Can I attach a clam to my rock?

[causeofhim]

I want to get a clam but want to stick it up on my rock. I have overdriven T5s. Can I attach it to my rock the same way I do corals (superglue gel - epoxy - superglue gel)?

If not, how do you attach them?

 

[crvz]

Better to allow the clam to attach on it's own. What kind of clam are you interested in? Many will anchor themselves after a few days.

 

[a4twenty]

i agree, depending on species the clam should attach on his own. i wouldn't recommend using epoxy or similar, the clam needs to be able to move as well as open and close.

 

[causeofhim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14525700#post14525700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by a4twenty
i agree, depending on species the clam should attach on his own. i wouldn't recommend using epoxy or similar, the clam needs to be able to move as well as open and close.

I was thinking either Maxima or Squamosa. I know that they need to open and close, but I would not want it to move and fall from my rockwork. I was thinking of maybe attaching one side towards the bottom so it could still open and close openly.

 

[Americanreef]

If its a maxima it should attach itself over time. Squamosa's though because of their bulk are less likely to stick to a rock.

 

[troyman]

if they move usally they arent happy let it attach by himself why force it to be somewhere it dont like

 

[causeofhim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14531637#post14531637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by troyman
if they move usally they arent happy let it attach by himself why force it to be somewhere it dont like

Like I stated above, I dont want it to move and fall from the rockwork. It is either 8" from the lights, or if it falls, 28" from the light.

 

[causeofhim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14531472#post14531472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by americanreef
If its a maxima it should attach itself over time. Squamosa's though because of their bulk are less likely to stick to a rock.

So, why cant I attach a squamosa?

 

[becact]

No, you should not glue it to the rock. If a clam doesn't like its spot it will detach and usually make its way to the sandbed, basically telling you that you need to try again. Too much light is bad for a clam, also! Too much flow can also cause it to jump ship. If it is stuck in a spot it is not happy in it may die, or at best lose coloration or not open fully.

Try placing him where you want first and see if he attaches. If not, can you perhaps relocate a coral that is taking up a potentially good clam spot?

 

[pipper]

^ What "becat" said. My clam jumped and fell about 1ft +/- and it was in one piece. So it just shows that the spot you picked was not the "spot" for it.

 

[bugbdon]

So, why cant I attach a squamosa?

squamosas like sand....they don't have the basal openings or threads that the maximas and croceas have. squamosas rely on their weight to hold them in place

 

[Pippin86]

I do agree with those above, I would most definitely not glue, or attach the clam itself to anything.

A couple tricks that I have learned-

When you first get a clam, if it is not already attached to a rock place it in the sandbed with a rock fragment barried underneath it. Give the clam a month or more to both attach itself to the rock fragment, and to get itself adjusted to the tank, and then move it to its final location.

With your tank however, I would be worried about the fluorescent lights getting it the light it needs. You can use your super glue to glue a couple rock fragments together, making a sort of pedistal. Glue the rocks so that they form a kind of dish around the clam, so that it doesnt fall off. It can then be placed right up next to the light. Give it a while to attach and then if desired, you could snap off the "sides" of the dish.

 

[causeofhim]

Thanks for all of the replies. I dont have a sand bed, I am running bare bottom. Also, as far as not having enough lighting, oftentimes the overdriven T5s with good bulbs give out more PAR in a tank than most 250 watt halides with 14k or 20k bulbs.

 

[SWSaltwater]

The best way to attach a clam is to get half of another larger clam shell. They attach nicely to it and can move it around, they are also able to dissolve it as needed.