Clams don't seem as popular as they have been in the past.

[Tahoe61]

This hobby seems very "follow the leader" to me, in that it seems like everyone comes up with a group consensus and then drives what is "hot" based on that. For example, everyone seems goo goo ga ga over bounce mushrooms, but they really do nothing for me.

So once you start seeing a bunch of people doing one thing, it somehow becomes "the next big thing." I'm sure clams will have their day again.

True enough.

But you do see more clams on the market in spring and early summer.

But you're right that to a large extent the newer hobbyist drive the demand.

 

[TacticalBacon]

Super Clam fan here, We do sometimes get a few clams in and they do go quickly! My theory is that we see more people interested in keeping LPS and Softies rather than taking on the challenge of SPS and harder to maintain corals like Gonis for example. People are much more inclined to read up on items before they purchase them nowadays and tend to opt into things they view as easier to keep alive wether it be for cost or moral reasons. Most places online describe clams as a challenge to the common reefer and i think that plays a larger part in the popularity of them!

That is why I chose to not look into them. I was in love with them until I saw the challenges.
First reef, so I am going to learn more before I got down the clam experience.

Are they really as hard,as it appears online, to keep them?

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I agree. At least here in Sweden they aren’t as popular as the used to be 10-15 years back. I think it depends on several factors:
- prices are higher. They used to be fairly cheap. Nowadays I see decently sized maximas go for around 250+ €
2. Don’t look as good in windex tanks
3. They don’t do as well as they used to. I had no issues keeping clams 20 years ago as a 16 year old kid and had several…but all clams I’ve tried for the last 8 years or so hasn’t done well long term. My reefing friends mirrors that experience. They do ok for a bit and then they develop pinched mantle disease and slowly wither away.

 

[Miami Reef]

My reefing friends mirrors that experience. They do ok for a bit and then they develop pinched mantle disease and slowly wither away.

Same here, actually. This past year I lost most of my clams to pinched mantle disease.

 

[ieatbugman]

Im newer to reefing and one of THE thing that i always wanted was a blue clam. Then i got my crocea. Its a really bad photo seeing as its older and had no idea what i was doing with photography.

 

[ccole]

I love clams and have a dedicated clam tank currently. I don’t see them so much in local shops any more and the blue ones seem to go pretty fast when they do come in.

Maximas/croceas seem to need a lot of light which puts them at odds with most LPS and softies.

I’ve lost some here or there but have had pretty decent luck so far. I like the aquacultured ones.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley do clams remove DOM from water decreasing yellowing?

The studies that I’ve seen say they consume particulate organics. I do not know if they consume dissolved organics that cause yellowing.

 

[Miami Reef]

The studies that I’ve seen say they consume particulate organics. I do not know if they consume dissolved organics that cause yellowing.

What are some examples of particulate organics? That seems rather vague, no?

 

[Imrahilwjz]

I had a long term goal of having a clam at one time, but I have aiptasia in my tank, so I bought a Klein butterfly fish. Not sure how that would work out.

 

[*GAREEF*]

I recently purchased a Giga clam (bottom right). I’ve Been out of the hobby for about 8 years and started this tank in October. Been keeping reefs since 96 and always kept Derasa but always wanted a Giga, I just could never find one or at least one for a decent price.

 

[drolmaeye]

I really want to get a clam and they show up fairly regularly at LFS in my area. I don't mind paying up for one, but my two tanks are LPS and I'm not sure I have a spot above 200 PAR, so I've resisted. One day, maybe.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Is that seemingly true?

Is there a supply issue?

Do the mostly blue and green clams just not look as stunning in the ultra blue light tanks of today?

They may not be.

Maybe because so many of us have killed enough of them or know somebody who has…

And maybe most of us realize that if they do love they are doomed to outgrow the tank or their ability to support their hinge due to lack of rock or sand depth.

Just my guess and I could be wholly wrong.

 

[drolmaeye]

They may not be.

Maybe because so many of us have killed enough of them or know somebody who has…

And maybe most of us realize that if they do love they are doomed to outgrow the tank or their ability to support their hinge due to lack of rock or sand depth.

Just my guess and I could be wholly wrong.

My understanding is there are coral -- e.g., goniopora -- that used to generally die, but are now kept successfully by some. Are we advancing reef care to the point that we might enjoy more success with difficult species than we did even a decade ago? Or is there just more expensive gear, but knowledge/skill hasn't changed much?

 

[Jimbo327]

They just don't look at good under blue light and from the side of the tank. A spectacular $350 teardrop clam viewed above in white light...looks like a boring clam in blue light. All of the colors are washed out.

 

[BeanAnimal]

My understanding is there are coral -- e.g., goniopora -- that used to generally die, but are now kept successfully by some. Are we advancing reef care to the point that we might enjoy more success with difficult species than we did even a decade ago? Or is there just more expensive gear, but knowledge/skill hasn't changed much?

No idea — but clams are not “easy” anyway you slice it. I would imagine they do better under MH too.

I have done this for decades and can tell you that I do not find anything any easier (not that it was ever overly hard), nor do I really find any techniques “more advanced” than they were when I started. I don’t honestly see where much has changed other than social media pushing trends and certain people and companies taking hokum to a whole new level via the aforementioned social media.

 

[ninjamyst]

1. They are still expensive
2. They look great top down but from the front of the tank, not so much
3. They are not as hardy as corals
4. They outgrow nano tanks and people with bigger tanks usually have fish that will eat them
5. They are often thrown into inverts section on websites and unless someone knows they want a clam, no one gonna go searching for him

 

[Reefer Matt]

No room and no sand for me.

 

[Cheezle]

September 2023 under whites vs just now under blues. Someone else said it in this thread but everyone says they're expert level but in my experience you can set and forget and that turned me off of them initially. Thing is as hardy as they come!

 

[braaap]

Just bought a 7th. Should be here tomorrow haha

 

[anthonymckay]

No idea — but clams are not “easy” anyway you slice it. I would imagine they do better under MH too.

I have done this for decades and can tell you that I do not find anything any easier (not that it was ever overly hard), nor do I really find any techniques “more advanced” than they were when I started. I don’t honestly see where much has changed other than social media pushing trends and certain people and companies taking hokum to a whole new level via the aforementioned social media.

I think it's much easier to be "successful" when getting into the hobby than it was 15-20 years ago. The hobby's collective knowledge has advanced considerably with the introduction of online communities. We have better understand of the science behind a lot of the biological mechanisms in keeping healthy corals. We have equipment that makes monitoring stability far easier than it ever was.