Little Clams reproducing in reef?

[Ramses0314]

I have had these little clams reproduce and spread all over the dark areas of my tank. I attached a picture of both sides of 1. They seem to be able to move and reattach. They are various colors, some have brownish stripes. It all started with one that came attached on the back of a snail I believe.

 

[DMG Reef]

Turkey wing bivalve. Harmless hitchhiker. I have them also on my live rock. They are filter feeders.

 

[Ramses0314]

Turkey wing bivalve. Harmless hitchhiker. I have them also on my live rock. They are filter feeders.

I looked that one up and is not exactly what I meant by the stripes in some. The overall shape is different too

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

They are various colors, some have brownish stripes.

Do you have any pics of some with different colors?

I agree that it doesn't look like the turkey wing bivalves I'm familiar with (genus Arca are the ones I'm aware of, but, with many creatures share common names, it wouldn't surprise me if these guys were considered turkey wing bivalves as well), but I also agree that they're harmless filter feeders.

I have had these little clams reproduce and spread all over the dark areas of my tank.

When you say they've reproduced, do you mean that they have been actively spawning and that they young have been growing out in your tank? or do you just mean that you keep finding more of them?

 

[mtfish]

Some type of mussel. Do they attach to rocks with little strings (byssal thread)?

 

[Ramses0314]

Do you have any pics of some with different colors?

I agree that it doesn't look like the turkey wing bivalves I'm familiar with (genus Arca are the ones I'm aware of, but, with many creatures share common names, it wouldn't surprise me if these guys were considered turkey wing bivalves as well), but I also agree that they're harmless filter feeders.

When you say they've reproduced, do you mean that they have been actively spawning and that they young have been growing out in your tank? or do you just mean that you keep finding more of them?

I just keep finding more

 

[Tired]

I don't think those are turkey wing clams. They look more like mussels. Do they move? I have something similar (though only one or two) that can crawl around on its foot like a snail, and will climb glass.

I wouldn't be sure that they're breeding yet. More likely they're just emerging from rockwork and whatnot. Definitely harmless, regardless of species; bivalves are almost exclusively filter-feeders. Carnivorous species are few and far between.

 

[Ramses0314]

I don't think those are turkey wing clams. They look more like mussels. Do they move? I have something similar (though only one or two) that can crawl around on its foot like a snail, and will climb glass.

I wouldn't be sure that they're breeding yet. More likely they're just emerging from rockwork and whatnot. Definitely harmless, regardless of species; bivalves are almost exclusively filter-feeders. Carnivorous species are few and far between.

yeah, they move occasionally but will typically stay put once they find a happy place. I only had seen one at first, but Idk if it has been cloning itself or maybe I had a pair hitch.

 

[Tired]

Clams can't split to clone themselves like anemones can, and it's unlikely that a pair spawned (or a single spawned with itself) as bivalve larvae are all (as far as I know) planktonic and therefore tend to die quickly in the average reef.