Tridacna Crocea "Golden Stripes" | WYSIWYG

Care at a glance

Typical requirements of the genus – individual specimens may differ.

Difficulty

Moderate – needs a mature tank.

Light

High; the clam lives mainly from its symbiotic algae.

Flow

Moderate, not aimed directly at the mantle.

Placement

On solid rock or sand with unobstructed light.

Feeding

Photosynthetic; small specimens also benefit from phytoplankton.

Tridacna giant clams bring exceptional colours into the reef aquarium with their iridescent mantle. In the wild, Tridacna crocea bores into coral rock and stays fairly compact, while other species grow considerably larger. The clams host symbiotic zooxanthellae and therefore need strong light. Stable calcium and alkalinity levels are important, as the shell grows continuously. Place the clam so that it sits securely and is protected from predators such as pyramid snails.