small maxima is happy, but detached from rock

[jacko]

I've had a smalll ultra maxima for about 2 months. I feed DTs and some CyclpEEze every few days. Within 1 week he attached to the large shell I put under him. And he has grown about 2 or 3 new "scales".

I was on a business trip last week (about 8 days with no food), and fed him very well before I left. When I returned, he had detached from his rock. or shell. But seems very happy / normal.

Is this common? expected? Could it be a reaction to no food? Will he re-attach?

PS - water params are all fine, afaik, ca =450, Alk=4

 

[jacko]

i came home from work today
and since he is un-attached, he moved himself off of his rock/shell and into some gorgonia....damn thing..... now he is not opening all the way, and some of his mantle is darkened from blue towards black...with spots on it. dangggggggg

so, now in addition to my question "is it normal to detach" I am also asking "how bad is a gorgonia sting to a 2" ultra maxima" ???

 

[jedininja]

I'm not sure how bad its sting is, but anything touching its mantle will definatly irritate and cause it not to open all the way.

 

[jacko]

yes, I have found that out, for sure.
So, do maxima generally recover from that kind of thing, and begin to open up more and more?

 

[jedininja]

With good water and lighting, the maxima should recover if its not in too bad of shape.

 

[Azurel]

I have had a very small maxima that has not attached itself in 2 years, it has thrived and grown really slowly. I know have more knowledge on clams then I did when I bought it so I expect it to start growing. So they can do that and be happy and not be attached as long as he is opening and looking healthy then I would not worry about it.

 

[kayl]

cyclopeeze is too big for the clam...

 

[jacko]

thanks for the comments, sems to be doingbetter
you can see some pics here:
http://216.235.242.50/forums/showthread.php?t=1296