question about my new crocea...please help

[ghstrider]

i recently bought a 3" crocea clam and placed it high in my aquarium (about 5" down from the water line). It seems happy there and opened up immediately after acclimation. I did a water change yesterday and realized that the area i put the clam was going to be out of water since it is above the lowest level of water when i do a water change. I tried to move the clam but hes on the rockwork REAL good and refufes to be taken out. I did the water change and he was out of water fo about 5 minutes. When i refilled the tank he opened right up but when he was out of the water he was spitting. I dont know what all this means since i am new to clams. I run 4x54 t5 w/ icecap ballasts and i think that should be enuff light but I feel better having him up high.

Is he safe being out of the water for 5 minutes every 2 weeks? if not, how can i get him off the rock without hurting him (also i want to take a dead snail off the foot of the clam as well that hes holding onto)?

Also, should i direct feed him cyclopeeze, phyto, frozen foods, etc? is there anything i can add to the tank that will help him health wise?

 

[mbbuna]

the clam will be fine out of the water for for a while. in the wild at extreme low tide some clams can be exposed to the air for a long time. the clam was spitting because the inside of the shell is full of water and when you exposed it to air it wanted to close, so for it to close it needs to get ride of some water.

i wouldn't worry about the snail shell. the clam will drop it in due time.

the clam will do just fine on light and the dissolved nutrients in the water from feeding your fish (fish pee and poo) no need to add anything else

 

[ghstrider]

thanks mbbuna...