squamosa help needed asap

[sandman12]

I recently got a 12" squammy. It came attched and when i put it in my tank i had it sloped for viewing. I saw that the foot was slowly ripping off so i put it level on the sand bed. I come home from school today and it is no longer attched. it just left its foot on the rock. Is it dieing or do they do this?

 

[pecan2phat]

Foot or byssal thread?
If it is the byssal thread, they will secrete a new one if it wants to attach again.

 

[sandman12]

The little white thing under its mouth.

 

[Peabody]

Clams don't have mouths. Do you mean the byssal organ? Byssal thread? Incurrent syphon? Sounds like reading Giant Clams by Daniel Knop would be in your best interest, so you can know about all their care requirements.

 

[sandman12]

The little white thing it uses to attach to rocks. No money for books.

 

[Peabody]

That doesn't help...you need to identify whether it's the byssal organ, or byssal thread tissue.

If you have money for 135 gallon tank setup/clams, it should be in the best interest of them to buy a book too. That's just a drop in the proverbial instant ocean bucket.

 

[sandman12]

ok well say its either one. is this a problem?

 

[Peabody]

Yes, if it's the byssal organ it could kill your clam. If it's tissue secreted by the organ than it's no huge deal.

 

[sandman12]

can u tell by a pic?

 

[Peabody]

Perhaps....if I had to guess, if you bought a 12" clam (larger clams don't move as well), and put him on a slope it could have stressed him enough to eject the organ. (Bad news)

 

[sandman12]

whats ur e-mail. ill send them over