Clams messing with my landscaping

[Europhyllia]

I got a second clam. It's so pretty :wub:

I even got a book on clams to take better care of them and it suggested that new clams should start out towards the bottom and then move towards the light gradually.
So I did that of course and now a day later the clam has already anchored itself to that bottom rock.
Now I have to find a place to move that big old rock gradually up my landscaping (because the book also says not to remove an attached clam).

I just wanted to mention this in case another clam newbie reads this.
Clams attach themselves super fast. Put it on a little rock or in a little bowl with some gravel. Anything smaller than the football sized boulder I am moving up right now will work...

[Mr Cob]

Thanks for sharing, I did not know that they attach themselves.

[jroescher]

I would say that if it attached itself, it's happy where it is. The clams I've had in the past would not attach but instead would move around. If something changed and they got unhappy, they would detach themselves.

You can also detach them by cutting the threads underneath them with a razor if you can get under them. Whatever you do, don't force them lose. That will kill them.

[tebstan]

Mine hasn't attached yet, should I be concerned? It appears to be fine. It's responsive and feeding (I assume, hard to tell). I took a closer look at it after reading how quick Euromom's attached. I have it on a little rock with a very slight V shape. It's resting in the nook of the V, so there's a quarter inch gap between the bottom of the clam and the rock under it. Does it have to attach to be healthy?

[Europhyllia]

Thanks John. It just seemed odd that a Maxima would want to be so far away from the light (T5s by the way not MH). I did move it up a bit.
I'll watch how it does in it's new spot.
Good to know about being able to cut the threads.

[Europhyllia]

tebstan I think some clams are just faster to attach. Both of my clams are Maximas which are know to attach rather quickly. I just didn't realize HOW quickly.

[vman181]

You can also use an old clam shell. This way when they attach you can move them easily.

[tebstan]

Mine's a squamosa, maybe they take longer. If they attach to keep from falling over, that won't be a problem due to the shape of the rock. It could even move side to side if it wanted to, the rock is bowl shaped almost. (Do they move of their own accord?) It's only three inches off the bottom of the tank (a 90) but I have 6 T5s... don't think light will be a problem. I went a little overboard with the lighting.

[Europhyllia]

yeah squamosa don't need as much light as crocea and maxima

[jroescher]

They move by slamming shut real fast, which propels them. They have little control on where they go...mine always would end up face down in the sand. My only experience is with Croceas.