Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
| Maxima Clam Tridacna maxima | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Maxima Clam |
| Name Lat. | Tridacna maxima |
| Family | True Cockles |
| Family lat. | Cardiidae |
| Order | Cardiidas |
| Order lat. | Cardiida |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific |
| Diet | Autotrophic, planktivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Lighting | High |
| Current | Moderate |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Solitary |
| Care Level | Experts only |
| Life Span | N/A |
| Protection | CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 35 cm |
| Temperature | 24-27 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | 400 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 14" |
| Temperature | 75-81 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | 100 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Tridacna maxima is the Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans, from East Africa through Indonesia to Japan and Australia. They live in the shallow waters of lagoons and on reef tops, usually drilled into the rock.
Maintenance
They should be positioned in a place with high light intensity and moderate, alternating flow. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates should be used as substrate
To ensure water quality, filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swell and bottom current
It is recommended that live stones be used to set up the aquarium. The bacteria living in the porous stones act as a biological filter. The lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| Salinity: 33-36 ‰ | pH value: 8.1-8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH | Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l |
| calcium content: 420-450 mg/l | Nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l |
| Magnesium content: 1.250-1.350 mg/l | phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l |
Regular addition of trace elements, especially calcium, is recommended. For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention shall be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.
Diet
Zooxanthellae, which are unicellular symbiotic algae, live in their tissue and provide them with assimilation products of their photosynthesis (high light requirement). The zooxanthellae promote growth and provide additional food to the plankton and small particles that are collected in large quantities from the water current. Thus, in addition to the food produced in the aquarium during fish feeding (mysis, krill, Artemia, etc.), commercial supplementary food in the form of phyto- and zooplankton should be offered regularly, especially for small mussels.
Regular and varied feeding promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.
Behaviour and compatibility
They should not be kept together with fish or lower animals that harass or consider their mantle lobe as food (e.g. wrasses or triggerfish). They can be well socialized with corals, as they are insensitive to cnidarian venom.
Reproduction and breeding
They are protandric hermaphrodites. Sperm cells and eggs are released into the water with a time delay to exclude self-fertilization. Larvae hatch about 12 hours after fertilization and undergo numerous metamorphoses until they can feed. After a week, they form their foot, attach, and begin to form byssal filaments. The larval phase is completed after 3-4 weeks and the mussels are sessile.
Species protection
Species protection: WA Appendix II; EU Appendix B. The proof of purchase is the required proof of origin for the animal. Please keep it safe! Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.
Important
It is especially important to choose a place as bright as possible without direct current, because the mussel will settle within a day and then can not be moved without injury. The additional lighting with actinic light (short-wave, violet-blue light) is very beneficial for their growth (zooxanthellae).
For the necessary uniform supply of calcium carbonate and magnesium, a calcium reactor and a magnesium metering pump are recommended.
If different species are kept together, make sure that fish and invertebrates match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the ecological needs of all species kept together
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata
Source: FOSSÁ & NILSEN (1995): Korallenriff-Aquarium Bd. 6, Birgit Schmettkamp Verlag; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch