Whats This??

[Bill Boy]

I purchased my crocea about 2 weeks ago. He was on the sand in my 90 and I thought he wasn't getting enough light so I moved him up higher, to the top of my rock wall. I am running 6 54w T-5 lighting for 8 hours. What are the spots on the mantle in the pic? Is a fish nipping at him, or is it something with the light??? Help.

 

[jsl6v8]

if its actual bumps on the mantle I bet, and it looks like to me, the clams "eyes" they see the light or something like that, if you could increase the size of the pic that would be great but currently I would bet you your clam that its just his eyes

 

[mbbuna]

can you post a larger photo? also you may want to turn the clam so the incurrent syphon is down, it puts less pressure on the byssal gland

 

[jsl6v8]

hey mbbuna is there a site that lables these syphons and glands because I keep seeing people talking about them but have no clue what they are.

 

[mbbuna]

the incurrent syphon is the slit, the excurrent syphon is the tube, the byssal gland is inside the clam at the base of the foot. ill try to make some photos showing these

 

[jsl6v8]

just to be nosey, what do you do for a living mbbuna, because if you don't sell clams you should think about it, you know everything, you could tell me that clams like PB&J sandwiches and I'd be making some with strawberry jam right now for them.

 

[mbbuna]

i don't sell clams, and i don't know everything i think they are fascinating and enjoy researching what makes them tick. if i can help someone out along the way, all the better

 

[Bill Boy]

I'll post a better pic when I get home toinght. What I was talking about is on the left side of the clam in the pic. At the two upper folds in the mantle there are two triangular areas that are "off color" and almost look irritated or whitened. I know the pic is small and I will post a larger one later. Thanks for the positioning tip!!

 

[jsl6v8]

Well now that I see what you are talking about I have no clue, I'll let mbbuna take this one lol.

 

[redbellyman]

sounds like

sounds like

sounds like the zooalgae on the clams mantel are light deprived, so get better lighting, clowns should really have metal halides, I am not an expert, but I know they thrive in that lighting!
Mike

 

[jsl6v8]

I'm going to go ahead and assume redbelly meant crocea clams not clowns.

 

[mbbuna]

i would not change anything at this point. post some clear photos