grassi Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 As many of you probably know, Tridacna Clams are one of my favorite tank inhabitants. At now in my tanks there are 2 Croceas, 3 Maximas and one Giga (Reefit's Giga). When the last one, the 20something inches Giga, spawned a few days ago (http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21743), some crazy thoughts started building up in my mind: I wanted to try to breed clams. Mostly because it is almost impossible in a tank (rock2) While I was thinking about that, Roy (stylaster) told me about his past experience in breeding giant clams, and the experiments he did back in the days (early '90). After a few pm's we decided to try this crazy experiment together. So we started collecting links, contacts and put together some sort of breeding plan. We are starting this thread to collect all the informations and results. We would also like you guys to be involved and be part of this thread. Hopefully it will be a way to enrich our personal knowledge. At this stage, we are trying to find the appropriate broodstock. Roy had some great results in the past with Maximas, so we are looking for them. It is a manner of size and cost. We are trying to get some cheap brown ones, due to the fact that clams aren't producing zooxanthellae for the baby clams. So at the end we will have to find a nice colored donor clam to "paint" the newborns. You are free to give suggestions, share links, tell us your experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Thanks Alex for the great intro. Currently we are looking for broodstock. If you have or know someone who has maxima clams greater then 6" in size please let us know. As some of you may or may not know all clams are hermaphrodites, first males then as they get older they become female and male. We are going on the assumption that the bigger the clam the older it is to hopefully get sexually mature clams. We are looking to get atleast 4 clams, then the fun begins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 Some readings General infos about giant clams and reproduction: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef/clams/tridacna.htm Clam farming info from Gerald Heslinga, first successful giant clam farming in Palau. Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/GeraldHe.../0/bLQHqamR-UA Spawning and Early Larval Rearing of Giant Clams, by Simon Ellis, Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture Publication Number No. 130 http://www.ctsa.org/upload/publication/CTSA_130631672860873095404.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 bummer, i have 3 3"+ maximas i would donate but they are not 6" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 You guys know what you are up against right? I'm all for it, and I think it is doable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 ya been down this road before, actually got the spats to settle out and grew them to about 2-3mm but couldnt get them any farther along Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 wow that is definitely quite the process, but it will be fun to watch and learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 The Giga is producing and releasing a lot of zooxanthellae. We need to find a way to keep it and use it when we need, which is probably at metamorphosis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 my best guess is to try and raise it as you would a phytoplanton culture. Setup some 2 liter pop bottles cut off their bottoms, invert and fill with fresh saltwater to correct temp (75-80 degs) use airstone in bottom to turn the water over and light with flor bulb, or even sunlight, just got to watch the temp and evap rates. I never tried to raise the zooxanthellae i always went the sacrificial route when it was time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I got first dibs on the babies once you guys start em growin :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Who said my babies r 4 sale. Dr grassi your needed in tank 203. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 Who said my babies r 4 sale. Dr grassi your needed in tank 203. They are not for sale. The whole meaning of the experiment is to have a great dinner (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyK Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 great project, great thread. I'll follow along and watch how this grows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 So what happens at the sandbed & breakfast stays at the sandbed & breakfast. Next threads gonna be called the maxima clamstrip club. Time to find the baby makin music lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Just play some Barry White an everything will be gravy lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 I've found some interesting info. I'm sure I have a link somewhere regarding the size of the hermaphrodite size of the Maxima, were it was stated that they reach that stage at about 6 inches. Also Roy confirmed that data. Now I've found this document where there is a table showing adult (hermaphrodite) maximas at 4,5cm, 2 years old. Here is the link of the full article: http://www.cites.org/eng/com/ac/22/E22-10-2-A8f.pdf If this is true, it is gonna be much easier then expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 so they reach sexual maturity at less than 2" in length? At 6" you should get some clams that are just achin to breed babies LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted October 17, 2010 Author Share Posted October 17, 2010 No idea Mick. I'm reading different data on the same subject. Anyway the bigger is the better, especially for eggs, while sperm is not a problem (actually the opposite). I know.... expecting funny comments on this post, but believe me, my approach is purely scientific lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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