Hole in tissue between shells on new crocea

[reefman23]

Hello all. I have successfully had clams for 2 years in the past and missed them so much that I bought another one last night. While I was taking it out of the bag after acclimating him I noticed this hole...

Is this clam going to make it? He appears to be opening normally and he was the best looking one at the LFS. Somehow I missed this hole though. The hole wasn't this large last night... I just took these pictures, about 24 hours after putting him in the tank.

What should I do? Is this something that he can heal from?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Jesse

 

[giambi4343]

try to take him back wherever you got it. im not sure if he will make it because by the looks of it, the mantle recession may start so lead to the front of the clam leading to a definate death. also i think the clam needs it closed on the bottom to properly pass through the water out of its exit siphon and that is where it looks like the hole is.

 

[a4twenty]

that's the byssal opening and most clams have them, it's perfectly normal.

 

[ReefEnabler]

I'm with a4twenty.

when the clams are young and small they will use their byssal threads to attach to the substrate, but they often drop these as they grow heavy enough to stay in place with sheer mass.

however, oftentimes collectors will not do the best job removing the clam from the substrate. that are supposed to gently slip a cutting instrument and cut the byssal threads - which is harmless to the clams. Unfortunately some are more rough and will pull on the clam to be able to reach the threads, and this can severely damage the clam.

 

[reefman23]

Thanks for the help guys. Based on the responses here and the forums over at clams direct I feel that he is just fine and everything is normal. He is settling in a bit more every day and the hole seems to be closing back up. He is opening almost completely now too.

Thanks again!

Jesse