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The fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, is one of a number of large species native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. It is distinguished by the presence of large leaf-like fluted edges on its shell called 'scutes' and a byssal opening that is rather small as compared to other members of the Tridacnidae family. Normal coloration of the mantle ranges from browns and purples to greens and yellows arranged in elongated linear or spot-like patterns. Tridacna squamosa grows to 16 inches across.

A green T. squamosa from East Timor.

Sessile in adulthood, the creature's mantle tissues act as a habitat for the symbiotic single-celled dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) from which it gets a major portion of its nutrition. By day, the clam spreads out its mantle tissue so that the algae receive the sunlight they need to photosynthesize.

Range

Its native range spans from South Africa to the Red Sea and out to the Marshall Islands.

In the Aquarium

• Care Level: moderate -

Tridacna squamosa is a relatively hardy member of the Tridacnidae family.

• Lighting Requirements: moderate to high -

Although it requires a significant level of light to survive, it is not nearly as dependent on photosynthesis as other Tridacnids such as Tridacna crocea or Tridacna maxima and should be fed phytoplankton to complete its diet.

• Compatibility: reef safe -

Tridacna squamosa is a peaceful resident and will not harm other tank inhabitants. Despite its ability to shut completely, it should not be kept near any stinging celled creatures (anemones or corals) and MUST be kept out of reach of the sweeper tentacles. It should be kept as a soft coral in that it should not be kept with trigger fish, puffers, or any other specimens that might pick at or eat its mantle. It is also recommended that they not be kept with anemones as the anemone may move close to the clam and sting or eat it.

• Placement: bottom to low -

It should be kept lower in the display and although some specimens prefer lying in the substrate they will occasionally attach their byssal threads to rocks above the substrate.

• Supplements: calcium, strontium, molybdenum

• Other Notes: All clams require good to excellent water quality. Clams are noted to consume free nitrates to a degree and are occasionally fed a part of their diet via nitrate drip in large clam farms (though this practice is NOT recommended in aquaria) and may help to reduce nitrate levels in a system.

Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the giant clams as lower risk.