My Daily Cleaning of Cone Snails when....

[bcolvin]

I was cleaning the cone snails that routinely attack my squamosa clam when my squamosa snaped its byssal attatchments from it rock where it is mounted. I normal move the clam around which ever way I can to get a better look at all of the mantle so I can clean it but this time its attachments snapped. The clam looks as though there is a bit of an exposed area on the underneath side where it was formally attatched. I know there is probably little I can do right now.... what should I expect. The clam is now sitting in the sand bed. Thanks

One unhappy Clam Owner

 

[M.Maddox]

Now that it's not attached, those snails are definitely going to get it. Make sure to get it something to attach to, don't just rest it in the sand. You might want to get a yellow coris wrasse - they prey on small snails.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I was cleaning the cone snails that routinely attack my squamosa clam when my squamosa snaped its byssal attatchments from it rock where it is mounted. I normal move the clam around which ever way I can to get a better look at all of the mantle so I can clean it but this time its attachments snapped. The clam looks as though there is a bit of an exposed area on the underneath side where it was formally attatched. I know there is probably little I can do right now.... what should I expect. The clam is now sitting in the sand bed. Thanks

One unhappy Clam Owner

Cones don't attack Tridacna. I think you meant to say Pyramid (Rice) snails (Pyramidellacea)- not cone snails(Conus).
Keep removing the rice snails. Look for them especially at night when they move out of hiding. Squamosa clams offer a lot of hiding places for these types of snails in the scutes (ribs) of their shell structure.
Halichoeres , Macropharyngodon and/or Pseudocheilinus Wrasses are the best choices for natural control.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I should have mentioned that while you're at it, make sure to look for egg masses laid by these snails. One snail is capable of producing a population explosion of snails. The egg masses look like small jelly-like blobs and they're usually located on the Tridacna clam shell. Remove with a toothbrush.