byssal foot injury

[rmanecke]

I have a small crocea that was buried in the sand with a rock below it. I have been trying to get it to attach to the rock and have left it undisturbed for two weeks. I noticed it was lying on its side today. Went to investigate and found a chunk of flesh attached to the rock with byssal proteins etc... It looks like this broke off the clam. No idea why or how. The clam is not attached at all at this point.

The clam otherwise looks o.k. I reburied it over the rock. It is about 2.5 inches long. I see just a smooth white shiny surface where the byssal foot would be. No tears, irritated flesh that I can see.

Three other croceas and a derasa are all doing fine.

Any ideas about the prognosis / cause / intervention necessary?

RGM

 

[mbbuna]

it sounds like you are describing the byssal threads. clams can let these go when ever they want. nothing to worry about

 

[rmanecke]

So far, so good. I did see the threads, plus some other tissue maybe 6 by 12 mm in size.

Still watching for signs of distress.

 

[mbbuna]

thats good to here :thumbsup: if the clam let go on its own then im sure it will be ok

 

[ryan115]

mine did the same thing last night, but the part that was attached to the byssal threads was as hard as its shell, it didnt really feel like tissue.