Clam migration

[calvertbill]

I have a Maxima, 3 DeRasas, and 2 Croceas. They're all happily sitting in an 18" square patch of sand between two rock columns. I've recently been told that they'll eventually migrate to affix their feet to the rock .
If I want them to stay right where they are would it work if I buried a fist sized rock frag in the sand under each clam? They could attach to the rocks and get that sence of security without moving.
Yes, no?

 

[110innc]

Ive never had a clam nor am I an expert on them but I dont see why not and I believe Ive heard people doing this.

 

[rollagore]

2nd.
I dont have one but i have read of people doing this and have no probs

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by Calvertbill
http:///forum/post/2642401
I have a Maxima, 3 DeRasas, and 2 Croceas. They're all happily sitting in an 18" square patch of sand between two rock columns. I've recently been told that they'll eventually migrate to affix their feet to the rock .
If I want them to stay right where they are would it work if I buried a fist sized rock frag in the sand under each clam? They could attach to the rocks and get that sence of security without moving.
Yes, no?
Yes and no. You cut the rock to small and you run the risk of them busting it later down the road when they get bigger and injuring their byssal organ. If it is to large, you just have to watch out for dead spots forming under the "platform" in the sand. If it is for a crocea, then the crocea will continue to try to burrow until it's mantle is level with the rock most of the time. so you would have to make sure the rock is as tall as the crocea and as wide as the crocea is GOING to be.

 

[calvertbill]

Originally Posted by candycane
http:///forum/post/2642997
the crocea will continue to try to burrow until it's mantle is level with the rock most of the time.
Huh?

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by Calvertbill
http:///forum/post/2643127
Huh?
A crocea will burrow (most of the time given the space) until only it's mantle is hanging out of the top of the rock, that colorful part. So if you are going to place a 3" crocea on a piece of rock, keep in mind that crocea will get about 6-7" long most likely and 5" tall and try to burry itself all the way down into the rock. A possibility - if a 3" crocea burrows into a 5 inch long piece of rock all the way down to it's mantle, when it hits near full size it will bust the rock.

 

[viper_930]

Originally Posted by candycane
http:///forum/post/2643137
A crocea will burrow (most of the time given the space) until only it's mantle is hanging out of the top of the rock, that colorful part. So if you are going to place a 3" crocea on a piece of rock, keep in mind that crocea will get about 6-7" long most likely and 5" tall and try to burry itself all the way down into the rock. A possibility - if a 3" crocea burrows into a 5 inch long piece of rock all the way down to it's mantle, when it hits near full size it will bust the rock.
This is an common sight in the wild, but I've never heard of croceas burrowing into rocks in captivity.

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
http:///forum/post/2643638
This is an common sight in the wild, but I've never heard of croceas burrowing into rocks in captivity.
Edit: I have never had a crocea do it, just heard stories of them doing it. I wouldn't be surprised though with how strongly even the smaller ones can attach in such a short period of time.

 

[calvertbill]

Wow! Learn something new every day! I just wanted to try to keep my clam bed orderly. They have a tendency to all want to occupy the same spot so they wind up overlapping mantles. The only one that stays put is the Maxima and it's attached to a plum sized rock.

 

[nycbob]

clams will move to a spot they likes. water flow plays a big role in clam movement. my clams have never burrow into a rock. its byssal gland just attaches to a rock or the bottom of the tank through the sandbed.

 

[candycane]

Originally Posted by Calvertbill
http:///forum/post/2644621
Wow! Learn something new every day! I just wanted to try to keep my clam bed orderly. They have a tendency to all want to occupy the same spot so they wind up overlapping mantles. The only one that stays put is the Maxima and it's attached to a plum sized rock.
The clams can cause bleaching to eachother if they cover eachother up long enough.