Clam Falling??

[gibson981]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibson981/3189548512/

This is a picture of my clam. The foot is attached to that little rock at the base. When I got him from you guys a few months ago, I put him on top of that rock. A week or 2 ago, I started noticing that he had crawled to the end of the rock causing him to lay on his side like in the picture. I reached in and set the rock in such a way that the clam was right side up. A day or two later the rock was moved from the position I set it in and the clam was back like the picture. I am afraid to keep moving him. I might end up ripping his foot. He still opens and closes when the lights go on and off. Mantle still looks good. Should I do anything about this? Will he eventually right himself?

Thanks,
Gerald

 

[gibson981]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gibson981/3188703925/

Here's another pic.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi Gerald,

It's most likely not happy with either the lighting or the water flow in the general area it is sitting in right now. I would recommend trying to move it to another area of the tank to see how it does.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[gibson981]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14147046#post14147046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeremy B.
Hi Gerald,

It's most likely not happy with either the lighting or the water flow in the general area it is sitting in right now. I would recommend trying to move it to another area of the tank to see how it does.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Is there a way I can get him off of that rock without ripping his foot? I could move the rock with him, but he is attached to the end of the rock on the thin part.

 

[Jeremy B.]

You can gently pull on him to where you can see the bysal gland hanging on. Then take a sharp knife and slide it through the pieces of bysal gland attaching him to the rock. Be sure not to pull so hard that you pull the inside of the bysal gland out of him.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[plantguy]

Icecubes sometimes work for getting them to retract the bysal, works great on anemone as well.