clam newbie

[raoul]

Hello!

We just got our first clam on Thursday night. What I can see of it, I think it looks good There's good mantle extension, and good reaction when my hand passes through the light. It closes some at night and opens during the day.

It's a T. crocea and I would like to put it on some rocks eventually, but right now (until the lighting and the rockwork is done better) it's on the sand under the new MH (instead of the old needs to be replaced one).

My question (s)

We put it in the sand, upright, and in the morning it had nestled in a little more but was on its side some - is this okay? Will the sand irritate the mantle or interior? I keep an eye on my Trachyphyllia because the sand can act as an irritant and I didn't know if it would be so for the clam too.

The way it positioned itself isn't helpful for viewing, but I assume it's happy there - it's pointing towards the back of the tank, not the front where we can enjoy the pretty colors

Usually I leave things alone, and try not to interfere with their placement. I try to find out what conditions they prefer and put them somewhere I think they will be happy, but then just leave them alone. Should I do the same here? I'm really tempted to have my husband reach in and reposition it so we can enjoy it better. Will that be okay or would it just end up facing the back of the tank again?

Also, last question! We got some DT's for feeding, will I be able to tell if the clam is eating? Is there something I can look for, assuming I have a better view than I currently do?

Thanks!

 

[plateboy3293]

Crocea's being the smallest of the tridacna burrows itself to protect it from predators. Is their something blocking the light to the crocea. That might be why it turned. The maxima that I have seems to like being on top of rocks. I think you should move the clam onto a thick rock so it can burrow.

 

[raoul]

Thanks for answering, I figured that after about 48 hours I wasn't going to get an answer...

There's nothing blocking the light, I just didn't know if they were like anemone's. If you move an anemone, it tends to go back to the spot it liked better than the one you choose for it. I didn't know if I would find the clam facing the back of the tank again

I want to put this guy on the rocks, but the best lighting and rocks right now are too close to an anemone - I didn't want to risk a sting.

Do you know how long it usually takes for them to take hold of a rock? There's a spot we thought of putting it temporarily, but didn't know how quickly it would attach to the rock and how easily it could be moved after attaching.

thanks!

 

[plateboy3293]

The maxima I had took about a week to get a firm grasp.

 

[raoul]

That's what I was worried about. I have a rock spot, but it would only be temporary and I don't want it attaching there. We're waiting for a rock order to come in at the LFS, and something other than 20k bulbs for the other side of the tank - the one where I want the clam.