I would also reccomend a Derasa, but thats mainly cause ours is a trooper. As for where to get it, a local hobbiest who is getting rid of their tank is a good source, and second to that perhaps www.clamsdirect.com (chris, what do you think of them?) I have heard nothing but good things about them, but havent personally done business with them so I cant speak first hand.
Shawn - The way I understand it is that the clam constantly builds shell. It builds shell all along the inside, part of which is at the top. The top will grow as the rest of the shell grows, and eventually it will get to be longer/taller.
They add new shell to the whole inside of the shell. The outside old layers really shouldn't erode away any.
hmmm. I guess this is the part i cant wrap my head around then. If the “outside layer” right now is, lets say, 3" wide X 2" high. It continues to add new layers from the inside out, how does it increase its overall size without the old eroding away? Woudnt the outside layer always be 3" X 2"? If it grew from outside in, it would make since, kind of like adding layers of clothes with each outside layer being a little large than the previous. But from the inside out i dont get it.[/quote]
The old layers just get grown over but only on the inside. The growth lines you see on the outside of the shell are the old original shell. If you look all the way down at the bottom of the shell from the outside you will see what looks like a very small clam shell. That was the same shell the clam had when it was only a few mm or cm long the only difference is that it has put on new shell on the inside and added some to the height and length. The base of the shell is the thickest because it is the oldest. the outer edges are thin because they are new.
Thanks. You know what? Im retarded! I figured it out about 5 min after i asked. The older layers are more obvious on my larger teadrop, on my maxima there really arent many ridges, its pretty smooth and i guess i overlooked the obvious.
and second to that perhaps www.clamsdirect.com (chris, what do you think of them?) I have heard nothing but good things about them, but havent personally done business with them so I cant speak first hand.
Considering that I’m a good friend of Barry’s and have been a moderator and administrator on his forum for 5 years I guess i think he’s OK :-)lol
Barry deals with all tridacnids but these days mostly maximas and croceas. My first choice for any clam would be through him because i know he just doesnt pick any clam and he also holds them for at least 2 weeks before he even thinks about selling them. With that said Miguel has been getting some nice derasa’s. Fragglereef