Purple sponge on clam.... any experience?

[john76]

I have a 3.5" Crocea that has a sponge growing on the side of it. It doesn't seem to bother then clam at all. The mantle extends fully , and it retracts when I wave my hand near it etc... But, I remember reading in Knops book about invasive burrowing sponges. Anyone know how I can tell if that's what I have? Short of removing the clam, which I want to try not to do.

 

[mbbuna]

IDing a sponge is not very easy to do,i think that if you wanted to be on the safe side you could remove the clam to a bowl of tank water and scrape the sponge off.

 

[john76]

That's actually what the book said to do. IIRC it also said something about dipping or scrubbing it with formalin to kill the sponge. But, I hate moving my clams once they've attached.

 

[mbbuna]

i think id skip the Formalin part

 

[dvmsn]

Why kill something that isn't bothering your clam?

 

[trmiv]

My crocea has a yellow sponge growing on the side of it. It doesn't seem to bother it in the least, and I think it's cool so I've left it there for now. Not the best pic, but you can see it here. Look at the little yellow ball on the right side of the clam.

 

[mbbuna]

Why kill something that isn't bothering your clam?

there are sponges that bore thru the shell an feed on the clam