New to keeping a Crocea Clam

[Nordy]

Just got this Crocea clam. I can see it rocking a little, from time to time in and when I epoxied the frag plug it came on, the clams mantle was facing a little more to the front of my tank. My question is on its security of how I placed it. My understanding is it has bassal strands for attachment. Just hoping it doesn’t fall if it were to dislodge itself, as it could be a tough recovery effort.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

That looks like a very weird angle,,,, what do you mean its on a frag plug? It should be placed directly on the rock. When you first place it, it will normally wiggle itself into a position it likes, but it should have space to wiggle and move a little.

 

[Nordy]

That looks like a very weird angle,,,, what do you mean its on a frag plug? It should be placed directly on the rock. When you first place it, it will normally wiggle itself into a position it likes, but it should have space to wiggle and move a little.

I had a spot picked out that could’ve cradled it some, and I thought that would accommodate it’s attachment efforts, but it is on a frag plug, and the disk and plug end piece are laying on its side. I guess it was originally an old coral frag and the clam attached itself on that coral skeleton and plug. Trocheous and astrea snails have swarmed it since its introduction. I think the clam is doing good though.

 

[Nordy]

I had a spot picked out that could’ve cradled it some, and I thought that would accommodate it’s attachment efforts, but it is on a frag plug, and the disk and plug end piece are laying on its side. I guess it was originally an old coral frag and the clam attached itself on that coral skeleton and plug. Trocheous and astrea snails have swarmed it since its introduction. I think the clam is doing good though.

 

[OrionN]

As long a the piece that he attached to is securely attached, and he like the place, he will stay there and grows
Put the light right on top of him it you can.

 

[Nordy]

My tank has 3 LED’s mounted above, and the Crocea clam is square under the middle LED, 3/4 the way up the water column. The lighting program I’m running is 12 hours with blue light at 100% and white light at 65%. My SG is 1.025, Mg @ 1250, Ca @ 375, my Alk is 11.87 dkh, and ph is 8. Going to get the Calcium closer to 400 in the coming days and try and drop the Alk to 10 dkh or less. Gave it some phytoplankton yesterday, and got Oceanmagic coming in the mail soon. How often do you guys target feed your Crocea clams? I was going to try and do it daily, probably mid afternoon, twice on weekends when home all day. Hopefully no hitchhikers on this clam, I didn’t give him a scrubbing around his shell prior to tank introduction, and it has tilted slightly away for the best look at it, but if it’s happy, that’s his permanent residence now.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

No need to feed crocea clams, they get all the energy they need from the light.

 

[Nordy]

I guess I shoulda asked that question before going nuts on a shopping spree at AlgaeBarn. Wife’s gonna get ticked with all the Phytoplankton stocked in the fridge!

 

[Nordy]

Was looking for an excuse for an extra fridge to keep beer. Extra stock of Oceanmagic justifies that cause.

 

[Nordy]

The Crocea moved from the frag mount. It is now facing West in my tank and not upright. It attached itself this way. I tried to move it, but the byssal threads are attaching enough I won’t risk harming it. Pulled out the frag mount and it appeared to have a small amount of tissue stuck on it. I guess time will tell if it will make it ok how it attached. Perhaps it will try and align itself more upright for its light needs? Mantle is extended and it reacting to my movements. Anybody have there clams laying flat?

 

[dansyr]

The Crocea moved from the frag mount. It is now facing West in my tank and not upright. It attached itself this way. I tried to move it, but the byssal threads are attaching enough I won’t risk harming it. Pulled out the frag mount and it appeared to have a small amount of tissue stuck on it. I guess time will tell if it will make it ok how it attached. Perhaps it will try and align itself more upright for its light needs? Mantle is extended and it reacting to my movements. Anybody have there clams laying flat?

When they drop their byssal threads some stay on the old anchor spot, that's fine.

It should be upright, mantle perpendicular to light. Most people like cradles or tastefully dremel'd rocks. One of my maximas is in another clam shell (grocery-type, like a littleneck), the concave shape helped it at first re-upright itself while it was exploring. something like that might be useful next time it hops.

 

[Nordy]

So there she be, kinda facing down, but it has footing in the crevice it lies. Hopefully adjusting and maybe it will find a way to get good lighting without falling into the void.

 

[minus9]

They want to be in a concave area so they can attach themselves. In the wild they "bore" into the rock and only a third (if not less) of the clam is exposed. That will never happen in our tanks because we get them way past the time they would start this process, but they will still "bore" into rock, just not that deep.
My first piece of advice is to buy this book. Do not target feed clams! Feed your fish and you clams will have plenty of food to eat.

 

[Nordy]

I appreciate the info. Added some new corals to the tank today. They were a day late and beat up upon receipt. One has flesh coming off the coral skeleton and some fluids of some corals are being released in the water. I got a canister running with carbon, did a water change yesterday morning. How will my young Crocea handle all this? I will plan to do a 10% water change again by Tuesday unless things turn worse before then, and keep everything I have cared for.

 

[minus9]

I appreciate the info. Added some new corals to the tank today. They were a day late and beat up upon receipt. One has flesh coming off the coral skeleton and some fluids of some corals are being released in the water. I got a canister running with carbon, did a water change yesterday morning. How will my young Crocea handle all this? I will plan to do a 10% water change again by Tuesday unless things turn worse before then, and keep everything I have cared for.

I'm not sure I would've added any funky corals to your tank, especially any that were dead or on their way out. W/C and carbon will help. I would get your parameters in check and keep them closer to more NSW levels if you can. What are your current N and P levels?

 

[Nordy]

I'm not sure I would've added any funky corals to your tank, especially any that were dead or on their way out. W/C and carbon will help. I would get your parameters in check and keep them closer to more NSW levels if you can. What are your current N and P levels?

So I got a Salifert test kit for my N and P. I kinda think I should up grade to another test type, I alway come up at zero. I doubt my refugium with macro is that stellar, and with other filtration means, but I got an ICP six weeks ago, and phosphate was .03 from Triton. I was hesitant to add the corals when I knew they were in a lot of stress, shoulda added to the refugium over night, I just got one of those drives to see things through and I’ll give it my best to every living thing I want in my tank.

 

[minus9]

So I got a Salifert test kit for my N and P. I kinda think I should up grade to another test type, I alway come up at zero. I doubt my refugium with macro is that stellar, and with other filtration means, but I got an ICP six weeks ago, and phosphate was .03 from Triton. I was hesitant to add the corals when I knew they were in a lot of stress, shoulda added to the refugium over night, I just got one of those drives to see things through and I’ll give it my best to every living thing I want in my tank.

How many fish do you have? How often are you feeding them?

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I guess I shoulda asked that question before going nuts on a shopping spree at AlgaeBarn. Wife’s gonna get ticked with all the Phytoplankton stocked in the fridge!

Feed it to your tank anyway. That stuff does wonders for people’s systems.