Help with clam!

[rajkovich207]

Ok went to check on my tank a few minutes ago and saw that my crocea shed his attaching filaments (cant remember the technical name lol. He has on its side for about a week now (not sure why it has decided to move after almost 2 months at its previous location. I tried to move it back but it was partially attached to a frag plug and the bottom, tried to stand it back up and it just fell over again. Is everything ok? I did have a huge spike in nitrates last week (jumped to about 100) and did 2 5g water changes in 3 days and that brought it back to 0. Any ideas on what's going on and if its ok?

Said filaments

bottom of said clam.

. Sure hope this works, first time using the app!


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[rajkovich207]

Ok seemed to work when looking in my phones Internet browser. Also forgot to add that there is a small nub of rounded off solid flesh on the end of the filaments.

 

[Otter_rs]

It's called basal threads, and what you explain is somewhat normal. The clam is ok as long as it can still make new threads.


Brent \><{{{{*>
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[bct15]

What kind of clam has that smooth shell?


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[rajkovich207]

Ok I though so, and thank you I was drawing a bank on the name lol. They are called crocea

 

[Otter_rs]

If he attached to something you don't want him to, you can snip the new threads, but be very careful. Cut as far away from the clam as possible, as you can damage the basal gland if you cut close to the clam.


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[flyingfish27]

Ok seemed to work when looking in my phones Internet browser. Also forgot to add that there is a small nub of rounded off solid flesh on the end of the filaments.

If you mean the nub of flesh is sticking out of the clam's shell and is attached to the threads, that would be the clam's foot, which it uses to move around when it wants to, and which produces the "byssus" (or byssal threads) you're seeing.
The clam can stand itself back up by creating new threads if there's something for him to attach them to, or you can prop him back upright with pieces of rock or coral rubble if you want, without pulling on the threads that are attached.

He looks like a crocea? He might rather sit on rock. I don't have a lot of experience with them but I'm sure these other folks do!
Good luck!
Kim H.

 

[Otter_rs]

I knew my spelling was wrong, sorry, didn't feel like looking it up and my spell check kept changing it. The byssus gland is what produces the byssal threads. It is right at the hinge. The knob at the end of the discarded thread is not part of the clam.


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[skinz78]

I knew my spelling was wrong, sorry, didn't feel like looking it up and my spell check kept changing it. The byssus gland is what produces the byssal threads. It is right at the hinge. The knob at the end of the discarded thread is not part of the clam.


Brent \><{{{{*>
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Yep agreed nothing to worry about there. As mentioned above just use a sharp knife and cut the attached threads and place it where you wish.

Just out of curiosity, what fish and inverts do you have? I wonder if something is nipping causing the clam to want to move? Can you post some pic's of the clams mantle?

 

[flyingfish27]

I knew my spelling was wrong, sorry, didn't feel like looking it up and my spell check kept changing it. The byssus gland is what produces the byssal threads. It is right at the hinge. The knob at the end of the discarded thread is not part of the clam.


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Haha, It's a sure bet that spellcheck never heard of a byssal gland! :wink: I'm always telling my my phone's texting software that "blenny" is TOO a word, and "moonlights" and "RODI". I argue with it a lot!

Ah, you mean the glob holding the threads together. It should be the part that was formerly inside the gland, or I think I read somewhere that they expel a part of the gland with the threads when they let go. Sorry, I'm speculating... since we have no reason to think it was violently yanked out or anything.

Kim H.

 

[skinz78]

Haha Yeah my phone denies that fragging is a word....

Yes the glob is where all the threads are attached to at the gland, over time there gets to be too many of them and the clam drops the whole thing.

 

[Swordfish215]

Crocea are def. the most sensitive at times, many times when u recieve these clams in a shipment they will have discaded their threads in the specimen bag, they can regenerate them easily if healthy.

 

[rajkovich207]

I also have a maxima clam that decided he wants to move now too, the maxima is gaping a touch but has been for about 8 months (ill have had him a year the 12th) the crocea still knocks himself over despite my best efforts lol. I have a small canary or yellow coris wrasse (has eaten all snails smaller than a dime, but nips nothing) he's been in there a couple months and sleeps on the other side of the tank. Other than that there's 2 small clowns. I did do a black out last week and turned the lights up a bit, but other than that the only thing I can think of I'd the flow from the mp10 upsetting him. I'll try to grab a couple pics of them tomorrow when the lights come on. Thanks for the replies and sorry I didn't get back sooner. And I totally agree about auto correct, the corrected words are always good for a giggle, though the iPhone I just got has been really good about leaving my words alone lol

 

[slapshot]

iPhone illiteracy!!

 

[rajkovich207]

Ok as promised here is a couple pics of my clams from my phone, sorry about the quality, my fish kept swimming at the surface thinking I was going to feed them lol. Looking at the pics the croceas mantel looks a bit funny maybe someone can chime in on that

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[rajkovich207]

Ok cropped and did some bad editing on my phone, here's a bit closer look at it, hopefully it's not to bad lol.

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[Otter_rs]

They look normal to me.


Brent \><{{{{*>
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[skinz78]

Look great to me, thanks for sharing!

 

[rajkovich207]

Awesome thanks for the input! Now to figure out the cause of my unsightly cyano lol

 

[Otter_rs]

Awesome thanks for the input! Now to figure out the cause of my unsightly cyano lol

Now that's an easy answer. Excess phosphates. Now the solution, on the other hand, is a whole different question.


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