Brownish growths on clam shell. ID please

[Manta034]

Ok, so I've noticed these brown things growing on my clam shell. Does anyone know what they are? Good? Bad? Should I scrub them off? They kind of look like small sponges to me but I want to be sure.

Also, they are only growing on one side of the shell. Whatever they are, they don't appear to be affecting the sponge, it's fully opened during the day and growing like crazy. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Apon]

can't see the pic?

 

[moliken]

very odd. i dunno, but someone does. there are sponges that bore into clam shells, but these are not them. soft/hard? reproducing? any movement of them? diff betw day and night?

 

[jimsplace]

Type of Algae????

 

[Manta034]

So i tried scrubbing them off and they seemed to go away for a day but the next morning they were back! Just after scrubbing them, I noticed there were tiny holes in the shell where the sponges were. Apparently they are boring into the shell and when I scrubbed them they just receded into their holes because like I said, they were back they next day. I'm at a loss at what to do now and a little worried because I'm certain they are boring into the shell now that I've seen the holes they recede into when scrubbed. (I'll try to take a pic of the holes later today when I get home).

Moliken, they don't appear to be spreading but they could be. They are definitely getting bigger. They are soft and are stationary. Also, they are out during the day and night as well.

 

[moliken]

i would take the clam out of the tank if you think the borers are sponges and scrub the shells hard with a firm toothbrush with fresh rodi. hold the clam sideways and turn it underwater in all directions when u replace it in the tank. i just don't know anything about sponges, but they supposedly die when exposed to air, is that right???

 

[Manta034]

Yes, i am under the same impression when it comes to sponges being exposed to air. So I guess these things aren't sponges because I've scrubbed the shell outside of the tank at least 4 times now and they seem to come back within hours. When I start scrubbing the shell they seem to recede into the tiny holes which they stick out of and then a few hours later they come back out.

I'm definitely at a loss as to what exactly they are and I have no idea how to get rid of them. Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if they are harmful, but they do seem to be boring into the clam shell so that can't be good. Also, they must be pretty rare since no one else is chiming in on this.

 

[jimsplace]

If it is some sort of algae, the attaching "roots" may make it may appear to be holes??? I have had some algaes that appear that way on live rock.

 

[Apon]

what happens if you cover them in frag glue or something.....I would think that should kill the without hurting the clam.

 

[Manta034]

Apon, that's' a great idea! I think I'll try it. Thank you!