clams and bare bottom tanks...?

[vitaldefect001]

what do you guys that have bare bottom tanks do with clams?

would a peice of the starboard be a good base for it?

what are your opinions on what i should do... cuz i wanna get a new clam sometime in the future....

thanks,
brandon

 

[chrisguy]

Put the clam on a rock. That way you can move it if you need to.

 

[gary greguire]

mine are sitting on the starboard. I never have any trouble moving them...

 

[Arik]

If you put the clam on a flat rock, the clam's byssal openings will be less exposed when it attaches, so there is less of a chance of a predator getting into the clamshell.

 

[vitaldefect001]

so what do you guys think of using say a 4''x4'' peice of star board (insted of a rock)?

 

[Arik]

Burrowing clams use a chemical to break down the rock so that it can attach, so I'd guess that the chemical they produce won't be able to break down the synthetic material.

 

[vitaldefect001]

what type of clams burrow? which clams dont?

 

[Arik]

Crocea is the best at burrowing, and Maximas are second. In the wild a lot of croceas are only visible by their mantles, since they embed themselves so deeply to avoid predation.

This is one reason why aquacultured are better than wild specimens, since collectors have to cut the byssal "arms" to remove the clam, leaving it injured.

 

[vitaldefect001]

what about squamosia?

 

[Arik]

They attach firmly, but don't burrow.