Reefs.org Forums

[sdcfish]

I would have to agree with Dave...those clams are simply crocea clams that have never been able to bore into rocks. I have seen thousands of them myself under the same conditions with the same coloring.

The color is common for certain regions, and because those are most likely being grown in the Micronesian area...or South Pacific, they are not common to the colors of those now being mostly imported from Vietnam.

Cites would still cover them as Tridacna species, so trying to get them passed USF&WL without cites would be a chore and or highly illegal. If a new species were obtained, such as a hybrid, then possibly a new specie would have to be listed AFTER the Genus of Tridacna.

They are pretty...makes me want to import some more from where those came from! I know a secret spot

Eric

[swsaltwater]

Is vietnam still shut down for small clams? I know we can get larger ones but under 14cm o croceas I think was off limits. I do know clams seem to be a pain to get right now.

[Raskal311]

I tried to make an order last week but no go.

[swsaltwater]

I guess we will have to go elsewhere for croceas now. Wonder if Thailand exports...........

[Fish_dave]

Thailand does not legally export, Thailand only smuggles. No marine exports are allowed legally out of Thailand. I should say no wild marine exports are allowed. Captive bred clowns have been allowed out as well as many species of fresh water fish.

Dave

[swsaltwater]

Thanks for the info, will there be any reliable source for crocea clams with Vietnam offline? I mean they are gonna ship the large ones but the market is larger for the little to medium ones.

[Fish_dave]

I think that a couple of farms will step up to help fill the void. The era of cheap small crocea may be over for awhile. That is probably a good thing, the cheap price of Viet Nam crocea made it tough for the farms to make a case for raising croceas. Now if the price will go up a bit the farms will be able to justify getting into crocea production.

Dave

[Caterham]

The clams from Vietnam should be back soon as far as I can tell. Very soon.

[swsaltwater]

They must be feeling pressure to allow at least some, lets just limit them, as Dave said a price hike can be good as it will keep people that do not know how to care for clams from buying/killing them.

[Fish_dave]

From what I understand there has always been a minimum size for the clams listed on the export CITES from Viet Nam. For some reason U.S. Fish and Wildlife did not enforce the size limit for years and now they are enforcing it. The CITES permits state that the minimum size for export is 15 cm. They are basing it on clams for the food market using the same thinking as for the food fish market, make sure that the animals are large enough to have value as a food item. Fish and Wildlife notified all importers that from now on the size restrictions would be enforced. Clams are still coming in from Viet Nam, I have some arriving today but the minimum size will be 15 cm which is very large for croceas. At 15 cm they are very old grandpa clams.

There have already been a few cases where smaller clams were packed underneath in the second layer and they have been confiscated by Fish and Wildlife. I think that you will still see a few small sized crocea that Fish and Wildlife missed that will enter the market but for legal crocea from Viet Nam at the moment they must be 15 cm or over. Same goes for the Maxima and Squamosa from there. Hopefully this will help raise the prices offered for crocea and we will start seeing some from other sources.

Dave

[PeterIMA]

As far as I know all the clams from Vietnam are harvested from the wild. This won't last much longer, as they are being overexploited (unpublished report from Vietnam that I have).

It makes more sense to farm the clams and export them at a smaller size.

Peter

[swsaltwater]

I would say cut off the food sales, I do believe I would punch someone if I saw em eat a pretty clam like an ultra crocea. Farming is done in Vietnam but i have heard mixed numbers on what percent is wild and what is farmed. The vietnam ban includes farmed clams as well so it matters not.

[Twisted]

I would be interested in talking to a wholesaler that has these. Feel free to PM or email me. Preferablly a west coast wholsaler.

Anyone?, anyone?

[JeremyR]

Beuhler? Beuhler? Anyone?

[Twisted]

I would be interested in talking to a wholesaler that has these. Feel free to PM or email me. Preferablly a west coast wholsaler.

Anyone?, anyone?

Nevermind, I guess if I actually read the article, rather then look at the pretty pictures, it tells you who the importer is. Duh!