Clam Virgin, might have made a booboo

Gilghamesh · 10-04-2008, 04:51 PM

Guys I am really stressed out about a clam I just bought today. It's a beautiful Crocea with amazing color. I got it home, drip acclimated for about an hour and a half then went to the place it in it's crevice in my rocks. This is where things get bad...I think..

(please keep in mind this is my first clam so I had no idea and I did a lot of study but read nothing about this)

I grabbed it gently by the butt, not sure of the clinical term but I mean the bottom, and apparently squoze it too hard as I was placing it in the tank. I heard a "squish" sound and some muscle like tissue came out of the base. I assume this is the anchoring foot I read about. I'm afraid I may have seriously harmed my new specimen.

On a bright note it did open up almost immediately and the mantle extended past the skeleton.

Any thoughts guys? Like I said I'm pretty stressed about this one.

Gil

crvz · 10-04-2008, 05:59 PM

can you get a picture? If the mantle is exposed, you may be alright. But if there is some damage, there's probably not anything you can do about it. Not sure what kind of triage is recommended.

Gilghamesh · 10-04-2008, 07:38 PM

Sigh I really need to get a camera that works because all my questions are so vague. As always thank you Crvz for your reply. I do appreciate it. I will get those pics.

I actually have a fairly long question thread heading to the hitchhiker forum because some mystery guest is now eating my big polyps. I will get pics of all my Q's and get back to you.

Thanks as always, I hope to be able to pass on the knowledge I've been gathering. To be honest I've learned more from reading this site for hours on end then most of the books I've read on the hobby

Gil

icebear · 10-04-2008, 08:01 PM

this may not be helpful at all... but i do know from cooking experience that steamer clams will squish extra tight if you squeeze them after they have closed, this 'second closing' usually comes with a frothy sounding squeak and some water.

as far as if it damages them, i don't know because they get steamed minutes afterward...

BUT, i really would be surprised to learn that giant clams are that delicate in that way... and wouldn't they completely pull themselves in their shells like oysters or most clams? (steamers can't) So if you pinch their shell, unless they aren't healthy there shouldn't be any tissue protruding...? Do giant clams leave their foot sticking out when they close? I have never handled one, so its new info to me.

how does he look now?

but at least this post will serve as a 'bump' if utterly unhelpful....

wharyat · 10-04-2008, 08:17 PM

They will shed their byssal "foot" every once and a while. What they shed is a collection of byssal threads, it's a light cream colored conical shaped piece of hard tissue. From what I can tell it's completely normal and mine do it every 10 months or so.

I wouldn't worry too much. If the clam appears happy and is not gaping you should be good. It should also attach and anchor itself to the rock within a few hours to a few days.

icebear · 10-04-2008, 08:31 PM

oh, they have threads like mussels? cool!

wharyat · 10-04-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icebear

oh, they have threads like mussels? cool!

Yep, same sort of threads.

Gilghamesh · 10-05-2008, 01:22 AM

It's been about 8 hours now and everything appears ok. I moved it down into the sandbed where it could anchor in good. The mantle is very responsive to shadow movement and still coming out nicely.

There is a tiny bit of gaping on the right side opposite the funnel but I'm told that's normal.

Looks like I might have dodge a proverbial bullet.

Thanks all I will keep you updated

Gil

crvz · 10-05-2008, 08:25 AM

Crocea clams are rock-dwellers, so I'd try to get it on something solid to have it attach to. The sand bed is not the best place for it. And like you said, a little gaping on a crocea clam is pretty normal upon initial acclimation, but make sure it doesnt last too long.

Gilghamesh · 10-05-2008, 03:30 PM

Awesome I'll do that today. Thanks.
Gil

wharyat · 10-05-2008, 06:26 PM

Pics?

Gilghamesh · 10-05-2008, 10:10 PM

working on that. Got a buddy his nice digital to work tomorrow to borrow for a few days. I should have pics tomorrow. I have an extensive question thread to post on the hitchhiker forum hopefully tomorrow.

Gil

Gilghamesh · 10-06-2008, 08:45 PM

Here are 2 pics of the Clam today. You can see the gape on the bottom there. The gape itself is actually a bit larger but the clam reacted extremely fast to the flash so it's a bit small in the pic.

Any thoughts?