Should I cut this clam from the frag?

Engloid · 03/21/2010, 02:09 PM

I bought this frag the other day from a LFS. I didn't notice the clam on the side of it and neither did the people at the store. A few days later, I saw it opened up a bit and figured it out. I guess the $20 frag wasn't such a bad deal afterall.

Anyway, he's in the crux of this frag and I don't know if it will limit his being able to open up or if he's strong enough I don't need to worry about it.

Will he stay there forever if I don't remove him? Will he or the frag damage each other?

I attached the pic, in case the below doesn't work.

no_Wedge · 03/21/2010, 02:58 PM

i cannot see it, but i would attempt to remove it just for it's sake, worst thing that could happen either way is he won't make it.

saltwater4life1 · 03/21/2010, 03:01 PM

It's in between the two heads. That is really small... More then likely it won't make it like no Wedge said.

Lightsluvr · 03/21/2010, 03:13 PM

That is cool... if it was me, I would leave it and see what develops! It doesn't look like the current status would harm either the coral or the clam...

LL

TiTAN · 03/21/2010, 03:15 PM

I would wait to see what happens.

Check to see if it gets bigger then make a decision.

Engloid · 03/21/2010, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_Wedge

i cannot see it, but i would attempt to remove it just for it's sake, worst thing that could happen either way is he won't make it.

He's attached to the right branch. If you look closely, you can see the zig zag opening. He's just barely open in the pic. I've not seen him open much more than that.

I thought that, worst case, I could cut off the right branch, leaving the left one that will likely survive. Then try to work the clam off of the right branch, or just glue it to a rock. That would give me two frags and he'd not be stuck in the middle.

I do think I'll give it time before cutting on either one though.

noahm · 03/21/2010, 05:35 PM

The clam will be fine no matter how big it gets. They can chemically digest rock, I assume that they can do the same if the coral becomes an issue.

Montreal Ray · 03/21/2010, 05:45 PM

wow cool!

Id leave it

Engloid · 03/21/2010, 06:01 PM

I just wonder if the clam will be limited on how far he can open up, limiting his ability to take in food and grow. But, I guess the clam likely has more strength than the coral. If it begins to look like a problem, I'll cut the frag at the branch, and reglue it to something. Then I don't have to cut the clam from the frag, but he wont' be in middle of a branch like that anymore.

R2E2 · 03/21/2010, 06:08 PM

Natural selection, nuff said.

Engloid · 03/21/2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R2E2

Natural selection, nuff said.

Yeah, the 'natural' part ended when I paid money for it.

Now it's just another possession.

csmfish · 03/21/2010, 08:07 PM

Well, if they are anything like mussels, they will move around on their own. Maybe when he gets POed in that spot he will move on his own?

Muddy35 · 03/21/2010, 09:42 PM

Nice catch.. First it looks like a ZIG ZAG clam/oyster. This is based on the shape, where you found it. As always theres no sure way of telling at that size.
Now - as far as doing anything with it-
Removing and glueing this clam to anything WILL kill it ( sorry missed the part of cutting the frag). These clams can be mobile and wil move at that size if it is not happy. As far as damaging the coral- it's located on a part of the coral that is no longer alive. It cant damage it in any way except to maybe break the branch- it would have ALOT of growing to do before that happens.
Relatively easy to care for at that size but as it get larger you'l want to target feed once a day or load up the tank with a filter feeder food. I wouldnt worry about it right now or no time in the near future though.

My 2 cents worth.

Engloid · 03/21/2010, 09:51 PM

I know absolutely nothing about clams, so any helpful advice is appreciated. I didn't know if they could move or not. It looks like the "bark" type coating on the coral has covered about 2/3 of his shell. So you're pretty sure he can move if he wants to? he looks almost like he's a parg of the coral now.

goochesfish · 03/22/2010, 12:15 AM

I would leave it alone. I was also wondering what that red stuff on the branches of the candy cane is? I have the same thing and it is spreading onto the rock the plug is stuck into. I'm hoping it's just a sponge.

03/21/2010, 03:01 PM	#3
saltwater4life1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Dix, New Jersey Posts: 933	It's in between the two heads. That is really small... More then likely it won't make it like no Wedge said. __________________ ~Nick Avatar is my 1969 Roadrunner, 512ci stroker in the works. 55gal Mixed reef but mostly sps :) 5.5gal Mantis shrimp reef tank Current Tank Info: 55gal mixed reef, Lights: 4x54w T5, Filter: Octopus BH2000 skimmer, Flow: Over 3,000gph

03/21/2010, 03:13 PM	#4
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	That is cool... if it was me, I would leave it and see what develops! It doesn't look like the current status would harm either the coral or the clam... LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

03/22/2010, 12:15 AM	#15
goochesfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,305	I would leave it alone. I was also wondering what that red stuff on the branches of the candy cane is? I have the same thing and it is spreading onto the rock the plug is stuck into. I'm hoping it's just a sponge. __________________ The Gooch, my Beagle, may she RIP 1995-2011 Current Tank Info: 150 gallon Starfire set up July 22,09, 30g QT

03/21/2010, 02:58 PM	#2
no_Wedge Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 422	i cannot see it, but i would attempt to remove it just for it's sake, worst thing that could happen either way is he won't make it.

03/21/2010, 03:15 PM	#5
TiTAN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Kildare, Ireland Posts: 260	I would wait to see what happens. Check to see if it gets bigger then make a decision.

03/21/2010, 05:35 PM	#7
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	The clam will be fine no matter how big it gets. They can chemically digest rock, I assume that they can do the same if the coral becomes an issue.

03/21/2010, 05:45 PM	#8
Montreal Ray Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 428	wow cool! Id leave it

03/21/2010, 06:01 PM	#9
Engloid Moved On Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 841	I just wonder if the clam will be limited on how far he can open up, limiting his ability to take in food and grow. But, I guess the clam likely has more strength than the coral. If it begins to look like a problem, I'll cut the frag at the branch, and reglue it to something. Then I don't have to cut the clam from the frag, but he wont' be in middle of a branch like that anymore.

03/21/2010, 06:08 PM	#10
R2E2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 63	Natural selection, nuff said.

03/21/2010, 08:07 PM	#12
csmfish Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: VA Posts: 1,055	Well, if they are anything like mussels, they will move around on their own. Maybe when he gets POed in that spot he will move on his own?

03/21/2010, 09:42 PM	#13
Muddy35 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: MA. Posts: 132	Nice catch.. First it looks like a ZIG ZAG clam/oyster. This is based on the shape, where you found it. As always theres no sure way of telling at that size. Now - as far as doing anything with it- Removing and glueing this clam to anything WILL kill it ( sorry missed the part of cutting the frag). These clams can be mobile and wil move at that size if it is not happy. As far as damaging the coral- it's located on a part of the coral that is no longer alive. It cant damage it in any way except to maybe break the branch- it would have ALOT of growing to do before that happens. Relatively easy to care for at that size but as it get larger you'l want to target feed once a day or load up the tank with a filter feeder food. I wouldnt worry about it right now or no time in the near future though. My 2 cents worth.

03/21/2010, 09:51 PM	#14
Engloid Moved On Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 841	I know absolutely nothing about clams, so any helpful advice is appreciated. I didn't know if they could move or not. It looks like the "bark" type coating on the coral has covered about 2/3 of his shell. So you're pretty sure he can move if he wants to? he looks almost like he's a parg of the coral now.