Need Some Clam Help Please

Squishie89 · May 26, 2013

Today I got a ~4" Crocea. It was stuck in this horrible rock. As I was cleaning the rock the clam felt loose. I cut the clam loose as close to the rock as I could get. When I removed the clam there was a lot of mucus/goo where the clam had been. I am not sure if the clam foot is okay. Please let me know what to do. The clam will continue to be drip acclimated for another 1-2 hours.

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mike007 · May 26, 2013

Doesn't look to good. I don't think it will survive. I would not leave in main tank.

Mr. E Wrasse · May 26, 2013

If the clam was attached to the rock and you took it off then the clam will usually die. I have no idea what the mucus stuff is however. Hope the clam makes it though!

Squishie89 · May 26, 2013

Well I did cut it free, I did not rip it out or anything. But I understand. It is actually already extending its mantle again in the bucket. Fingers crossed.

Mike J. · May 26, 2013

It doesn't look like the clam has been damaged to me. In fact, it's foot is still on it. Once in a while a clam will shed it's foot and grow a new one and reattach or try to move somewhere else and reattach. IMO (if the clam is healthy) it will reattach or shed that foot and extend another foot and attach. I'd probably clean all that gunk of it's shell. Good luck.

Squishie89 · May 26, 2013

Thank you so much. The bottom is looking better. He started extending the foot, looked like bubble coral. Once I put him in the tank, within a few minutes a bristle worm came out from it! So I had to get the clam and I managed to pluck the worm off. Mantle is already being extended and I have the clam on a clam holder so he can attach himself to something.

MischiefDoll · May 26, 2013

Hopefully he makes it... treat him carefully for the next few days.

SeahorseKeeper · May 26, 2013

You probably just cut the byssal threads that the clam uses to attach the rock. I noticed the same goo on my rock when I accidentally knocked my crocea off its rock.

sjnovakovich · May 26, 2013

Your clam will be fine.

Tom@HaslettMI · May 26, 2013

sjnovakovich said:
Your clam will be fine.

I agree 100%. Looks like the byssal threads are still on the clam so all is well. The mucus is probably used by the crocea to dissolve the rock it's resting on.

Tom

Squishie89 · May 26, 2013

Thank you everyone for your help. This is my first clam so I was/am just very nervous. Clam seems to be doing great. I already moved him up in the tank due to my current bad lights (new lights are on their way), but he is already not reaching that much.

Squishie89 · May 26, 2013

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Here is the clam this evening. I think it is looking quite good for the day it had!

Mike J. · May 26, 2013

I am a very friendly person and treat everyone with respect. But, I'm totally bewildered by this. Why do you comment on things you obviously know nothing about? R2R Guide, really? Just to get your post numbers up? Respectfully submitted.

mike007 said:
Doesn't look to good. I don't think it will survive. I would not leave in main tank.

Mike J. · May 26, 2013

And this? The clam is going to die, really? Do you own a clam? If I was a newbie and knew very little I might believe you. Why do you answer questions you know nothing about?

Mr. E Wrasse said:
If the clam was attached to the rock and you took it off then the clam will usually die. I have no idea what the mucus stuff is however. Hope the clam makes it though!

skinz78 · May 27, 2013

I agree, 100% the clam is fine.

NanaReefer · May 27, 2013

Be careful with that spot you got him on!! Mine has taken several jumps off the rock already. No worse for wear but I think I got lucky

I found a half clam shell makes for a very nice holder, and its got a good dip to it so it stays put.
I really like the color of yours! It's gonna be a real beauty once it settles in

Congrats!

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SeahorseKeeper · May 27, 2013

I love the clam holder idea!! I may have to try that.

Mike J. · May 27, 2013

When mine shed it's byssal threads I took advantage of it and placed it in a cup shaped rock. I watched in awe as immediately a new set of byssal threads extended and attached to the rock.

Squishie89 · May 27, 2013

SeahorseKeeper said:
I love the clam holder idea!! I may have to try that.

I got them in this- Thrive Aquatics Thrive C Clam Kit: Aquarium Acclimation & Quarantine It comes with 2. I can't remember where it was, but I saw someone selling something like these mounts individually. I will try and find it. Here it is- http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/the-alternative-reef-clam-holder I may have seen some somewhere else of a different kind, but yeah.

NanaReefer said:
Be careful with that spot you got him on!! Mine has taken several jumps off the rock already. No worse for wear but I think I got lucky
I found a half clam shell makes for a very nice holder, and its got a good dip to it so it stays put.
I really like the color of yours! It's gonna be a real beauty once it settles in Congrats!

Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

Thank you! And your comment gave me dreams about finding the clam on its side. Luckily he was still there. He was reaching for light like crazy, but he was intact!

I am feeling bloody brilliant for taken the clam off the rock. Not to mention getting him closer to the light is easier without being on the rock, but I left the rock outside to dry out. I came out to check on it and found a dried up bristleworm, a dried up nudi (I think). Without all the BA in the way I could see just how infested with tube worms the rock was. While placing the clam closer to the light today I did my best ridding the shell of tube worms, managed to cut myself pretty badly on something on the shell, but the clam is relatively worm-less.

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Light, give me light!

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As close to the light as I can get it, unless I were to build something. And photobombing snail.

Thank you everyone again for your help and encouragement.