Help with crocea clam attachment

[Reef_rookies]

I recently purchased a crocea clam from store and am having problems attaching it. First I tried attaching it to live rock but it kept tipping so now I'very put it in a large shell and still no attachment! At first I thought it was tipping from the emerald crab or snails.....but than one night noticed that when the light went out in tank it caused the shell to close and that sent it off balance! I even glued small rocks together in 2 rows and put each one on either side of the clam but still no luck! I am getting very frustrated and worried about the health of the clam since it's not attaching. Does it have to attach to something? Any suggestions would be extremely helpful!

 

[heathlindner25]

Quit messing with him and give him time

 

[GimpyFin]

It can take them time to feel comfortable and attach to something. They tend to tip over easy when placed directly on rocks. If you put a small flat rock/plate just below the sand and then place the clam on the sand, it helps keep them from tipping over and gives them something to attach to when they are ready.

 

[pyithar]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2088363

check that out^^

 

[MondoBongo]

if they're moving, they're not happy.

light, flow, harassment, something is making them angry.

additionally, T. crocea shouldn't be in the sand. they need to be as high as possible in the rock work.

 

[Reef_rookies]

Thanks for your suggestions. .....I'm just concerned it won't attach if it keeps tipping...I'm trying to leave it alone but if I don't keep putting it upright how will it attach?

 

[MondoBongo]

well you will need to put him upright, but you will have to experiment with spots until you find somewhere that he doesn't move from.

part of that is getting him high in the rock work. try to pick a spot that won't be easy for him to "jump" off of, but the closer to the lights the better.

 

[Reef_rookies]

I have it on top of a huge shell. .....do you think it will attach to this or is it too smooth? Would it be better to put it on top of a rock?

 

[MondoBongo]

They're physically capable of attaching to pretty much anything they want, even glass. The adhesive they produce is incredible stuff.

Whether or not they decide to attach or not, depends on if they're happy with the spot or not.

 

[dbigfoot111]

all depends on the clam. i pust an old dead clam shell under it.

 

[Reef_rookies]

I am so fed up with this clam....I have tried everything....we are now thinking about doing a fresh water dip because the mantle is not extending and the shell is only open an inch! I'm not sure if it's stressed out or what is going on! I did notice the peppermint shrimp doing something to it the other night! We put the clam in a plastic container on the rocks half way up the tank ....hoping that if there was something irritating it ...it couldn't get in!

 

[Theprettycolors]

it's best to leave clams be. Less is more with clams.

 

[Sk8r]

I had one for many years that NEVER attached, but it was happy.

 

[MondoBongo]

I am so fed up with this clam....I have tried everything....we are now thinking about doing a fresh water dip because the mantle is not extending and the shell is only open an inch! I'm not sure if it's stressed out or what is going on! I did notice the peppermint shrimp doing something to it the other night! We put the clam in a plastic container on the rocks half way up the tank ....hoping that if there was something irritating it ...it couldn't get in!

you want to make sure you're not restricting water flow to it in that container.

flow brings lots of important things like nutrients to sessile animals, most important among them is new oxygenated water.

 

[ssick92]

For my Crocea's, I have always placed them in the sand with LR directly underneath the sand. After a few days, the clam is usually attached to the LR below the sand, and then you can relocate the clam+LR to a spot within your rockwork.

Works like a charm, I have even had success with just leaving the crocea in the sand with the LR below, and the clam seemed happy as could be.

 

[billdogg]

I had one for many years that NEVER attached, but it was happy.

What Sk8r said. One of mine attached to the bottom glass within a couple days. It's going nowhere without major surgery. The other has been in the tank over a year now and has attached itself to a few larger grains of sand, but nothing else. If nothing else, it makes cleaning around it easier!