Porcelain clam
Hippopus porcellanus
Family : Tridacnidae
The porcelain clam is distinguished by its smooth, porcelain-like shell and a mantle often spotted with white and brown.
Description
Hippopus porcellanus is a medium-sized giant clam (up to 30 cm). Its shell is thick, without pronounced ribs, with a smooth and glossy surface. The mantle is usually light brown with white or yellow spots. It lives buried in sand, leaving only its siphon exposed. Like Tridacna, it hosts zooxanthellae but relies more on filtration. It is listed as Near Threatened due to collection for the aquarium trade.
Habitat
Region :
Sandy bottoms and shallow seagrass beds
Distribution :
Recommended parameters
Care
Care notes
Requires an aquarium with a deep sandy substrate (at least 10 cm) to allow burrowing. Stable water: temperature 24-28°C, salinity 1.024-1.026, calcium 400-450 ppm, alkalinity 8-12 dKH. Moderate to intense lighting. It is less demanding in light than Tridacna but needs good water quality with nitrates <10 ppm. Avoid burrowing fish or invertebrates that might disturb it.
Similar species
Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance
