Derasa Clam Placement Question

Gwynhidwy · 03/22/2008, 08:40 AM

If a derasa clam is placed on a rock instead of the substrate, should it be secured/glued in place like a stony coral to keep it from falling or being knocked off the rock, or just set on the rock and put back if knocked over? How long does it take for them to attach on their own?

cilyjr · 03/22/2008, 08:46 AM

"Placement
Tridacnids can produce an attachment structure called a byssus to affix themselves to hard surfaces. This structure is made by an organ (called the byssal organ) found on the underside of the clamâ€™s body, which secretes a liquid substance that hardens quickly to form a number of tough fibers. These fibers emerge from an opening in the bottom of the shell, with one end of the fibers solidly attached to a rock, coral, etc. and the other side held inside the shell by the byssal organ. This keeps them from being knocked over or moved around by waves or predators.

Thus, it is best to place a specimen directly onto a hard substrate like a piece of live rock, or to place it on sand with a flat piece of rock just under the surface. A tridacnid can dig down through the sand and still attach to the hard piece, even if it is shallowly buried.

Specimens that use a byssus will firmly attach themselves to the rock, typically within a few days. However, it is important to note that many clams stop using a byssus once they grow to a particular size and then slowly close off the byssal opening at the bottom of the shell. Oftentimes, they can stay in place simply due to their weight.

What you donâ€™t want to do is place any specimen with an obvious byssal opening into a gap between pieces of live rock, with the opening left exposed and nothing for it to attach to. You should never place a clam in a spot that prevents it from opening its shell normally or in a location where strong direct currents may keep it from fully extending its mantle tissue."

taken from http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater...nt-clam-basics

Jeff · 03/22/2008, 08:49 AM

I have had derasa clams before and they seem to be one of the less light-grabbing clams. They should do well anywhere in the tank but dont glue the clam to anything. Simply place the clam in a "nest" of rock pieces and it will attach if happy.

Gwynhidwy · 03/22/2008, 09:10 AM

Thanks very much for the replies. This is my first clam and I didn't know how long it took for them to attach. A few days is no problem, but I have some fairly active large snails that are bound to run into the clam from time to time.

Lewin · 03/22/2008, 04:11 PM

If you are worried about it getting knocked over you could always place the clam on the substrate with a rock you want it to attach to. Wait a few weeks for it to attach firmly, and then glue the rock it is attached to onto any surface in the tank.

03/22/2008, 08:40 AM	#1
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,511	Derasa Clam Placement Question If a derasa clam is placed on a rock instead of the substrate, should it be secured/glued in place like a stony coral to keep it from falling or being knocked off the rock, or just set on the rock and put back if knocked over? How long does it take for them to attach on their own? __________________ -- He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. -- Aeschylus

03/22/2008, 08:46 AM	#2
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	"Placement Tridacnids can produce an attachment structure called a byssus to affix themselves to hard surfaces. This structure is made by an organ (called the byssal organ) found on the underside of the clamâ€™s body, which secretes a liquid substance that hardens quickly to form a number of tough fibers. These fibers emerge from an opening in the bottom of the shell, with one end of the fibers solidly attached to a rock, coral, etc. and the other side held inside the shell by the byssal organ. This keeps them from being knocked over or moved around by waves or predators. Thus, it is best to place a specimen directly onto a hard substrate like a piece of live rock, or to place it on sand with a flat piece of rock just under the surface. A tridacnid can dig down through the sand and still attach to the hard piece, even if it is shallowly buried. Specimens that use a byssus will firmly attach themselves to the rock, typically within a few days. However, it is important to note that many clams stop using a byssus once they grow to a particular size and then slowly close off the byssal opening at the bottom of the shell. Oftentimes, they can stay in place simply due to their weight. What you donâ€™t want to do is place any specimen with an obvious byssal opening into a gap between pieces of live rock, with the opening left exposed and nothing for it to attach to. You should never place a clam in a spot that prevents it from opening its shell normally or in a location where strong direct currents may keep it from fully extending its mantle tissue." taken from http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater...nt-clam-basics __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

03/22/2008, 08:49 AM	#3
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I have had derasa clams before and they seem to be one of the less light-grabbing clams. They should do well anywhere in the tank but dont glue the clam to anything. Simply place the clam in a "nest" of rock pieces and it will attach if happy. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

03/22/2008, 09:10 AM	#4
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,511	Thanks very much for the replies. This is my first clam and I didn't know how long it took for them to attach. A few days is no problem, but I have some fairly active large snails that are bound to run into the clam from time to time. __________________ -- He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. -- Aeschylus

03/22/2008, 04:11 PM	#5
Lewin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Costa Mesa, California Posts: 104	If you are worried about it getting knocked over you could always place the clam on the substrate with a rock you want it to attach to. Wait a few weeks for it to attach firmly, and then glue the rock it is attached to onto any surface in the tank.