silly question - but I still don't know that much about clams

[this is me]

Thats defintiely a maxima!! the mantle of a crocea doesnt fold on top of each other on the side like that. The color and pattern is a dead giveaway that it is a maxima as well.

 

[dz6t]

you may be right about the color and pattern. If it is a corcea, it is one of a kind.

 

[smcnally]

Thats defintiely a maxima!! the mantle of a crocea doesnt fold on top of each other on the side like that. The color and pattern is a dead giveaway that it is a maxima as well.

I agree that the color seems that of a Maxima, but disagree about the mantle. Crocea mantles will fold like that. I had a crocea that I swore was a maxima, and when I wrote someone for an ID (I believe it was Anthony Calfo), I was told that the main thing to look at was the shell. If it doesn't have very distinctive skutes, then it isn't a Maxima. The only maximas that won't have distinctive scutes are ones that have been burrowed into a rock into their adult life. The other thing is the very round edges on the mantle. Her clam doesn't display either of these traits. The only thing that would make me thing it was a maxima would be the pattern. But croceas are showing up all over the place with unique patterns. Here's a maxima for reference.

 

[this is me]

May I need to be clear on the mantle.
Maxima

 

[this is me]

Crocea.
Either way, it's a great clam.

 

[smcnally]

I understand what you are saying. All I'm getting at is that croceas can have folded mantles like that as well. Here's a picture of my crocea that I swore was a maxima until I was proved wrong by one of the experts. It is the one on the left in this picture.

In my humble, completely non-expert opinion, the shell it the biggest identifier of a Maxima.

 

[GinaD]

I just go by price, myself.
I paid $30 for crocea and $70 for maxima.

 

[skyedolphan]

nice clam and and nice zoas dont believe the are RPE yours look much nicer IMHO would love to see a pic after a few weeks of adjustment to your tank
OR
you can give ma a polyp or 2 and I can tell when I get homewhat they are

 

[smcnally]

I just go by price, myself.
I paid $30 for crocea and $70 for maxima.

LOL Sorry, I wasn't trying to start a big deal over it.

 

[GinaD]

nice clam and and nice zoas dont believe the are RPE yours look much nicer IMHO would love to see a pic after a few weeks of adjustment to your tank
OR
you can give ma a polyp or 2 and I can tell when I get homewhat they are

I was just guessing at what they were. All he had on his glass was "Polyp Rock". Maybe I'll make a visit to that zoanthid ID website..

 

[GinaD]

Here it is all opened up. I like it a lot!

 

[dz6t]

they are very beautiful. WHo care what kind of funky name they have.

 

[smcnally]

Those are very cool. They almost look like a cross between a RPE and a button polyp.

 

[dz6t]

Gina should name it.

 

[GinaD]

Hmmm...

 

[smcnally]

Hmmm...

How about Red Button Eater "RBE"

 

[dz6t]

How about Red Button Eater "RBE"

For age 3+?

 

[GinaD]

Here's a closer look of the pattern on the maxima (per request).

 

[smcnally]

That's a hard one to call, Gina. It almost looks like a cross between both

 

[this is me]

My money is still on maxima.