Some of you know that i purchased a clam about 2 weeks ago. Well i read that they need to be level. (natural tilt) My question is do they move on there own? I have mine on the sand bed and out of the way of the two bigger snails. That way while the snail is on the glass or the rocks it won't touch the clam with the tip of there shell. Everyday i come home the clam has moved from where i placed it the night before. Its a Crocea Clam. Any Ideas? thanks in advance.

All clams, whether "boring" or soft substrate based, will position themselves depending on water flow, lighting etc. If your clams have moved, it is a reaction to a need of some sort.

Remember, while clams depend on flow to bring them food stuffs (particulate), they do NOT want or need or even deal well, with any flow that would cause their mantles to "flap" in the current. The proper flow should allow them to extend their mantle and you may note just a hint of motion due to water flow.

Croceas are right up there with maxima in lighting demands. If they don't get what they need, they will reposition themselves to allow them to trap as much light as possible with their mantles.

Under my old dual 175MH system, I kept the croceas on the rocks, just 6 or so inches under the water level. I had one lower, but it was not as bright, or colorful as the others, and probably didn't require as much lighting. Green to brownish clams typically do better with less light. The more brilliant or as some call "Electric" the clam, the more (probable) light they need.

With all that aside, it is still possible that something is moving them around? If not, I would assume they are "asking" for something. Personally (and I know I will be refuted) I'd put any maxima or crocea on rocks. It is just "natural" to me. This is where they are found. This is why they are "boring" clams; wanting to attach to a solid substrate, and eventually burrow into it.

Dave

Make a lot of since, i don't think anything could be moving it. The only other creatures i have in the tank are my clowns. Now i could see what you are saying about the light. In the position i was placing it in the light was focused more on the top and the way its moving the light is focus more on the hole clam. Thanks for your help. I think i am going to move it to the rocks sometime. I saw the picture Amp has of his on the sand and then i thought about putting them on the rocks. But i really thought that that might be to much light. 30gal with a 175MH on the top of it i thought it would be to much for the clam that close. I am redoing my rock structure this weekend so ill find a happy little place for it.

Now if i place it on a rock and it doesn't like the position it will still move. Should i worry about it falling off the rock while trying to find its favorite spot?

I'd move it up slowly. Do you have any PVC pipe? Cut differing lengths, by the inch, and move it up slowly (don't ask me how slow :) you'll know) to the desired height (where the final destination/rock is). Either that, or place it there, and if possible, use the "window screen" acclimation method.

I've used rubble to build a "moat" around my clams and hold it in place until it attaches. I've also used a clam shell, or flat LR piece to get it to hold, and then moved that rock or shell to the desired place.

30 gallon high? standard? Think of it this way...lets say it is "standard" thats like what.... 17 inches tall? My 75G was just 21 inches tall.... 4 inch difference. Right? Now, if it were 400W or even 250W, I'd think differently. However, if properly acclimated (or as our brothers across the pond say "aclimitized") that would work fine.

Dave

OK I'll try that. Thanks for the info again :)

And, here's my take on the subject. According to Fatherree in his new book, "Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium" he states in part, "...note that croceas are not always found completely encased in such burrows, though. Usually, but not always." (page 63)

Croceas, when borrowing, are found in massive coral formations that encompass the entire shell. A condition that is next to impossible to duplicate in the aquarium because compared to the massive formations found on the reef our LR is purchased in relatively small sizes and I would consider puny compared to the home of croceas in the wild.

Croseas do just fine on the sand substrate. And yes, they have the ability of moving around to suit their needs depending on light, water flow and availability of food through the water flow. So, Wes, your crocea's movement may not be a demand to be placed in the rocks just an adjustment in position to take advantage of circumstances.

Here's a series of pics of my croceas one of which decided to tilt himself to the left after I changed the flow of water.

http://www.theculturedreef.com/135-11-7-06-3.jpg

Here are the three Amigos living happily on the sand in a vertical orientation. They've been like this for several months. Then I decided to change the water flow, just because.

http://www.theculturedreef.com/Clams-1-23-07-1.jpg

The next day the left clam was listing to the left. I would reach in and straighten him up. Within hours he would be back in this position. I finally gave up, he won. I noticed when in the vertical position his left mantle would curl up due to the increased water flow from that side. I knew they didn't like that but I was surprised he would change position so quickly.

http://www.theculturedreef.com/Clams-1-23-07.jpg

Here's a close-up to show he is healthy and apparently happy. The two on the right I have had for nine months and the third for six months. All have been in the sand from day one and will remain there. All have shown very good growth. The middle one doubling in size in the nine months.

If you or anyone (newbies especially) are going to keep clams you know the rule.....do your homework! James Fatherree's new book is a great update on information on the family of Tridacnids. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the husbandry of the Tridacnid family of clams. It's full of beautiful pictures and very useful information.

Sounds like a commercial.....well it is. I have the book in stock and discount priced for members of TR and my e-mail list. Check it out here - Giant Clams book, special pricing (http://www.theculturedreef.com/membersbook.htm).

My clams, while not dashing around the tank like fish do, bring as many ooohs and aaahs as anything in my tank. They are a pleasure to keep.

Thanks for the info Amp.

Im not really sure what I'm going to do yet. I want to move it to the rocks because i like the way it looks. Put that aside and i have no "real" reason. I am doing research on whats best for the clam. I did research before i purchased it and i think i might be purchasing another one this weekend. (maybe) I have seen a lot of very healthy and very large clams on both the sand and the rocks. I just want whats best for the clam but i am starting to think they are happy either way as long as they have there lighting needs. I do believe my tank is around 18 inches high and my 175MH is not enough light for it on the sand then i will have to move it. But how do we know if its not enough like or not? My clam has been open very nicely and not stretching for light so far. I have no brown tissue and once it moves its very happy. Is there a way to tell if there getting enough light or not enough?

i wont dispute the placemnt issue, i haev seen peopel successful placing them on teh sand and on the rock. the only issue i will mention is that if it is in the sand bed, make sure there is nothing munching on it. i have heard of this happening a few times. not that this wont happen on a rock, but its seems more liekly in the sand bed...

ok that aside, i too have a crocea that moved its self... i have on that sat where i put it, and over the last year, has literally bored itself about 1/2 inch into the rock its on.
the only that moved insisted on laying on its side. i would fix it and the next day it was on its side, after a few weeks of trying to correct it i figured.. hey, if thats what you want, fine. it attached to the rock behind it and stayed there all happy for many months until i did some rearranging...

moral of the story, is to let it move how it wants to, just monitor its overall health

one of the issues with placing croceas directly on the sandbed is that croceas have very fine gill structures, which can become clogged very easily in the event an inadvertant sandstorm.

also, since croceas are "rock burrowers", they'll tend to hunker down into the sand and will attach to the tank bottom. the best thing to do is sit them in a clam halfshell or on a flat piece of flat LR and let them attach. this gives them stability as well as making it easier to move them should the need arise.

just a side question, wat makes a crocrea an ultra cocrea.. i heard the word "ultra" too often when the store sells their clams. does it base on the color or just a fancy way to get xtra money out of ur pocket?

The fancier the color or patern the more "ultra" it gets and the more money you pay.