Questions about Clams

fishkid · 12-25-2003, 07:23 PM

Hey

I recentlly bought my first clam and have a coulpe of questions about it. Im new with clams so sorry if these are dumb questions. First of all i really am not sure what type of clam it is so I attached a picture. My fish are kind of nipping at the clam and making him close up. Is that normal? When they leave him alone he seems to do fine. He sits about 20 inch below a 175 HM and is feed phytoplex every other day. Will he attach to a rock? If so should it be a flat rock or should he sit on the sand. Is there any way to tell if he is doing bad besides not opening all the way? If u have any other tips let me know. Hope u can Help.

Thanks
Josh

SouthernReefer · 12-26-2003, 06:26 AM

well, that depend on what type of clam you have. some clams will eventually loose their bissal(sp) foot, and end up on the bottom. some clams will burrow into a rock, and some clams like to burrow into the sand. it really helps if you know what kind of clam you have purchased, does derasa, maxima, corcea, saqmousa, gaint, hippo sound familiar? each are similiar as much as they are different.

Eric P · 12-27-2003, 08:00 AM

Josh, It looks like a crocea to me. Fish nipping at a clam will stress it. (NOT GOOD) What types of fish are bothering it? How big is the clam? It should attach to a rock or an old clam shell. Another thing to check for are small snails that feed on the clam at night. Look at the bottom of the clam, they are small white elongated things. Kind of like a small grain of rice. If they are presant a fresh water dip should help. Use RO/DI water and check your water peameters often.
Hope this helps, Eric...

m&m · 12-27-2003, 08:32 AM

it looks like you have it wedged in between the rocks.make sure it has enough room to fully open.also make sure it has enough room on both sides to open as it grows.

fishkid · 12-27-2003, 03:33 PM

Hey guys thanks for all the help

I have the clam no the bottom and placed him on a clam shell. The yellow tang is what keeps picking at it. He is picking at the mantle. The sailfin picked at its shell when i first got it but left it alone after that. I think im going to get ride of the yellow tang. IT is about 4-5 inch big. Im going to check for snails tonight. Hope he gets better.

Thanks
Josh

Casey · 12-27-2003, 03:34 PM

Josh keep an eye on the Tang if he keeps the clam stressed out he wont do good.

WestPat · 12-30-2003, 09:06 PM

I will go with crocea too. Looks like mine. What size is it? Is it fairly small or is that just a really huge leather?

I would try to get as close to the light as possible. It will do okay at that distance with good bulbs, but to bring it out under 175's I would go up to about 12" if possible. Also I have mine mounted to a half of a seashell.

I learned what I know from Casey!!!!!
David West II