[bax9er]

we have 2 clams dont ask what kind not sure yet. but how can you tell the sex of a clam.. also one of our clams has started to turn white on her leaves, what could that be. not just a little white but about a 1/4 of her right side.

[Ninong]

Tridacna clams are hermaphroditic. Their male gonads mature first, female gonads much later. Once they are mature enough, they are capable of producing both male and female gametes. To reduce the possibility of self-fertilization, they usually have a space of about 30 minutes between release of gametes of the opposite gender.

When a clam releases gametes (usually sperm first), a chemical signal is picked up by other clams in the vicinity and they will join in the release. Male and female gametes (sperm and eggs) will mix together in the water column. The reason they release simultaneously with other clams is because this strategy offers the best odds of some of the fertilized eggs surviving the predation of waiting fish. The bounty is so plentiful that the fish can't possibly consume it all.

This same strategy is used by a wide variety of animals on the Great Barrier Reef. During a period of three or four days following the first full moon of spring (either October or November depending on when the first full moon occurs), corals, clams, polychaetes, etc., will mass spawn simultaneously. It's rather well orchestrated. I think the polychaetes wait until last.

In some years there might be a split spawning between the period following the October full moon and the November full moon but in most years it takes place following the November full moon, especially if the October full moon is early in the month. It's quite complicated but it is influenced by water temperature and tides.

Anyway, to answer your question. Your clam is both male and female. It will mature sexually as a male first and then later on in it's growth, when it is large enough, it will acquire female sexual maturity without losing its male sexual capabilities.

[smpolyp]

From what I have heard the older clams can hold the sprem and egg so if you have a 5" under clam it may just give off sperm. This is very,very general. The main thing you want to look at now is the white parts of your clam. This is called bleaching. It is a lost of zooxanthellae (the plant cells that are responsible for taking up the light and converting it to foods for the coral). This can be fatal for the clam if conditions do not change. This bleaching maybe due to just shipping stress.? I would recomend getting a good clam book. From what I know the newest book is from James Fatheree. If you are intersted in keeping clams this book or the book by Knop can help with more questions that most can answer.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by bax9er

we have 2 clams dont ask what kind not sure yet. but how can you tell the sex of a clam.. also one of our clams has started to turn white on her leaves, what could that be. not just a little white but about a 1/4 of her right side.

I have no idea what you mean by a clam's leaf?????

P.S. --

[nu2reef-n]

I have five clams in my tank. two Croceas, a Derasa, a Gigas, and a Hippopus.
This last Saturday afternoon my Croceas went nuts, and started doing the spawning thing all over the place.
The fish loved it, I didn't. =)

[Ninong]

Cool photo!

[nu2reef-n]

Here's a shot of the eggs being released.

[wozza]

cool