Crocea Clam

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Tridacna crocea - Lamarck, 1819
Crocea Clam

Wild Crocea Clam boring into a live Porites coral colony. Scott W. Michael

[edit] Overview

This is the smallest of the giant clams. Brilliant blues and greens are typical mantle colors. This can be a challenging clam to keep.

Family: Tridacnidae

Other common name(s):

  • Boring Clam
  • Crocea
  • Crocus Giant Clam
  • Burrowing Clam

Native range:

Habitat: Very shallow water, often boring into hard substrate for protection. In the aquarium, it should be placed on live rock or in a nest of rocks where it can attach itself firmly and permanently. Do not move unless absolutely necessary.

Maximum length: 15 cm (6 in)

Minimum aquarium size: 190 L (50 gal)

Lighting: Bright illumination.

Placement: In full light, upper half of the aquarium.

Water: Marine 24 °C (297 K, 75 °F) - 29 °C (302 K, 84 °F)

[edit] Feeding

Zooxanthellate (gaining energy from light via its symbiotic algae), but it also needs to feed for growth. Filter feeder that will extract phytoplankton from the water.

Small juveniles, under 2–4 in (5–10 cm) can be difficult to keep, needing phytoplankton and special feeding to grow.

[edit] Aquarium Compatibility

Excellent reef aquarium animal. Not a threat to other tankmates, but may be picked at or eaten by various fish species and invertebrates.

[edit] Special Care

Inspect new clams for the presence of parasitic snails on the shell or attached at the byssal opening beneath the animal.

[edit] Breeding/Propagation

Captive propagated in a number of Indo-Pacific countries for the food trade, with the most beautiful clams reserved for aquarium hobbyists.

[edit] Notes

Wild Tridacna clams are threatened or economically extinct in many areas. Buy captive-raised clams.

Reference: A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates
Image credit: SWM
Text credit: RLS
Facts about Crocea ClamRDF feed
Common name Crocea Clam  +, Boring Clam  +, Crocea  +, Crocus Giant Clam  +, and Burrowing Clam  +
Family Tridacnidae  +
Genus Tridacna  +
Image credit SWM  +
Lighting Bright illumination.  +
Maximum length 6 in  +
Minimum aquarium size 50 gal  +
Native range Fiji  +, Guam  +, Malay Peninsula  +, and Great Barrier Reef  +
Placement In full light, upper half of the aquarium.  +
Reference A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates  +
Specific name crocea  +
Text credit RLS  +
Water max temp 302 K (29 °C, 84 °F)  +
Water min temp 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F)  +
Water type Marine  +
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