They will attach to any solid surface, be it tank bottom or whatever. Anyone with basic clam experience would know this. And I’m speaking of the store employee here. But it also helps if you have this knowledge as well, which is why I recommended Fatherree’s book.
There’s not much new shell growth on that clam, so I would make sure it gets at least 8hrs of prime light a day. One of the first things to look at while shopping for a clam is new shell growth. If you’re not seeing it in the store, at least you know it’s not been in prime conditions for a while. The clam should receive about 200+ micro moles for that length of time, if not more. It’s virtually impossible to provide a clam with too much light in our tanks. Keep an eye on it and keep us posted. Good luck!Update almost positive it was the peppermints doing what they, eat dead and dying tissue. I went back yesterday he offered me the choice of another clam or store credit. Went with the clam. I think the 1st guy to attempt removing it did him in. This time watching the same guy that finished taking out the first one wad slow and methodical. It did everything I expected the first one to do closed tight and pulsed when anything got near it. I was a little weary minutes after putting it in one of the peppermints was on it picking at its shell. Today was open not quite fully during the day light is winding down I let it go rgb for a while before it goes to 2 blue led's for the night. Here's a pic of him now under the rgb's just cause I love all my children the same.
I would put it up in the rocks, somewhere high. If you're going to keep it in the sand, then place something solid under it and crank the lights. Maximas need 300-350+ micromoles of full spectrum lighting for at least 8hrs a day. With minimum new shell growth, I wouldn't keep it in the sand/low light for much longer. Mantle looks cool, would like to see a top down pic, then you'll see the true colors.
He looks good to me, put him in Wednesday night. Don't have a par meter aside from my eye. I'm running to a new LPS thinking of getting a spot light for it. Not worried about super growth just keeping healthy. That is the spot the LPS said to put him after looking at pics of the tank. Just looking for a bit of feedback on the light and placement. P.S. the toadstool is a closed but not worried as it's normally open with beautiful long polyps.
