Scallop or clam? What is it?

[bobpiker]

I just noticed what looks like a hitchhiker which came in with some zoas I bought on a live rock. It's about the size of a small fingernail and look near exactly like the surrounding live rock. I just happened to notice a small split in this piece of the rock and then the next day the split was gone only to reappear later in the day. It's almost imperceptible but does close and open sporadicaly...never while I'm watching, though. I'm sure that if I were to touch it it would close.

I'll try to get a photo if my camera will let me. How common is this and can I expect it to grow? It really does look like a part of the rock but does have a slight line pattern which i different from all around it.

Regards,
Bob

 

[pagojoe]

It's fairly common, and while it could be one of a couple of species of scallops, it's probably an oyster, either a Chama or Spondylus species. Most of them eventually die, but some people have kept them for quite a while. It would be difficult to correctly feed it, since food particle size is critical to many bivalves. You might get lucky, though.

Cheers,



Don

 

[bobpiker]

Thanks, Don. It's not much of a looker but kind of fun to know it's there and watch to see what happens. I'll do some reading on the species you describe add add a bit to what I know about my tank.

Best regards,
Bob

 

[bobpiker]

Little oyster is still kickin'

Little oyster is still kickin'

I found another one, too, on the same rock. I've had this rock for about 2 months and these little hitchhikers haven't changed a bit so far so maybe they'll survive. Kinda fun to find another critter.

Bob