Why does my clam keep shoving his face in the sand???

[flyyyguy]

I have this 4" crocea, sitting right next to another 4" crocea. They are on the sand of a 24" deep 225 gallon tank lit by 250w 10k xm's.

I know they prefer to be in the rocks but frankly i dont have any room for them in the rocks, and they have been sitting in the same spot for 8 months perfectly happy.

Anyways, i noticed last week that one of them was attached to the side of the other one.......i didnt pay much attention to it as the one clam was just sitting kinda sideways but fully open and apparently fine.

A few days ago, i noticed that now the one that is attached ot the other was sideways, and the other one was upside down, head in the sand you might say...so i turned him upright to some degree(as much as i could as the other one is connected to him........i also noticed that he was open and responsive even upside down as i flipped him.

Again today...same thing.......upside down head in the sand.

Even though he still appears healthy and responsive....this cant be good. I think the answer to the follwing question is probably...."DUH"......but just in case it isnt...here is my question.

Do i cut/scrape the clam that is attached off of the other one, and seperate them so they wont do this again??

 

[Schieby]

Hi,

I had the same thing two years ago....
Please check your clams at night with red light, I guess you will find a bigger predatory snail trying to eat from the mantle. The clam tries to hide her mantle in the sand. The snail ate even through the really tight gape of the clam.

I catched the snail, and this never happend again.

Bye

 

[flyyyguy]

Really??

What kind of snail was it out of curiousity??

I have since seperated the clams. He hasnt stuck her head in the graound since........but i am still VERY interested in what you just said, and maybe more details on snail type.

I have checked it out at night with the red light as well......