My Fish Tanks

Scientific Name : Tridacna crocea

Common Names : Crocea Clam, Boring Crocea Clam

Crocea Clam Care Level : Moderate to Difficult

Size : Up to 6 inches (15 cm)

Life span : very, very long lifespans

pH : 8.1 – 8.4

Temperature : 75°F – 82°F (25°C – 28°C)

Specific Gravity : 1.023 – 1.025

Carbonate Hardness (dKH) : 8 – 12°

Saltwater Supplements : Needs high calcium levels (400 – 450 meq/L) and seems to need iodine supplementation.

Origin / Habitat : Indo-Pacific, most of the available clams are aquacultured

Temperament / Behavior : Very peaceful, and will stay in the same place you put it. Avoid keeping crabs with your clams since they may pick at the clam’s mantle.

Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Most clams are aquacultured nowadays. They release gametes into the water where they meet up with others and fuse. They then settle to the ocean bottom and start to grow.

Tank Size : 30 gallon (114 liters) minimum

Compatible Tank Mates : Avoid crabs and any other predatory fish species that may nip at the clam mantle.

Fish Disease : Saltwater Fish Disease – Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment

Diet / Fish Food : They get most of their nutrients from photosynthesis (needs high output aquarium light) and they are filter feeders and will feed on ammonia and nitrate.

Tank Region : Crocea clams can be placed in the bottom in the sand or in a crevice of your live rock. If you place it in the live rock, make sure that it is in a secure location and won’t be toppled by the currents or fast moving, larger fish.

There are several different species of Tridacna clams available. There is the T. maxima which gets to be about 12 inches. The T. derasa which gets even bigger than the maxima. Then comes the Tridacna crocea which stays smaller, usually only growing to about 6 inches (15 cm). All of these clam species are quite colorful and eye catching. There are blue, blue-green, brown and other color varieties. T. croceas usually run anywhere from $30 to $100 dollars depending on your location. These clams are very easy to care for, provided that you have high intensity lighting over your tank.

For standard sized and shallow tanks you may be able to keep these with power compacts with multiple bulbs. For deeper tanks (those greater than 24 inches deep) you’ll need HO, VHO or even better, Metal Halides. They get most of their needed nutrients from photosynthesis and the aquarium light you put over your clam tank is crucial for their well being.

They are also filter feeders and will feed on dissolved nutrients in the water column. They take up ammonia and nitrates and should do ok in aquariums with normal nitrate levels (less than 20ppm).

Placing your clam is important and you don’t want to be moving it around all the time. This can stress them and even lead to their demise. Find a spot and stay with it. If you have moderate lighting levels you will want to place them in a crevice in the live rock in the mid to upper regions of the tank. Tanks with higher lighting levels may be able to place them in the sand.