My blue teardrop lost it's leg

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

I had him wedged comfortably between a crevice for the past week and this morning I found that his leg had broken/ripped off from the shell. I moved him onto a flat rock and he appears to be healthy, but I'm not sure if I should be concerned. Anyone have experience with their clams losing their leg?

-David

 

[AttackDonut]

Clams do not have "legs", they do have "byssal glands" however. If the clam is new, it's not uncommon for them to shed their existing gland when placed into a new tank. It will regrow and anchor the clam.

Don't move him around, put him in one place and let him re-attach his gland.

 

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

Sorry, my clam anatomy knowledge is nonexistent Thanks for clearing that up. The clam has been in the tank for a few weeks now so I'd classify it as new. Aside from its missing gland, he looks very healthy.

Thanks,
-David

 

[Blackgagt1]

what size is it?

 

[Lazyreefer]

Umm... thats personal.

 

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

Blackgagt1- the clam is about 3.5 inches long. Why?

 

[Lazyreefer]

Small clams sometimes need to be supplemently fed.

 

[wtrhed]

Be careful "wedgeing" a clam into a crevice, make sure it has enough room to expand.

 

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

I attempted to place the clam in a different position and apparently it did not like it. It "jumped" from it's ledge and found a spot in the sand where I think it's more comfortable.

As for feeding, every other day I feed it DT's phytoplankton. Is this sufficient?

-David

 

[James Yeung]

I've been feeding my clams (9 Crocea and 1 Squam ranging from 2.5" to 5.5") with Kent (dead) phyto since day 1 back in December. I discontinued this job more than 4 months ago. Clams are still growing and looking better than ever. The 2.5" clam has about 1cm of new shell since I bought it last December.

The only thing I add into the water is top off lime water. I haven't changed the water in 4 months (tank has relatively low bio load). All water perameters are good and nitrates are undetectable.

James

 

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

It's been 20 days since I saw my teardrop shedding his byssal gland and yesterday I noticed he's done it again. Other than that he appears healthy on the sandbed. I'm wondering if they continuously do this as they grow larger?

David

 

[Chris Lakies]

I have a teardrop maxima about 3" that has shed his byssil gland about 2-3 times. This is the first clam I had that does this. My big 7" squamosa does not shed its threads. Note that my clam is growing and he is healthy.

 

[Peabody]

James: That's isn't too surprising...kent stuff gets clumped and is then too big for them to eat. Live stuff like DTs is about all they really dig. BUt, if they are isibly growing, there may be enough in your water column to feed on

 

[AttackDonut]

Hard to say why he shed his gland again, how fine a substance is the substrate of your tank?

 

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

AttackDonut - I have pure aragonite as my substrate...it's pretty fine sand. He looks absolutely happy and his mantle is out in full force. I notice he is shifting in place lately though. The other day I placed a flat piece of rock beside it and the next morning it kicked itself off to the side a bit. Then it rotated itself about 90 degrees. The hermits seem to like it very much though as they all cuddle up beside him and some even hang on his shell.


David