Things You'll Need
- Large, established reef tank
- Calcium, iodine and strontium reef supplements
Instructions
Determine which species of giant clam are available from suppliers in your area and which might suit the conditions of your tank best. At least seven species of giant clam appear in the aquarium trade and they all have slightly different needs. All clams do best in a well-stocked tank rather than a bare one.
Position the juvenile clam on a flat surface in the tank away from the filter. Some species prefer a sandy surface, others a rocky one. Clams cannot move far and eventually are unlikely to move at all, so positioning is crucial to the animal's well-being. If the lighting system in your tank is relatively weak, position the clam near the surface. With more intense light, situate the clam further down.
Switch the tank light on for at least 12 hours a day to support algae photosynthesis. Giant clams coexist with symbiotic algae, which provide some of the energy the clams need. Clams also filter out some of the free-floating phytoplankton in the water.
Use a calcium reef supplement. Clams need this for shell growth. Maintain calcium levels of about 400 milligrams per liter. Supplements of iodine and strontium are also necessary for healthy growth (use as per instructions). Other nutrients should naturally occur in the tank and adding extra, notably nitrates, causes problems for other reef animals.