Crocea clam

GreenSpottedPuffer · #1 12-09-2008, 05:09 AM

Are they ok in the sandbed or better off on rocks. I don't know too much about clams.

Thanks.

Keri · #2 12-09-2008, 05:13 AM

I think they are about the highest light-demand clams so they are usually kept up on the rocks

andestang · #3 12-09-2008, 05:16 AM

I have 3 and they are all in the sand bed, 2 are over 3 yrs and doing fine. I always make sure they are settled in deep enough to protect their foot. I have seen pics from the wild where they are almost totally embedded in solid rock substrate.

Keri · #4 12-09-2008, 05:23 AM

I guess it depends on how deep his tank is and how strong his lights are

Delphinus · #5 12-09-2008, 05:25 AM

I prefer rocks myself but many people do keep them in the sand, so whatever works best, but in general: 1) closer to the light is better (usually) with crocea's 2) they're found inside rock in the wild (like Andestang mentioned) .. it's pretty cool, all you see is the mantle .. and 3) less chance of some kind of opportunistic critter getting inside of them via the byssal opening if they're on the rock (no guarantees of course, but sand is easier to travel through than rock).

If they don't stay ON the rocks though it's better just to let them be where-ever they prefer to be. Sometimes that's the sand.

justinl · #6 12-09-2008, 05:41 AM

i think tony hit it. I just skimmed over your build thread... if this clam is under dual 400W halides, I don't think light will be an issue at the sandbed. If yours is attached, keep in mind that forcing a clam off of something it's attached to can really damage the thing too if I remember correctly.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #7 12-09-2008, 06:10 AM

Water level is 17" and its under dual 400 watt Halides. I don't think light is an issue anywhere in the tank

It just won't really attach anywhere like my other clams have but it seems really happy in the sand. Everytime I put it back on the rocks, it falls or gets knocked down in the night. I have no idea by what but I am tired of picking it up.

I think I will try the rocks one more time though.

Thanks.

Delphinus · #8 12-09-2008, 06:58 AM

I find with new clams I have to put them into a spot with a real depression in the rock that they can fit into. They do like to wiggle around a bit and in the flow can get knocked over or pushed over by snails, urchins, etc. I find even making a little fence of rubble isn't usually good enough (maybe if the rubble was epoxied so that it can provide some resistance to the knock-down). But the right indentation in the rock and suddenly after a couple days they're stuck like superglue. And of course orientation is important - an angle probably isn't good either, they like to be flat to spread out to embrace the light.