Mantle inside of live rock. What is it? Help

[daytonareefing]

This looks like a clam that uses a piece of live rock for its shell and its a 8" piece of live rock. That has been in the tank 6 or 7 years. This is the first time I seen it. From what I seen inside it, It doesn't look like a normal clam on the inside. I'm including a picture please let me know what you think it is and is it reef safe. Thank you

 

[ezcompany]

If its been in the tank for that long I'm willing to bet its reef safe. plus its a bivalve, haven't heard of a non reef safe bivalve. if you ask me it looks like a maxima clam with some teardrop patterns covered in the rock and it would need to be getting light to survive. Does it get light?

 

[daytonareefing]

I'm sure it does get plenty of light. It just strikes me as odd. I haven't seen a clam in a piece of live rock like that but my memory is really bad. I had the tank about 2 years and I know it was running about 5 years before I got it.

 

[rt67ghy]

Maxima (and crocea) clams when very small land on rocks in the ocean and bore their way into the rock as they grow. In the home aquaria this doesn't happen because the clams we buy are too big to start boring into rock. I think you were really lucky to get live rock with a baby clam growing in it but it wasn't noticed before because it was so small.

 

[carmelpi]

You will see them like that in the wild. I will put up some pictures I took of tridacnid clams in tidepools in Palau a little later when I am not on my work computer.

free clam!

 

[ezcompany]

i would try to clear some rock (very carefully) for it to get more light and flourish! croceas and maximas can bore really deep into rock. my money is on t.maxima

 

[daytonareefing]

Carmelpi I would like to see more pictures of clams like that.

ezcompany I thought about clearing some rock around it but I'm afraid I would do more harm then good other than moving that piece of live rock to a spot where it gets more light I like the fact the mantle is grey that's different.

Should I try to direct feed it since it's only about 2" Whats funny is it's been there a couple years living on what I get the whole tank.