enclosed).
<not unfortunate...
perfectly natural and rather common pigmentation>
I thought it was
just due to being under poor lights and it would recover.
<will not
change my friend>
I have had it for over thee months in my 125g reef.
It is within 2 feet of the lights which are 2-140 actinic VHO for 8
hrs/day and directly under one of three 175 cheapie 55K Venture MH for 4
hrs/day. I replaced the MH. about 6 weeks ago as it was slightly yellow,
the new one is much whiter. Is this just some normal marking or am I in
for trouble.
<relax and enjoy this beauty... a nice specimen>
The
clam is always extended and closes very fast when a fish swims too
close.
<very good responses...healthy>
Any ideas would be
appreciated.
<tridacnids are graded by color on export and few of
the "cover girl" blue seen in books and magazines make it to the USA.
Some Germans and many more Japanese aquarists are willing to pay a much
higher dollar for select ultra blue clams than American aquarists. So...
we do get some very nice clams... but most/many have variable
pigmentation. Your specimen is very nice overall and likely a better
deal at under $100 compared to the $300-600 USD needed to get a hand
picked (ultra grade) pure blue specimen>
Thanks Larry
<best
regards, Anthony> |  |
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