Clam on snail shell

[CrimsonTide]

So I have had this Trochus snail in my tank for a few months and noticed when I bought it the snail had like a little top hat on his shell. I didn't think much about it until today and I saw the top hat breathe. It seems to be some kind of clam. I just wanted to make sure there are no negative effects of having it in my reef tank and the snail doesn't seem to mind him. Theres algae all over the snail so I dont know if anyone can ID the clam like thing it is white on the inside in white light.

Any answers are appreciated thanks!

 

[PicassoClown04]

Nice!!! Definitely looks like a little bivalve to me and they’re completely harmless filter feeders! Super cool snail!

 

[CrimsonTide]

Nice!!! Definitely looks like a little bivalve to me and they’re completely harmless filter feeders! Super cool snail!

If and when this snail dies is this little guy something I can just take the snail in the sand and let the bivalve continue to chill or would I need to remove it from the snail shell?

 

[PicassoClown04]

If and when this snail dies is this little guy something I can just take the snail in the sand and let the bivalve continue to chill or would I need to remove it from the snail shell?

It’ll be completely fine if you were to glue the shell into the rockwork or onto a plug. I have a couple of these guys! They mostly came in as coral hitchhikers

 

[CrimsonTide]

It’ll be completely fine if you were to glue the shell into the rockwork or onto a plug. I have a couple of these guys! They mostly came in as coral hitchhikers

Yeah I just noticed today he has grown quite a bit in the last couple months. It used to be a much smaller top hat! Now its an Abraham Lincoln top hat.

Do they grow until they die? There isn't a max on size?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Yeah I just noticed today he has grown quite a bit in the last couple months. It used to be a much smaller top hat! Now its an Abraham Lincoln top hat.

Do they grow until they die? There isn't a max on size?

I haven’t hit the max yet, I’ve had mine for over a year! I think I have something closer to a scallop than a clam though. It’s real cute. I think I have a hairy scallop

 

[CrimsonTide]

I haven’t hit the max yet, I’ve had mine for over a year! I think I have something closer to a scallop than a clam though. It’s real cute. I think I have a hairy scallop

You have a picture? Now I'm interested. Kinda excited. Haha.

 

[PicassoClown04]

You have a picture? Now I'm interested. Kinda excited. Haha.

lol I will when I get to the tank this weekend! Hopefully I remember on Sunday

 

[CrimsonTide]

lol I will when I get to the tank this weekend! Hopefully I remember on Sunday

Awesome thanks! Now I'm just interested in what kind of bivalve it is.

 

[BitReef]

I just found something similar. Some kind of clam? attached to one of my trochus snails. Any reason for concern? Will the clam? reproduce and become a nuance? It’s one of my larger trochus snails.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Mine hasn't caused any issues and continues to grow. And I'm not sure they reproduce until they're larger. Not sure on that.

 

[BitReef]

I guess eventually it will be a bi-valve with a snail hitchhiker!

 

[Reefer Reboot]

ID is most likely a Turkey Wing clam.

 

[DaneGer21]

I have about a dozen of those little clams in my sump. I swear I only had one or two years ago haha

 

[PTXReef]

Grew this guy from a speck to about 1.5'' ... some kind of winged oyster? Such cool critters!