Clam Question
 

So I get a phone call from Angie at home telling me that the new Squamosa clam I recently aquired has fallen (or knocked) over. She says that it is laying in the sand and that it's mantle is not covered at all. She did notice that there is a "large hole" in the back of it and that she can see right inside of the clam. Most likely on the side where its foot extends. I'm still a bit of a clam newbie so any advice would be welcome.

I should add that it's foot did attach a couple of days after i got it on Saturday. All water peramiters are fine except CA is low.

Not sure about the hole, but our Squamosa has moved quite a bit, in fact turned right around and sideways a good 3". They can slam their shells shut & "jump".

I would be careful about setting it up in the sand with that "hole" exposed. I've had problems with bristleworms crawling into the hole and having a late night snack. The next morning I have a bare shell. Try tucking an empty snail shell directly underneath it and prop it up as best you can.

Heh, I'm guessing it jumped ship. I don't think you have much to worry about... just prop it back up when you get home. I prop mine up on a decent size chunk of live rock so it can be moved if need be, and so it's foot is not attacked by bristleworms as christy said. No experience with squamosa clams though, just the crocea.

mine was never happy in the sand until i got it up onto a piece of rock, it hasent moved in the last 8 months now.

wow...mine is in the sandbed and hasnt moved yet.And I put it there in December...

george

I have had mine for a couple of years just sitting on the crushed coral. Did not know that bristle worms were a pest to clams. I guess I will have to keep a close eye out from now on. I did buy a sand dollar for some reason awhile back that moves alot of my frags around and seems to spin the clam back and forth.

reply
 

Ha, when I got home last night I noticed that the hole Angie was telling me about was just its mouth, or whatever it is called. I was gaping a little bit. I think my pistol is reponsible for the clam toppling over as it was put close to the pistol's cave. Anyway, I think it will be fine, I just propped it back up, but in the sand this time.

Danny, you should really try to prop it up on a chunk of LR, it REALLY comes in handy, just in case you ever want to move it around ,etc... I know lots of people that didn't, and now after having it attatch itself, they wish they would have done so... it's pretty nice to be able to move it around if need be.. :)

I placed my clam on an oyster shell so it is easy to move around if need be.