angry squamosa

[Ron Popeil]

why is it that my squamosa is the most angry clam in my tank? ive had it for over three years now, and it has grown considerably. however, compared to my deresas, maximas and croceas...it is constantly blowing sand everywhere. with huge pits always under its siphon outlet.
being an older clam, and a squamosa, it has quite heavy amount of fauna growing on it. from pink, black and green sponges, to feather dusters and bristleworms. the clam is doing wonderfully and has survived quite a rough three years, but i was just curious as to why this particular species is so....sandy...
is the blowing a response similar to a horse whipping its tail against flies?

if i get another squamosa will i have the same activity? is this a common behavior?

thanks for any input.

 

[thomas1102]

this is its natural behavior, and one of the reasons you do not want to keep them close to the top of the tank. when they do this they squirt a powerful jet of water that can shoot quite far(i have been shot by quite a few). i dont know the exact reason they do this, but i think it is to clense theirselves or something???

 

[derrikd]

i wouls love to see a pic of that, but i guess it would be hard to get one...

 

[Ron Popeil]

i remember a thread a year ago or so, in which a guy had a squamosa touching both of the narrow sides of his 55 gallon, and he was constantly coming home to find large amounts of water on his floor and on the wall behind the tank....it ultimately ended up being his monstrous squamosa...


but dah! it just seems so unnecessary when my clam is billowing sand everywhere. and hes only going to get larger....

 

[rustang]

I was at a shop several years ago and there was a massive derasa (the biggest one I have ever seen in a tank). Some kid ( about 16) was smacking the glass and the clam went nuts, he shut so hard the water shot up and knocked the glass tops and lights off of the tank onto the floor. The owner ran over and about jerked the kid out of his shoes and literally threw him into the street.. Water was everywhere, broken glass, lights, electricity sparking ....

"It was a hell of a day at sea, Sir" !!