TankBud

Squamosa clam

Tridacna squamosa

Also known as Fluted Giant Clam, Fluted Clam, Scaly Clam

SaltwaterClam

Squamosa clam (Tridacna squamosa)
(c) Dan Schofield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

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
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Cardiidae (Tridacninae)
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, from East Africa across to the central Pacific, one of the two widest-ranging Tridacna species alongside the maxima clam

Overview

The Squamosa clam is a peaceful, reef-safe giant clam for the rock or sand of a reef tank. It has a generally hardy reputation and is a good step up for a keeper with a little reef experience.

Did you know

The Squamosa clam has an unusually small byssal opening for its size, even on reef flats pounded by heavy wave action. Many adults in the trade are only loosely anchored or not attached at all. In a maxima or crocea that would be a sign of a problem, but in this clam it is not.

Caring for the Squamosa clam

The Squamosa clam is noticeably less demanding of intense light than a maxima or crocea. It does well under moderate to fairly high reef lighting and does not need the most intense fixture in the tank. It also tolerates a bit more shade than those clams kept nearby.

It adapts well either wedged into a rock crevice or set on open sand, which gives more placement flexibility than most other Tridacna. Give it a tank of at least 40 gal (150 L).

Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium should still run high and stable. Aim for calcium at 380 to 450 ppm, alkalinity at 8 to 11 dKH and magnesium at 1280 to 1350 ppm. It is a fast grower that can triple in size within a year once settled. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Clams under 5 cm benefit from phytoplankton or greenwater feedings a few times a week. Larger ones live on light alone.

It is at risk from mantle-nipping wrasses, crabs, shrimp and pyramid snails, so watch for them. Acclimate a new arrival slowly, floating it to match temperature and drip acclimating over an hour or more. Start it in lower light for the first week or two before moving it toward brighter placement.

Good to know

Tridacna squamosa is the fluted giant clam, in the family Cardiidae, subfamily Tridacninae. Five or six rows of large, leaf-like scutes run down its shell folds, a feature absent in every other Tridacna species. Research on juveniles suggests the scutes help fend off small predators before the shell is thick enough to do the job alone. It hosts photosynthetic zooxanthellae across its colorful outer mantle and uses their output to help build its shell. Like every member of the family, it is protected under CITES Appendix II. Any international trade in live animals or shells requires an export permit.

In the wild

The Squamosa clam ranges across shallow, wave-swept reef flats and lagoons over most of the Indo-Pacific and into the Red Sea. It reaches from East Africa across to the central Pacific, usually in less than 10 meters of water. Juveniles byssal-attach to rock, but many adults settle loosely on sand or rubble.

Common questions

What size tank does a Squamosa clam need?

A Squamosa clam needs at least 40 gal (150 L).

What temperature and pH does a Squamosa clam need?

A Squamosa clam is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a Squamosa clam eat?

A Squamosa clam lives on light alone once it grows past 5 cm. Smaller clams benefit from phytoplankton or greenwater a few times a week.

How big does a Squamosa clam get?

An adult Squamosa clam reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).

Related species