I have a Deresa Clam that is placed on my tank's sand bed. He continually ends up on his side. I'm sure it's largely due to a sand-sifting star I have. Are there any tricks to keep him on his back - I think it'd be more healthy for him, allowing him to get more light.
Clam Question
- Thread starter SierraReef
- Start date
Please check with a clam person to see if this is acceptable- but I have seen various methods of making a v-shaped "cradle" to keep them facing upwards. I've seen fancy acrylic ones, and simpler versions made from plastic tupperware type containers. Anything inert and v-shaped would work.
Although derasa will sit nicely on the sandbed when they're big, it's usually a good idea to have a rock or large shell buried underneath them when they're smaller.
Barry Neigut has a board devoted to clams at his place. Someone there might have a perfect solution.
Clams Direct
Barry Neigut has a board devoted to clams at his place. Someone there might have a perfect solution.
Clams Direct
Thanks for the help. I found a small spot that used to be occupied by some muchrooms but they've moved to a different location so I'll put him there. Don't clams usually have feet they use to attach themselves?
Tridacnids have a foot, and they can use it to move around a bit. The byssal organ, associated with the foot, secretes threads which attach the clam to the substrate. Smaller clams, like maxima and crocea, anchor themselves with byssus through their whole lives. Big ones, like gigas, squamosa and derasa just rely on their weight to keep them stable of the substrate when they get to the right size.
Something I hear recommended fairly frequently is a rock or large shell buried under the clam. The clam will extend the foot to find it and attach its byssus threads to it.
Something I hear recommended fairly frequently is a rock or large shell buried under the clam. The clam will extend the foot to find it and attach its byssus threads to it.
Remember to post updates. It's useful to hear how problems get solved, or even how they don't get solved.
I have had dismal luck with clams, despite reading and learning everything I could. After trying 2 squamosas, supposedly an easy species, I have given up for the moment. One didn't make it through a power outage, one just croaked after about 6 months. Good Ca, alkalinity, should have been enough light. I have seen nereid worms taking bites out of the mushrooms, so they might have been doing the same to the clams.
I have had dismal luck with clams, despite reading and learning everything I could. After trying 2 squamosas, supposedly an easy species, I have given up for the moment. One didn't make it through a power outage, one just croaked after about 6 months. Good Ca, alkalinity, should have been enough light. I have seen nereid worms taking bites out of the mushrooms, so they might have been doing the same to the clams.
I had the same problem with those worms, they burrow into the shell and feed then leave. They die from a bacterial infection located inside the shell.
