Unusual Corcea parasite

H

Hoobahans

New member
I have a corcea clam that I got from liveaquaria. It came with lots of hitchhikers, including 9 tunicates, 4 tube worms, and a creature that I am worried about. It took me a month to notice it, and I will do the best to describe it as I can. I first discovered it when I was looking at the clam and it looked like a small section (about a centimeter square) moved. That seemed impossible, so I looked close and saw that same patch open up as would a half shell attached to the side of the corcea. The patch has the same texture and pattern as the rest of the clams shell, the only difference is that it is lighter in color. It opens only a fraction of an inch and it looks like there are tiny little feathers all along the opening of it. It looks like a man-hole cover that lifts on one side. It closes in response to light changes or movement. Does anyone have any idea what this might be? I am completly stumped, but I want to know if it could hurt the corcea. Any takers?
 
I have quite a few barnacles on some of my snails and this looks very different. It looks like something dug under the clams shell and is using a piece of it as a cover. Is there a barnacle like that?
 
Without a pic is difficult to tell but I have seen some species with a single shell against ship and dock walls. If the shells of the critter and the clam are covered with coralline I thing it will be difficult to tell if it is part of the clam or not.
 
Humm, I will see if I can get a camera from a friend and take a picture. The clam doesnt have any coraline, so it is pretty easy to see that the "shell" or cover of this thing is exactly liek the rest of the clam. The pattern of ridges is exactly the same on the thing as with the rest of the clam, even the texture right on the break between the normal clam shell and the thing's cover is the same. It is a perfect fit and when it is closed there is no way to tell it apart from the rest of the clam other than it is slightly lighter in color, but I think that is because there is less algae (Sadly, diatoms in this case) growing there. I see that there isnt much more anyone can say without a picture, so Ill get on that. Thanks for the input, jdieck.
 
Do not worry. IMO is not part of the clam's shell and is just another filter feeder. The clam looks healthy and very beautiful BTW
 
Thanks, I am starting to think that its harmless as well, and it adds variety to my tank. All is well then, thanks for the help everyone. I am starting to get addicted to this clam thing...
 
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