My Clam is a Jumper! Help...

[RobG]

I got a beautiful electric-blue maxima from Dr. Mac about 3 weeks ago. I started him on the sand for a week or so, and for the last couple I've been trying as hard as I can to get him (her/it/whatever... ) to stay on the rocks where it should be.

No matter how secure the clam feels when I place it, by the next morning it's jumped off the rocks. I've tried in several locations, several orientations etc...

Any suggestions on how to get it to stay on the rocks? Will it be OK on the DSB if I can never get it on the rock?

TIA,
Rob

[Biomanjcs72]

It's jumping because it's not happy, for some reason or another, now beyond that, I can't tell you, just keep trying to place it until it gets happy somewhere, and keep an eye on it. and No, Maxima's are not substrate dwellers. HTH

[golfish]

I like to have my clams on the sand but like stated already their really not made for the sand. Take a nice flat rock (a little cupped shape if you got it) and bury it down in the sand so the top is showing, then place the clam on the rock. This is what I do with all my clams, even the derasa.

Mark

[kevinpo]

I have all my clams on the substrate for years. If you have enough lighting intensity they will be fine. If you want it attached to a rock to raise up later just put a small flat rock just under the surface of the substrate. Bank up the substrate around the clam and in a week or so it will be attached to the rock. Then you can set the clam with rock attached in a location that you like.

Regards,
Kevin

[Emperator]

I do what kevinpo does, place all my clams be it crocea or maxima on the substrate.

I do this so that I do not need to worry about the clam "jumping" and the pain it would be to relocate the clam once it attaches to a rock.

[Ninong]

Originally posted by Biomanjcs72
It's jumping because it's not happy, for some reason or another, now beyond that, I can't tell you, just keep trying to place it until it gets happy somewhere, and keep an eye on it. and No, Maxima's are not substrate dwellers. HTH

Agreed. One of the reasons that clams jump is because they have been placed in current that is too strong for their liking. In particular, make sure that the water current is not lifting the syphonal lobe. You might try placing it in a different spot with slightly different water current orientation and maybe even slightly different lighting. The mantle should be facing straight up.

Ninong

[RobG]

Well, I repositioned again yesterday, and this morning before work it was still on the rocks. The mantle is definitely straight up, with medium current. It is about 8" below the waterline under a 250W 10K halide.

What's a "syphonal lobe"?


If it doesn't stay this time, I'll try your suggestions of a piece of rock slightly under the stubstrate. Great ideas. Thanks everyone!

[saltjunkie]

thanks, this thread too has helped me. what if the mantle isnt straight up and down?
Rick

[Biomanjcs72]

A siphonal Lobe is the Area immediately around the incurrent and excurrent siphons on the top of the mantle. Generally, the incurrent siphon is Oval shaped, while the excurrent siphon is more round in appearance.

[Ninong]

Originally posted by RobG
What's a "syphonal lobe"?

You have two openings, the large incurrent syphon and the smaller excurrent syphon. You do not want strong water current aimed directly into either of these openings so that they flutter in the current, especially the excurrent syphon. Clams prefer mild current.

Ninong

[kevinpo]

saltjunkie,
The clam will position itself with alignment to the light source over a week or 2. I tried to lean my clam slightly towards the front so you could see the mantle better but the clam had other ideas. After a couple of tries (see the clam shell in the picture above) I gave up

Kevin
PS: The shell was just to prop it forward but clam attached to the darn shell so there it stays!

[Reinhold]

kevinpo:

Just checked out your web site. Incredible tank! I love the clams, especially the 11" Derasa. Do you feed it anything, or is it, like most clams, strictly a filter feeder.

[newreefman1]

m

[kevinpo]

Reinhold,
Thanks for your kind comments. No I really don't feed anything in my tank too often. Fish 3-4 times a week. LPS and anemone once a week or sometimes 2-3 weeks. I travel overseas 2-3 weeks of every month so feeding can be a little sparadic. With about 700 lbs of LR and the back and 1 end of the tank with algae growing they have learned to swim there as soon as the lights come on and get breakfast of mysis shrimp ;;

Regards,
Kevin

[golfish]

Kevin,
I have to agree, that's a nice tank........Maybe when we move into a bigger house the boss will let me have one that size.....maybe;)

Mark