Derasa or Gigas clam?

PghReef · Dec 10, 2022

This clam came yesterday from biota. My first experience with them as well as with clams, I ordered a derasa and asked for it to have a blue rim with striping.

I'm wondering if I have the wrong clam. The siphon seems to be smooth and not have any tentacles. Also thr pattern on tye mantle with blue spotting but almost no other color or pattern seems to match up to many gigas pictures I google.

BranchingHammer · Dec 10, 2022

Looks more like a gigas than a derasa to me.

i cant think · Dec 10, 2022

PghReef said:
This clam came yesterday from biota. My first experience with them as well as with clams, I ordered a derasa and asked for it to have a blue rim with striping.

I'm wondering if I have the wrong clam. The siphon seems to be smooth and not have any tentacles. Also thr pattern on tye mantle with blue spotting but almost no other color or pattern seems to match up to many gigas pictures I google.

That’s a gigas, Deresa have a striped pattern.
Here’s my Deresa from top down

PghReef · Dec 10, 2022

BranchingHammer said:
Looks more like a gigas than a derasa to me.

Thats what I thought. I mean its a 500 clam for 90 bucks from biota, but I actually think the derasa is a much prettier clam. Also I'm assuming the gigas will grow way to quick even for my 90 gallon if it does well.

Is the care much different between the too? Are gigas still a very hardy clam that belongs ob the sandbed with lower light needs than say a maxima?

I feel guilty for being kind of dissapointed. I mean it'd worth 5 times the cost but it's not what I ordered. I love the pattern and colors of derasa compared to the meh color of a gigas. Do they actually look pretty when they grow and acclimate to the system or is this coloration basically what I can expect?

i cant think · Dec 10, 2022

PghReef said:
Thats what I thought. I mean its a 500 clam for 90 bucks from biota, but I actually think the derasa is a much prettier clam. Also I'm assuming the gigas will grow way to quick even for my 90 gallon if it does well.

Is the care much different between the too? Are gigas still a very hardy clam that belongs ob the sandbed with lower light needs than say a maxima?

I feel guilty for being kind of dissapointed. I mean it'd worth 5 times the cost but it's not what I ordered. I love the pattern and colors of derasa compared to the meh color of a gigas. Do they actually look pretty when they grow and acclimate to the system or is this coloration basically what I can expect?

That colouration is likely to remain as it ages. It’s care is actually easier than deresa from what I’ve read however it’s been a while since looking after one.

BranchingHammer · Dec 10, 2022

From what I know, both Gigas and Derasa are hardy and will do well on the sand bed. My derasa grows like a half an inch every two months or so, so they definitely can grow quickly. I'm assuming a Gigas will grow just as quick, if not a little quicker. I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to color. I think derasas are much prettier than gigas, but they have different personality, and when a Gigas gets bigger, it can be equally impressive. In general, the coloration of a Gigas is beige with iridescent blue spots, and a derasa is more orange with a blue rim. Your choice on whether to keep it or trade it for the derasa. If it was me, I would keep the Gigas and get another derasa lol, but your preference...

HudsonReefer2.0 · Dec 10, 2022

Looks Gigas. Same requirement as the Derasa. Good luck w it

SilvermistInc · Dec 10, 2022

The clam looks a tad ticked right now. I'd suggest waiting for it to be a little more settled in before you do anything.

PghReef · Dec 10, 2022

SilvermistInc said:
The clam looks a tad ticked right now. I'd suggest waiting for it to be a little more settled in before you do anything.

Just came in yesterday after an almost 24 hour road trip from biota. It also fell over during the night so this morning I had to reposition and add some rubble around it to help keep it upright until it attaches.

I do see from the bottom what looks like a white protruding thing that pokes out and wiggles around. It does that for awhile and then retracts. I'm assuming this is the foot that I will see eventually permantly attach?

HudsonReefer2.0 · Dec 10, 2022

PghReef said:
Just came in yesterday after an almost 24 hour road trip from biota. It also fell over during the night so this morning I had to reposition and add some rubble around it to help keep it upright until it attaches.

I do see from the bottom what looks like a white protruding thing that pokes out and wiggles around. It does that for awhile and then retracts. I'm assuming this is the foot that I will see eventually permantly attach?

Set it and forget it. Just keep water chemistry stable w proper lighting

Sir Bubb · Dec 10, 2022

If you haven’t done so already, have a look at the Gigas grow out thread in the clam forum. Lots of great info regarding what to expect as far as growth/coloration.

PghReef · Dec 10, 2022

HudsonReefer2.0 said:
Set it and forget it. Just keep water chemistry stable w proper lighting

That's the plan until it outgrows its spot. I also bought the derasa as its supposed to be the easiest of the big clams. I also have a dwarf angel and wanted to see how my tank can handle a clam and if my Potters is nipper or not before I get a nice blue maxima or squamosa.

BranchingHammer · Dec 10, 2022

PghReef said:
Just came in yesterday after an almost 24 hour road trip from biota. It also fell over during the night so this morning I had to reposition and add some rubble around it to help keep it upright until it attaches.

I do see from the bottom what looks like a white protruding thing that pokes out and wiggles around. It does that for awhile and then retracts. I'm assuming this is the foot that I will see eventually permantly attach?

Yes, that is its "foot" that it uses to reposition itself if it does not like its current position. You'd be surprised at how much these clams can move overnight just by scooting around haha

i cant think · Dec 10, 2022

PghReef said:
Just came in yesterday after an almost 24 hour road trip from biota. It also fell over during the night so this morning I had to reposition and add some rubble around it to help keep it upright until it attaches.

I do see from the bottom what looks like a white protruding thing that pokes out and wiggles around. It does that for awhile and then retracts. I'm assuming this is the foot that I will see eventually permantly attach?

Yes that’s its ‘foot’ although once they grow, after reaching a certain size they do let go of their byssal threads and use their own weight to balance themselves.
So if you keep him until that size and see whiteish ‘string’ being released it’s likely to be byssal threads.

HudsonReefer2.0 · Dec 10, 2022

i cant think said:
Yes that’s its ‘foot’ although once they grow, after reaching a certain size they do let go of their byssal threads and use their own weight to balance themselves.
So if you keep him until that size and see whiteish ‘string’ being released it’s likely to be byssal threads.

My Squammy is planted on the sand via byssal threads. She spins around. When it’s larger needs to b set back

Scorpius · Dec 10, 2022

Biota was supposed to send me two 6-10 cm Squamosa, but instead they sent me one large nearly 6in behemoth.

Check it for Pyramid snails. Mine had em.

HudsonReefer2.0 · Dec 10, 2022

Scorpius said:
Biota was supposed to send me two 6-10 cm Squamosa, but instead they sent me one large nearly 6in behemoth.

Check it for Pyramid snails. Mine had em.

Oh noes. Unacceptable.