The Ultra Blue Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima) is a strikingly beautiful saltwater invertebrate, known for its vibrant blue coloration and intricate mantle patterns. Maxima clams are one of the most popular clams in the reef-keeping community due to their dazzling appearance and essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. This specific listing, tagged as WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), ensures that you will receive the exact specimen shown in the listing. Please note that maxima clam coloration is highly dependent on on viewing angle.
Description:
• Common Name: Ultra Blue Maxima Clam
• Scientific Name: Tridacna maxima
• Family: Tridacnidae
• Max Size: 12"
• Color: The Ultra Blue Maxima Clam showcases brilliant shades of blue, turquoise, and occasionally pinks and purples with bold patterns that are especially mesmerizing when viewed from the top.
Native Region:
Maxima clams are found in shallow reefs across the Indo-Pacific region, including areas such as the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and parts of the Pacific Islands.
Aquarium Setup:
• Tank Size: Minimum of 30 gallons (114 liters) for a 5” clam.
• Lighting: Requires intense lighting such as metal halides, T5s, or high-output LEDs. Maxima clams are photosynthetic and rely heavily on strong lighting for their survival and growth.
• Flow: Moderate water flow is ideal, ensuring sufficient movement without disturbing the clam.
• Substrate: Maxima clams prefer to attach themselves to hard surfaces like live rock, rather than sandy substrates.
Water Parameters:
• Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)
• pH: 8.1-8.4
• Salinity: 1.023-1.025 (specific gravity)
• Calcium: 400-450 ppm (important for shell growth)
• Alkalinity: 8-12 dKH
• Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm
Care Level:
• Difficulty: Moderate to advanced. Maxima clams require stable, pristine water conditions, intense lighting, and regular calcium supplementation for healthy growth.
• Placement: Should be placed on a stable surface in the aquarium, such as rockwork, where they can attach themselves with their byssal threads. Though it's common to see them placed on the sand bed, they require an extraordinary amount of PAR, and do better placed near the top of the tank.
• Feeding: While Maxima clams obtain most of their nutrition from symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) through photosynthesis, smaller clams under 4 inches may benefit from supplemental feeding of phytoplankton.
Additional Tips:
• Calcium and Alkalinity: Regular dosing or supplementation of calcium and alkalinity is essential to support shell growth.
• Clam Health: Monitor the clam for gaping (wide open shells) or bleaching, which could indicate poor health or insufficient light. Also check the rim of the shell for new white growth under the mantle. A healthy clam should have about 1/2" of pristine white shell under the mantle.
