Weird clam like thing in my tank ? Help ID ?

[IvanReef19]

Hello !

I’m brand spankin new to this forum this will be my first post . Hope all is doing well . I have a question in regards to this “thing” that caught my attention in my tank today . I noticed a clam like thing growing on my live rock along with tiny little ones near by . My tank isn’t doing too well because work has taken most of my time but I am slowly bringing everything back . Is the clam like thing is bad ? Is there anything I can do to eliminate it from my tank ? Thanks so much in advance ! I’m super curious to see what the heck it is .

 

[vetteguy53081]

It’s known as a bivalve and related to the scallop
They are filter feeders and don’t move and not long lived

 

[Uzidaisies]

Not too keen on bivalves and mollusks, but it makes me think mussel.

 

[IvanReef19]

It’s known as a bivalve and related to the scallop
They are filter feeders and don’t move and not long lived

Thank you for the info

 

[IvanReef19]

Not too keen on bivalves and mollusks, but it makes me think mussel.

Ill look deeper into it . But super glad people were able to ID it. I want to make sure they are harmless

 

[Tamberav]

Ill look deeper into it . But super glad people were able to ID it. I want to make sure they are harmless

They are beneficial filter feeders. Help clean the water.

 

[IvanReef19]

They are beneficial filter feeders. Help clean the water.

You guys are awesome ! Thanks for the help . They look really cool glad they are harmless

 

[Uzidaisies]

It’s known as a bivalve and related to the scallop
They are filter feeders and don’t move and not long lived

Bivalvia is a whole class of animals though. Is there a specific bivalve referred to only as a "bivalve" within the hobby?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bivalvia is a whole class of animals though. Is there a specific bivalve referred to only as a "bivalve" within the hobby?

3.5 decades- I’ve known them as bivalves.

 

[Uzidaisies]

3.5 decades- I’ve known them as bivalves.

Well yeah, they are bivalves. But so are all clams, mussels, scallops, oysters. So I just find it odd to identify something by class. I don’t want no trouble.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well yeah, they are bivalves. But so are all clams, mussels, scallops, oysters. So I just find it odd to identify something by class. I don’t want no trouble.

Closest relative as stated would be scallop

 

[WheatToast]

They are filter feeders and don’t move and not long lived

Unless filter-feeder foods are provided (ex. phytoplankton), but that would elevate nutrient levels.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Well yeah, they are bivalves. But so are all clams, mussels, scallops, oysters. So I just find it odd to identify something by class. I don’t want no trouble.

We're going to start answering all stony coral ID posts with "its a scleractinia"

 

[old salt reefer]

It’s known as a bivalve and related to the scallop
They are filter feeders and don’t move and not long lived

The one I've had for over 2 years now did not get the memo about not living long. Came in as a hitchhiker on some zoas. It's about 3 times bigger now and I don't feed it anything--ie no filter feeder food. There were 2 at first but one moved(yes moved) to a spot in the tank it liked but got over grown by some bubblegum digi. I've got a thread about it with some pictures on the forum here.

 

[Uzidaisies]

The one I've had for over 2 years now did not get the memo about not living long. Came in as a hitchhiker on some zoas. It's about 3 times bigger now and I don't feed it anything--ie no filter feeder food. There were 2 at first but one moved(yes moved) to a spot in the tank it liked but got over grown by some bubblegum digi. I've got a thread about it with some pictures on the forum here.

I believe that typically, if it can move it’s a probably a clam or scallop, and if it can’t it’s probably an oyster or mussel. There are some exceptions, and there are some other members of Bivalvia that are none of the four that I mentioned, but I don’t remember what they’re called.

 

[Karen00]

I would say scallop or oyster. It's hard to tell from the pics. In my reading about bivalves in general (I have a brackish water oyster tank so researched bivalves about nine months ago) this is what I learned about scallops... "Sea scallops have a saucer-shaped shell with scalloped or fluted edges. Unlike clams, mussels, and other bivalve mollusks, the scallop cannot close its shell completely". So I would say if it never closes it's probably a scallop. Oysters alway close at some point. They typically only open to feed or to expel waste. I guess it could be a clam but it's certainly not like the pretty ones people usually buy.

 

[old salt reefer]

OK, mine has little blue eyes along the edges of the open part of the shell. If a fish swims by it will shut, other than that it's open all the time. Does that help figure out what it is?
Oh, it's black/brown with smooth edges to the shell--no scalloping.

 

[Karen00]

OK, mine has little blue eyes along the edges of the open part of the shell. If a fish swims by it will shut, other than that it's open all the time. Does that help figure out what it is?
Oh, it's black/brown with smooth edges to the shell--no scalloping.

Based on that description I would say oyster or maybe some type of clam although I haven't seen marine clams that look like that. No matter what it is it's a bivalve so a harmless filter feeder. Most consume phyto that passes over them via the current. These are good hitchhikers. Where is it? Your DT, sump, fuge? For reference this is a pic of my brackish water oysters.

BTW: Welcome to the community!

 

[Uzidaisies]

OK, mine has little blue eyes along the edges of the open part of the shell. If a fish swims by it will shut, other than that it's open all the time. Does that help figure out what it is?
Oh, it's black/brown with smooth edges to the shell--no scalloping.

Google this: Placopecten magellanicus