mantle question

[DMK]

don't have any clams yet. don't know much about them. what's a mantle? also can u place a clam directly on sand or does it need to be on rubble/rocks?

 

[Fish-o-holic]

Maximas and croceas would prefer to be on some sort of rock. You can place them at the bottom of the tank just as long as the proper intensity of lights gets to them.

A mantle is simply the "exterior" portion of the clam's skin or meat (whatever you want to call it) that extends outward from the clam. It's the part where the clam's colors are. The mantle should be fully extended when the lights are on, showing that it's a healthy clam. I sure hope I made sense.

BTW, check out my pic gallery if you still aren't sure what a mantle is.