Clam on a piece of plastic

Evergreen

New member
Bought clam since I heard they eat Phyto. My tank is greenish. Instead of using chemicals or getting a UV i am trying out a clam.
Got a 3 inch Derasa at reputable LFS. They had several specimens on a drinking cup lid (like from Macdonald's or whatever) When you buy a clam they cut out the "pie slice" of plastic under your clam, keeping the byssus intact. (ideally- although one of the other clams did fall off..)

My clam is on a flat piece of plastic that is as large as his shell. Should i try to trim back the plastic as much as possible, without touching the byssus? He sort of waves around in the current, he looks precarious. I have the plastic rubber-banded to a rock up high under light. (VHos 4-40watt with a few hours MH 175watt, but water green not as much light gets through. Should i cut the plastic and wedge him into a rock or perhaps put him into a nice scallop or oyster shell so he will be moved easily and possibly spot-fed in the future? How dangerous is it to remove him from the water even if the shell is closed? I have heard of "burping" them of air, tilting them.

And as for my water, I have skimmer running (Amiracle 20") Am running carbon for 2 weeks now, amm, nitrate nitrate 0. Ca=420, dKH=12,
Have xenia, kenya tree, small zoo colony. one scopas tang and 2 bar-gobies. Moved hermits to Q-tank. Have 20ish asst. snails. 2 fighter conch.
 
You can try and remove as much of the plastic as you can. Just do not pull at the plastic causing the ripping of the byssal threads.

It is possible, but dangerous, to cut the threads where they attach to the plastic with a very sharp very clean razor. Exacto knife works great.

It sounds like the plastic is flimsy though.

If you can see the actual threads that are attached to the plastic slide knife along plastic and sever the threads. If done correctly the clam can and will re-attach quickly to something new.

Just be carefull not to cut anything but the threads, or it could be bye bye clam.

Best of luck, Rob
 
I think it's working!! I can see much more of my rockwork now and i can SEE the clam now on his rock. He is open like he should be. I am glad I didn't waste all that $$ on a UV sterilizer, chemicals, or turning off the lights putting all my nice macro at risk! (I have chaetomorpha, Udotea, and Halimeda) Plus I was thinking, if all the phyto died, all that nutrient would have to go somewhere and probably either skyrocket my Nitrate or else come up as hair algae or something :rolleyes:
 
:wavehand:
hi there neighbor
Are you in Long Island Reefer's? We are meeting the 31st in Bayshore.

Got the Derasa from Country Critters in Patchogue, they are like 12 minutes from me. Also picked up 2 sweet Ricordeas! just $10. each.
 
no i not where can i get some info on the long island reefers society? ya country critters is a sweet store. great people working there to. a little high on prices though. :wavehand:
 
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