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Marine Clam

Marine Clam Care Sheet

This care sheet includes a variety of clams including:

  • Tridacna clams
marine clam

Overview

Tridacna maxima, Tridacna derasa, Tridacna squamosa, Tridacna gigas

These water-filtering wonders are things of beauty whose exposed mantles come in an array of patterns and colors—from blue and green to even gold. Tridacna clams are bivalves whose bodies are enclosed in two shells. These clams live on various bases from soft or hard substrate, to burrowing into a rock attaching itself using byssal filaments. Many tridacna clams are found as solitary creatures throughout some of the world’s oceans and sea, but they have also been found in small clusters. Tridacna clams are excellent filter feeders, but their tissue also contains algae cells called zooxanthellae that help provide a large portion of their nutrition.

Table of Contents

Typical appearance and behavior

  • Some clam species prefer to attach to a solid surface, while others prefer to sit in substrate
  • Marine clam mantles have unique patterns with beautiful colors and movement
  • When they are healthy and content, clams can double or triple their size every year
  • They can make popping sounds by opening and closing their shells
  • Clams are oval and circular in shape and have two equally sized halves of their shells joined at the hinge by adductor muscles
  • Clams filter nutrients from the water, reducing the biological load and helping lower the overall nitrate level in the aquarium, improving water conditions
  • Tridacna clams prefer moderate, indirect water movement
  • Clams need a sturdy placement with room to grow; after attaching, a clam will stay in this location for the duration of their life

Characteristics

Care difficulty Intermediate
Average Life Span Up to 30+ years, with proper care, depends on species
Average adult size Up to 36+” in length, depends on species
Diet Omnivorous, filter feeder
Minimum habitat size 29+ gallons, depending on species
Water temperature 74–80°F
Specific gravity 1.023–1.025

Habitat

Habitat size

A minimum of 29+ gallons is recommended for marine clams; however water conditions can change rapidly in smaller water volumes. A larger aquarium is recommended for larger marine clam species.

Building your habitat

  • Water health -
    • Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health
    • Slow to moderate water circulation, depending on species, should be provided to mimic water currents found in the marine clam's natural habitat
    • Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life
    • If you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing
    • A protein skimmer can help maintain great water quality and high dissolved oxygen levels
    • An aquatic heater should be used to stabilize water temperature, ensuring it does not fluctuate more than +/-2 degrees in a 24-hour period
    • The specific gravity should remain stable; do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than +/-0.001 in a 24-hour period
  • Live rock can provide a natural food source while also enhancing biological filtration
  • Moderate to intense full-spectrum lighting and proper filtration are essential

Feeding

A well-balanced marine clam diet consists of:

  • Filter feeders that feed on live or preserved phytoplankton, or special liquid food
  • Photosynthetic vitamins or trace supplements may also be given
  • Many species of clam require moderate to intense lighting to thrive because they contain the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae and receive the majority of their nutrition from light through photosynthesis

Things to remember when feeding your large terrestrial frog:

  • Smaller clams should be fed several times a week; large clams do not require supplemental feeding

Marine clam care

  • Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your marine clam healthy
    • Daily: Check filter, water temperature, specific gravity and other equipment
    • Weekly: Check water quality at least once a week.
    • Monthly: Change 10–25% of the total volume of water every 2–4 weeks, or as needed; change filter media monthly
  • Copper-based medications are toxic to marine clams
  • Clams are sensitive to high levels of nitrate
  • Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and disease

Where to buy marine clams

Tridacna clams are available for purchase at Petco online and in Petco Pet Care Centers; availability varies by location. If visiting your local location, please call ahead to check availability.

Supplies

Tank mates

Reef-safe species make good tank mates, such as:

  • Basslets
  • Blennies
  • Chromis
  • Clownfish
  • Dartfish
  • Dottybacks
  • Dragonets
  • Gobies
  • Jawfish
  • Reef-safe wrasses
  • Tangs

Introduce new inhabitants to the aquarium gradually.

Health

Signs of a healthy marine clam

  • Clam shell closes quickly when bothered
  • Full tissue expansion throughout most of the day
  • Bright coloration

Red flags (if you notice any of these signs, contact your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian)

  • Clam is closed for long periods of time
  • Tissue decay
  • Bleaching
  • Pinched mantle
  • Gaping mouth

Common health issues

Health Issue Symptoms or Causes Suggested Action
Bleaching Poor water quality, stress, lighting concerns (too strong or weak), temperature and specific gravity fluctuations Test and improve water quality and/or lighting concerns immediately; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment
Excess or brown mucus Poor water quality, stress, irritation Test and improve water quality concerns immediately; slightly increase flow to assist with mucus removal; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment
Pinched mantle syndrome Parasitic Freshwater bath may assist; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment

FAQs

  • Where can I buy a saltwater aquarium clam? Tridacna clams are available for purchase at Petco online and in store; availability varies by location.
  • How fast do clams grow? Tridacna clams can double or triple their size every year.
  • How long do clams live? Tridacna clams can live 30+ years with proper care.

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical mycobacterium and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

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