So you want to keep a tridacnid clam? A quick guide to success.

[Darkxerox]

Note I'll be adding things to this, but first I highly recommend you buy this book first. It's only $39 and you'll learn way more than ending up with a couple white shells at the end.

Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium Book by James W. Fatherree

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

First off, clams in general have very different care requirements. If you are unsure if you can keep stony corals, then you should reconsider getting a clam.

Key parameters: strong lighting (measured PAR readings above 250ppfd for the most demanding species), plus stable alkalinity, calcium, and high pH.

Common species (highest light to lowest light):
Tridacna crocea
Tridacna maxima
Tridacna gigas
Tridacna noae (teardrop "maxima")
Tridacna squamosa
Tridacna derasa
Tridacna hippopus

Anatomy:

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51506-5_16

Diseases/issues

Perkinsus (pinched mantle causing protozoan)
Pyramidellid snails (parasitic gastropods that feed off of the clam's fluids)
Predation (angelfish are notorious consumers of clams, there's a reason they're a food source in many countries).
Injury (mechanical damage to organs or shells)


More to come...

 

[tribbitt]

Perkinsus is treatable with a freshwater dip. pH balance and bring up to temp, dip for a bit and baste gently, plop back in tank.

I did a fw dip to try and dislodge pyramid snails and the clam opened up during the dip. Clam was fine

Pyramid snails you gotta scrub carefully, but they exist in aquaculture facilities as well. Take care with the byssal opening

 

[Apon]

I have book. Great pictures in it. Now if I only learn to read....

 

[Mr. Seahorse]

They are actually quite easy to keep with the right setup. I've had my 2 inch maxima clam for 4 months now and it's thriving!

 

[tribbitt]

Agreed

If you can grow stony corals and have strong lighting, your clam will be ok

Biggest thing is clean water and strong light. Feeding is secondary

 

[Mr. Seahorse]

Agreed

If you can grow stony corals and have strong lighting, your clam will be ok

Biggest thing is clean water and strong light. Feeding is secondary

Definitely, I feed mine copepods and phyto . I feel strong light isn't that important because mine is at 140 PAR so that's not too high and its doing well.