Zebra Black & White Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
Zebra Black & White Maxima Clam – Tridacna maxima
- Date Added: 03/13/2009
- Status: Active
- Purchased at: FAOIS
- Cost: $60.00
- Description: T. maxima has the widest distribution of any Tridacnid species. It is found from the Red Sea, throughout the Indo-Pacific region, to Australia and Polynesia. It usually occurs in shallow, clear water, high current areas where they form high-density populations. They will attach to the substrate with threads from the byssal organ.
Maxima clams have many different colors and patterns. For this reason they are usually graded for sale in the aquarium industry. They require high light levels in the aquarium and are best placed high in the tank, close to the lights. They prefer rocky substrate to attach to. The reflection of colors will change as one views the mantle from different angles.
- Lighting: It is extremely important to provide Metal Halide as anything less will kill the majority of the variations in the species. Clams are considered more difficult to raise than SPS because of their lighting demands and biological complexity.
- Size: Maxima Clam Colored grows up to a width of around twenty inches.
- Color: Tridacna maxima occurs in electric Blue, Black, White, Yellow, Purple, Gold and Green colors.
- Habit & Habitat:
- In its natural habitat, Maxima Clam Colored is generally found in groups in the shallow water regions, or at a depth of around forty-five feet in the marine water body it inhabits.
- Tridacna maxima is found on reef tops anchored to sand or substrate with the help of its byssus filaments.
- Diet: Tridacna maxima mainly derives its nutrition mainly through photosynthesis, which is performed by Zooxanthellae, a photosynthetic algae living symbiotically within the mantle of the clam. In the majority of aquarium settings, supplemental feeding is not necessary if there is additional bioload such as fish as Tridacna depend on their Zooxanthelae to provide the majority of their glucose (energy) needs.
- Tips: When introducing clam, ensure you slowly drip acclimate from 1 – 2 hours. When placing clam in tank, ensure you gently rock the claim around to ensure all the air is released from as any trapped air will hinder filter feeding.
References
Fatherree, James. Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium. Liquid Medium, 2006.
Fatherree, James. “Reef Aquarium Lighting: How Much Light is Enough?” Liquid Medium Marine Aquarist’s Magazine. June 2008. Liquid Medium. http://www.liquid-medium.com/1_1/how_much_light.htm. Accessed 08 May 2009.
Banded Trochus Snails (Trochus sp)
Banded Trochus Snails – Trochus sp
- Date Added: 11/25/2009
- Quantity: 6
- Status: Active
- Purchased at: Coral Corral
- Cost: $2.00/ea
- Coloration: White/Gray, some with Red Banding
- Description: Trochus Snails, Trochus sp., are outstanding cleaners that are found on a number of reefs scattered throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The radula, or tongue, of the snail has a rasp like texture. When pulled across a surface, this rasp pulls the algae loose for a quick snack. They move very slowly but leave nothing behind, eating filamentous algae, slime algae, green algae, diatoms, and cyanbacteria. Add to this the fact that they often are able to right themselves if they fall on their backs. Pyramid shaped similar to an Astrea snail, they get about the size of a quarter when full grown, and are a perfect aquarium snail since they come from warmer waters. Extremely hardy, as long as water quality remains good they have a very long life. Many live from 5 to 7 years. No tank should be without some of these. Recommend 1 per 5 gallons.
- Notes: The shell of this animal is constantly growing. The fleshy mantle deposits the calcium based construction material on a continual basis. Maintaining proper calcium levels of 350 to 450 ppm will assist the growth of this animal. If algae becomes unavailable in the aquarium, supplement this animals diet with dried seaweed.
Turbo Snail, Florida Turbo (Astraea tecta)
Turbo Snail – Astraea tecta
- Date Added: 01/24/2009
- Quantity: 10
- Status: 10 Inactive as of 11/26/2009
- Purchased at: FAOIS
- Cost: $
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More Info: The Astraea Turbo Snail is also called the Astraea Conehead Snail, Astraea Star Snail or Astraea Snail. It is pyramidal in shape; some may have projections on the shell which give them a star-like outline. These Astraea’s are purple coralline encrusted.
The Astraea Turbo Snail will do well in an aquarium if provided with ample hiding places and sufficient room to roam. An aquarium with live rock is preferable so that it can graze on the algae. It will also graze on algae on the side of the tank. In addition, it eats cyanobacteria and diatoms. If it falls, it is often unable to right itself, and will need the aquarist to place it upright, again. It is sensitive to high levels of copper-based medications and will not tolerate high nitrate levels.
The diet may be supplemented with blanched spinach or lettuce and vegetable-based tablet foods.
Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab – Clibanarius tricolor
- Date Added: 01/24/2009
- Quantity: 10
- Status: 3 Active, 7 Inactive
- Purchased at: FIAO
- Cost: $
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More Info: The Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab or simply Blue Leg Hermit Crab, has blue legs with red banding. Both claws are of equal size, and members of this genus are sometimes called “Equal-handed Hermit Crabs.” This tiny crab lives in abandoned snail shells, or it may attack and eat the snail, then use the shell for its home.
The Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab is a valuable addition to an aquarium because it will eat algae including green hair algae and cyanobacteria. In addition, it provides valuable aeration by sifting through the sand. It is one of the Hermit Crabs that is reef-safe.
If insufficient algae is present, the Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab will need to be fed dried seaweed.
Sand Sifting Starfish (Astropecten polycanthus)
Sand Sifting Starfish – Astropecten polycanthus
- Date Added: 12/27/2008
- Status: Active
- Purchased at: Coral Corral
- Cost: $10.00
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More Info: The Sand Sifting Sea Star, at first glance, seems to be drably colored like most bottom dwellers. But closer inspection reveals a striking beauty and serenity to the alternating bands of brown and beige that dress this invertebrate’s thick, spine-covered arms. Like other starfish, Astropecten polycanthus efficiently consumes mass amounts of detritus and uneaten foods. This nocturnally active member of the Astropectinidae family can move large amounts of sand as it burrows into the substrate in its search for food.
This peaceful omnivore will effectively clean even the largest home aquarium of detritus and left over food. Like other starfish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star will also consume small invertebrates, including shrimp, urchins, mollusks, bivalves, or other small sea stars. As such, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be actively fed a varied diet consisting of natural food sources, especially in well-established marine aquariums. Otherwise, this voracious feeder will quickly clean your aquarium of detritus and then burrow into your substrate, starve, and eventually begin to decay. Therefore, it is not suitable for most aquariums.
To foster its feeding habits, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be kept in aquariums with large, deep sand bottoms of several inches in depth. Since it is slower moving than most fish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should not be housed with natural predators, including Puffers.
Like other invertebrates, the Sand Sifting Sea Star is very intolerant of sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity, and pH and cannot tolerate copper-based medications. To successfully acclimate new specimens to your aquarium, use the drip acclimation method and never expose the Sand Sifting Sea Star to air while handling
Additional Information: Echinoderms in Aquaria…(Reefkeeping.com)
