Reef Safe Critters - Reef Safe Clams/Scallops

Clams and Scallops For The Reef Aquarium

Clams and scallops are some of the most beautiful and interesting reef aquarium inhabitants you can keep in your tank. In addition to their visual appeal, clams and scallops provide the practical benefit of filtering food and organics from the water that would otherwise increase the levels of Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia in your tank.

A few basic points regarding clams and scallops are listed below for easy reference:

1) Clams and scallops require medium to high water flow. They need this level of water flow so that they can remain healthy by filtering sufficient amounts of food.

2) Lighting:

a. All clams require high lighting (i.e. T5 or Metal Halides) to grow and be healthy as the majority of their food is created within their own fleshy tissue through photosynthesis. Although the majority of a clam’s diet comes from photosynthesis, a portion of its diet comes from supplemental filter feeding.

b. The scallops listed on this site require constant feeding as they do not receive any of their energy/food from photosynthesis. Be aware, though, that some scallops do gain some energy/food from photosynthesis.

3) The Calcium and Alkalinity levels for both clams and scallops must be maintained so that they can grow a thick, healthy shell that will benefit their well being and rapid growth.

4) Clams and scallops are very friendly and will not harm other reef inhabitants. I have seen clams growing in beds of Ricordia and it is truly a beautiful sight.

5) All clams and scallops are very sensitive to medications (especially copper- based ones) and should be removed from the tank if treatment is necessary.

We will be adding pictures of the Clams and Scallops listed below as fast as we can take them, so check back for pictures regularly. If you would like to contribute to our database, just e-mail your pictures to Submit@reefaquariuminfo.com and we will try to use them within our site.

Maxima Clams:

Maxima Clams are the most prolific clams on the market today. Their intense coloration and hardy nature have made them extremely desirable for the most picky of reef hobbyist. They have many color morphs from “Electric Blue” to “Neon Green,” but they all require high lighting, moderate water flow and sufficient nutrient levels.

Maxima Clams are best placed either in the sand bed (for tanks with strong lighting) or on the rockwork closer to the lights if you are not using MH’s or T5’s.

Gigas Clam:

The Gigas Clam is the largest Clam species found in the trade and is also one of the largest clams in the wild. With maximum lengths of over 3 feet the guys are truly huge. These Clams are naturally medium to deep water clams (30-45ft) and do best under moderate lighting (power compacts, NO or VHO lighting). When placing them in a tank with MH or T5 lighting it is very important to acclimate them to the bright light so they do not get stressed and die from shock. This is best accomplished using pieces of screen that are placed between the Clam and the lights that are removed one by one over the course of a few weeks gradually increasing the amount of lumens reaching the animal.

In the right conditions these clams have been know to outgrow there tanks so choose carefully if you plan to keep this guy in your reef aquarium.

Deresa Clam:

The Deresa Clam has much the same requirements as the Maxima Clam although it looks slightly different. The Deresa has a fleshier mantle than the Maxima, but the coloration can be just as beautiful. These guys are very hardy in the reef aquarium and require either moderate to high lighting and water flow. They are a shallow water species and do best under lighting in the 5K to 12K range.

Crocea Clam:

The Crocea Clam has the same requirements as the Maxima and Deresa Clam and is often mistaken for the Maxima. The mantle is more fluted on this clam which is really the only giveaway that it is not a Maxima. They require strong lighting (being a shallow water species) and good water quality to thrive in the reef aquarium.

They should be placed in the substrate or on the rocks near the top half of the aquarium so they receive sufficient lighting.

Tridacna Clams:

Tridacna Clams come in many varieties, but the ones most often found at the local fish store are Hippopus and Squamosa. Both of these clams can grow to approximately 16” in mantle length with very thick, patterned shells. The Hippopus is a variety of Tridacna that is the less decorative, having either a brown or green mantle with, depending on the individual, lighter colored spots or stripes. The Squamosa is a variety that, on the other hand, can come in a variety of colors, including bright blues and greens. This bright coloration is mainly located in the many spots covering its mantle.

The Tridacna Clams are very hardy and are tolerant of varying lighting conditions; however, they tend to do best under medium to high lighting since the majority of their food (about 80-90%) comes from photosynthesis.

Flame Scallops:

The Flame Scallop is named so for its bright red, fleshy mantle that is covered by many long, thin tentacles. These guys are 100% filter feeders that, unlike the previously discussed clams, get no food from the sun. Because of their non-photosynthetic lifestyle, they require supplemental feeding to stay alive in the marine aquarium (e.g. phytoplankton, baby Mysis shrimp or crumbled fish food). They are un-intrusive and will not harm any other creature in the marine aquarium, although they will fly away from predators if threatened; they might strike a nearby coral in their flight.

The sub-species of the Flame Scallop is called the Electric Flame Scallop. It has the same bright red mantle as the flame scallop, but it also has a strip of bio-luminescent tissue on its mantle that sends a flash of color back and forth over the mantle. This bio-luminescent tissue is bright enough to be seen at night and is what gives the scallop its name. This guy is also a filter feeder and will require the same supplemental feeding as the Flame Scallop.