China clam
Hippopus porcellanus
Also known as Porcelain Clam, Smooth Horseshoe Clam, China Giant Clam
SaltwaterClam
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 15.7 in
- 40 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Cardiidae
- Origin
- Coral Triangle around the Philippines, on shallow reef flats and sandy lagoons.
Overview
This is a big clam that needs a large, mature reef of 400 litres or more at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with intense light and rock solid calcium and alkalinity. Small ones benefit from phytoplankton feeding, while large ones live mainly off light. It is peaceful and reef safe but demands stable water and a lot of room, and it shows up in the trade only occasionally.
In the wild
The china clam is a large giant clam with a smooth, pale shell that has a porcelain-like finish and a mantle usually in muted browns and golds with fine patterning. The shell edges meet more evenly than the toothy gape of its cousin the horse hoof clam. Big ones can pass 40 cm.
Good to know
Hippopus porcellanus has one of the smallest natural ranges of any giant clam, centered on the Sulu Sea and Palawan region of the Philippines. Like other giant clams it lives off light, hosting zooxanthellae algae in its mantle, and it is rare enough to be a conservation concern.
Did you know
Its shell has a smooth, glossy surface that looks almost like fine china, which is where the common name comes from.
Common questions
What size tank does a China clam need?
A China clam needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a China clam need?
A China clam is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a China clam get?
An adult China clam reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).
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