How do you identify giant clams?
How do you identify giant clams?
Giant Clams: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tridacnid Clams….
| — | most commonly available as 2 to 3 inch specimens |
|---|---|
| — | maximum shell length is approximately 6 inches |
| — | shell is moderately asymmetrical in form, typically being somewhat longer than tall* |
| — | shell typically has 5 to 6 low ribs |
Why are tridacna clams disappearing?
In a sad twist in today’s conservation challenges, the anti-poaching effects on the supply of elephant ivory has led to Chinese boats destroying coral reefs to harvest giant clams. There is a new market for their shells to replace elephant ivory for carving.
How big do tridacna clams get?
6 inches
Tridacna Crocea is the slowest growing and smallest giant clam species, only reaching 6 inches in size. Much like Maximas, they can be found in large congregations and come in striped/spotted/blotched patterns consisting of blue, green, gold, tan, purple, brown, and orange colors.
Where are tridacna clams found?
coral reef habitats
Giant clams occupy coral reef habitats, typically within 20 meters of the surface. They are most common found in shallow lagoons and reef flats, and are typically embedded in sandy substrates or those composed of coral rubble.
Can a giant clam really grab a person?
No account of a human death by giant clam has ever been substantiated, and scientists say its adductor muscles, used to close the shell, move far too slowly to take a swimmer by surprise. Even the largest specimen would simply retreat into its shell rather than attempt to sample human prey.
Can clams bite you?
Leroy considers the origins of his childhood pelecypodophobia (the fear of bivalve mollusks), meets the imaginary friend who will remain his best friend for life, memorizes the legends of his ancestors in the Leroy line (including Black Jacques Leroy, who “invented beer”), studies his father’s nude photographs of …
Are clams going extinct?
To date, nine giant clam species are protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, giant clams continue to delcine in their marine habitat.
Are clams hard to keep?
Clams are a beautiful addition to any reef aquarium and they are pretty easy to keep once you have the right lighting, flow and water parameters.
What is the largest clam ever found?
Giant Clam facts
- The largest giant clam ever discovered measured 137 centimetres and weighed around 250kg!
- In centuries before, giant clams were nicknamed ‘man-eating’ clams, due to the belief that they ate divers whole!
- By day, giant clams open their shells so that the algae inside them get a chance to photosynthesise.
Can you touch a clam?
A good, healthy clam will spring closed quickly if you touch it or it feels like it is being threatened. This is a naturally clammy defense mechanism. Every 2-3 weeks, pull your clams out and make sure that they close up quickly.
Can you get trapped in a clam?
Basically it said no. The giant bivalve opens and closes so slowly you’d have to have your leg in there for an awful long time for it to close on you…but, you know Darwin….
Are there giant Tridacna clams in an aquarium?
Other popular giant Tridacna clams to keep in a reef aquarium are the Crocea Clam Tridacna crocea, Squamosa Clam Tridacna squamosa, and the Derasa Clam Tridacna derasa. In the Hippopus genus there are two species of giant clam.
When did I become fascinated with tridacnid clams?
Quite a few years ago when I first began the transition from being a fish-only marine aquarist to a reef aquarist, I became particularly fascinated with the tridacnid clams.
What’s the difference between Hippopus and Tridacna clams?
Of these two species, only one, the Hippopus Clam H. Hippopus is becoming more readily available in the aquarium trade. This clam is not only enjoyed in the hobby, but is prized for its beautiful shell. Tridacna Clams and Hippopus Clams are beautiful, hardy, grow rapidly, and require little care.
Which is the best clam to keep in an aquarium?
One of the favorites is the beautiful Maxima, Tridacna maxima clam. Other popular giant Tridacna clams to keep in a reef aquarium are the Crocea Clam Tridacna crocea, Squamosa Clam Tridacna squamosa, and the Derasa Clam Tridacna derasa.