Weird Clam Question

chewieee · 01/10/2009, 11:32 PM

SO i have a small Deresa Clam and i look over at the tank and there was a completely WHITE long tube looking thing coming out of the clam, im pretty sure its part of the clam , i am just curious what exactly is it. here are some pictures that i took of it

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reefD · 01/10/2009, 11:57 PM

yes sir...its normal..look up or search anotomy of a clam and it will say the exact name of that. im not sure if its the foot ...but its normal

crvz · 01/11/2009, 08:04 AM

coming out of the inlet siphon? Doesnt look terribly concerning, but a bit odd. I'm not certain that's a derasa clam, though. Looks a bit more like a squamosa, but it's hard to say from those angles. More pictures of the shell would help if you're interested.

reeferstace · 01/11/2009, 08:46 AM

Byssal threads.....they are extensions of the foot and help anchor the clam to the substrate. If you move the clam be very careful not to tear these threads.

billsreef · 01/11/2009, 10:24 AM

Byssal threads are secreted from the byssal gland, which is located at the base of the foot. I wouldn't consider them extension of the foot, more like the mooring lines which the foot helps position

BTW that is the foot showing in those pictures.

PhilTheEel · 01/11/2009, 01:05 PM

That looks like a squamosa clam to me.

01/10/2009, 11:32 PM	#1
chewieee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mentor,OHIO Posts: 677	Weird Clam Question SO i have a small Deresa Clam and i look over at the tank and there was a completely WHITE long tube looking thing coming out of the clam, im pretty sure its part of the clam , i am just curious what exactly is it. here are some pictures that i took of it [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

01/10/2009, 11:57 PM	#2
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	yes sir...its normal..look up or search anotomy of a clam and it will say the exact name of that. im not sure if its the foot ...but its normal __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

01/11/2009, 08:04 AM	#3
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	coming out of the inlet siphon? Doesnt look terribly concerning, but a bit odd. I'm not certain that's a derasa clam, though. Looks a bit more like a squamosa, but it's hard to say from those angles. More pictures of the shell would help if you're interested. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

01/11/2009, 08:46 AM	#4
reeferstace I'm a little people Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Over Yonder Posts: 1,392	Byssal threads.....they are extensions of the foot and help anchor the clam to the substrate. If you move the clam be very careful not to tear these threads. __________________ Stacy

01/11/2009, 10:24 AM	#5
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Byssal threads are secreted from the byssal gland, which is located at the base of the foot. I wouldn't consider them extension of the foot, more like the mooring lines which the foot helps position BTW that is the foot showing in those pictures. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

01/11/2009, 01:05 PM	#6
PhilTheEel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: mississippi Posts: 158	That looks like a squamosa clam to me.