Crocea clam problems

[nick0327]

Setup info:

40 Breeder w/ Tek Light 4x39W T5 (4-5" above water)
Octopus NW 150, Phosban Reactor
SG 1.025, Phosphates .01, Calcium 400, ALk 3.25


I moved about two months ago and when I setup the tank in its new location I had to put the rock my clam was attached to at an angle, making the clam apx. 35 degrees off of straight up and down, tilted to the side, attached to the rock it had been on for the last few months.

I figuired the clam would correct itself and indeed within a few weeks it straightened up pretty well, although not completely straight up and down. Note that the clam is on a rock with a acrapora that is growing rapidly and is currently about 7" across the widest point (the acrapora).

Well last Saturday when I got home I noticed that the clam had rotated itself about 45 degrees in a circular motion, rotating away from the acrapora nearby (I wish I had my camera!!!). I think no big deal. Then the following day it has rotated another 45 degrees. It also moved about one inch away from the acrapora, until it is on the very edge of the rock. It has stayed in this position for several days. Note it is more straight up and down and is probably getting more light in its current position than before.

What concerns me is that the clam looks like it is about to fall off the rock because its shell sometimes moves away from the rock and its "foot" is exposed to where you can see the white stuff stretching. Then the clam will flex and hug the rock again. I tried gently pulling the clam up off the rock but it won't budge.

Through all of this the mantle has been fully extended and coloration looks good except for some white areas next to the intake hole/ mouth ( the part that sticks out a little bit.)
What do you guys think?

Again sorry for not having pics.

 

[a4twenty]

if he's attached, i wouldn't worry to much. he may end up jumping from the rock but it shouldn't hurt him. if you want to move him, you can cut the byssal thread with a razor. you want to get as close to the rock as you can, to prevent damaging the foot.

 

[GPhiAce]

I agree with a4twenty. What is beneath him?? They will move till they are happy.

 

[marc price]

because i read that it can't work, i decided to experiment with one which is now nicely borrowed into a porities coral (so far so good). two others are as precariously perched as yours. one 3" crocea is oriented in a "t" on a 1" wide length span of dead coral rock. both are flanked by a encrusting acropora and porities which i fraged from the experiment. i too can see the white of their b.gland.
crocea are able to kill competing coral with both b.gland and mantle (acidic slime?), secretions. the only thing i'd worry about with your acro would be overshadowing. that's actually how many acros (esp. tabling types), compete and the reason for a less dense "porous" skeletal structure for fast growth.