Clam Attachment

[silvrbug]

I have several clams in my system and just got a new one thats pretty big... 5-6 inches and cant get it to attach to the rocks like I did the rest of them... he keeps jumping off..... anyway of getting him to hold onto the rock?

 

[szwab]

I have had some luck with placing a piece of live rock next to clams to block them from "jumping" keep it ther until they attach then remove it.

 

[silvrbug]

Well... I tried that and that didnt work, so I even tried a little gel glue on the shell to hold him and it worked for about 3 days and this AM he was laying on the bottom again!

 

[smithcreek]

Just to be sure, it is a Maxima or Crocea, right?

 

[ezcompany]

larger clams do not attach when they get larger and depend more or less on their weight to be held down. at 5-6 inches i am assuming its a maxima clam, if you have a sandbed it will be quite content there.

 

[silvrbug]

It is a Crocea Clam.... Ohhhh..... so if its really big, then it wont attach to the rockwork then? The way that my tank is set up... there is NO PLACE for it in the sand at all! Any other ideas?

 

[ezcompany]

if its a crocea, it should attach as they are rock boring clams. whatever you do, i wouldn't superglue it.

 

[silvrbug]

He still WONT attach to the rock work... and I have NO sand room for him.... any ideas would be GREAT!

 

[szwab]

if it's in a spot it likes it will attach. that is unless the bysal muscle has been damaged. there really is not a whole lot you can do to make it attach. Other than providing a solid spot that provides support. If it keeps falling off it sounds like it may need a better spot. or if possible and the rock you want it to atach to is moveable then plae it in a spot where the clam is lss likely to get damaged from a fall.

 

[silvrbug]

It is LOW in the tank..... its just the ONLY place that he can attach! But the rock might not be in the right position for him to attach too! So might have to wedge a small rock in the big rock for him to grab onto!

 

[szwab]

just make sure you don't wedge it in so as it impeades the clam from opening up fully.

 

[silvrbug]

Yea, that I do know... I was talking about the very bottom anyways... it has a gap with the way that the rock is and the way that he is sitting..... Its a pain the butt I know that! I hate that I have to keep picking him up off the bottom of the sand! Gets a little frustrating!

 

[szwab]

IMO the clam will eventually get damaged if it keeps falling. What are the chances of getting it to attach to a smaller rock that can be epoxied in the place you want it?

 

[silvrbug]

Well, he is only falling a few inches if that... its on a bottom sand rock.... and the small rock is what I was thinking too... wedge or epoxy a rock in that area and get it to attach!

 

[silvrbug]

STILL WONT ATTACH...... :-(

 

[Whisperer]

Did you try other spots? Maybe something nearby stinks that's why the clam keeps jumping j/k

 

[szwab]

give it a few days to a week. sounds like it's been through a lot recently

patience is key haven't you heard a watched clam never attaches?!

 

[silvrbug]

Yea, I have had him for about a week or so... but he has fallen over many times... but I think I might be onto getting him attached.... and actually no, I hadnt heard that but thats a good point....