how to tell the difference between clams?

[Dorado13]

I've read a lot about clam husbandry but still don't know how to tell the difference between crocea and maxima clams. Can anyone tell me what kind of clam i have and how can you tell?

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a400/dorado13/IMG_2708.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a400/dorado13/IMG_2703.jpg

[BLKTANG]

Thats a Cracea.

U can tell by the shell of the clam.

[mbbuna]

your clam is a Crocea

this first pic is a Maxima. if you look at the shell it more elongated and asymmetrical. the left half of the shell is where the byssal opening is and is longer then the right half where the hinge is.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2189/img0222du4.jpg



this is a Crocea. its shell is more symmetrical. the byssal opening is in the same position as the photo above and you can see that the length of the byssal side and the hinge side are almost the same. and the over height is higher. you can also see the scutes at the top, Croceas do grow scutes but almost all the ones we get are wild collected and the scutes are worn off when we get them but will start to show with new shell growth.

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2022/img02272bq.jpg

these are the same two clams Maxima on the left. Croceas have the largest byssal opening of the clams in proportion to the over all shell length. the Crocea in the photo is smaller then the Maxima but the byssal opening is larger.

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2425/img02390qt.jpg

this can help also

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/jf/feature/index.php

[BLKTANG]

Thankx mbbuna,I knew u would chime in.

[RokleM]

:thumbsup: great explanation!