Clams and barebottom tanks

[Reefer24]

I have a couple Crocea clams that use to sit on my sand bed, I now have a barebottom tank. I orginally put them one the bottom sitting upright, all fell over after a couple days. I can't get any of them to stay upright for more than a couple days at best, is it flow maybe or do they just not like barebottom? I don't really want to put them up on the rocks, but is that the only choice i have?

 

[dvanacker]

Crocea are supposed to be up on the rocks. They will go on your glass but they will strongly attach their foot. I have heard they can break the glass their foot is so strong but I'm not sure I believe that.

 

[TheH]

When clams fall over by themself they're usually trying to change location.

 

[Reefer24]

that would be one strong foot to break 5/8" glass.

 

[Reefer24]

I know their feet are strong, as well as their jaws, thats another reason i don't want to put them in a nice crevice between 2 rocks, im afraid they will collapse my rockwork.

 

[Airwolf75]

Get a flat rock, put clam on it. Put a few rocks around clam for a few days. Remove rocks when clam attaches. Move rock and clam to wherever you want.

I have a barebottom too, and I also just sit them on the bottom and put rocks around them to hold them in place.

A clam breaking glaas with it's foot is like you breaking a wine glass with just your tongue. They do bore into calcium based rocks by secreting acid and scraping with their shell. But the acid doesn't work on glass.

 

[acro76]

Another thing you can do is mix up a batch of underwater epoxy. Make an oval shape, then make an impression with the clam onto the epoxy. Make up plenty of epoxy so the mold is stable on the floor of your tank. Let the epoxy cure away from the clam. Once cured put clam on the mold....easy!

 

[reefnfun]

i have a bb tank. I put my squammie on a piece of ceramic tile and he attached to that. He hasn't moved since i out him in the tank. I turned the tile over so there was a rough edge to attached to, It seems to have worked well. Good luck

 

[Airwolf75]

ceramic tile, good idea

 

[tony13]

I did what acro76 did. Take some epoxy and make a nice stable flat piece out of it (out of the tank), once it's cured put it in the tank and set the clam on it, prop it up with some rock so it doesn't fall over. In a few days when it's foot has attached you can move it to where ever you like. After a while the epoxy will be covered in coraline and you won't even notice it.

 

[Reefer24]

What type of epoxy are you guys using?