Is it ok for your clam to sit on your sand bed?

[chris124]

Is it ok for your clam to sit on your sand bed? He came on my live rock and stayed there for months but now is moving. What bothers me is that its mouth down in the sand. It is open right now and if I touch its shell it closes. By the way it has anchored its self to the base rock. I moved it yesterday very carefully and by morning its almost right back in the same spot. So if its ok i;m going to leave it. Thanks.

 

[Tahoe61]

Would love to see an image of the clam.

Clams falling from rocks is a bad thing.

Long story short yes clams can be in the sand bed if lighting is sufficient. A clam should be upright in position though, not tilted downwards. Smaller clams often attach to rocks to anchor placement. A flat rock or other material should be in place for the clam to attach to if this is a smaller clam.

Larger clams may or may not attach, based on type of clam and size of clam. The weight of a larger clam maintains the upward position.

What type of clam do you have?

Edit: If you have a bi-value that is not a Tridacna than that clam type is non-photosynthetic and can sit at any angle.

 

[chris124]

Heres a picture. Its mouth is open right now. I'm not sure what kind it is cause it came on my live rock. I have had it for about seven months.

 

[reef lover]

That's a bivalve and they don't care which way they are.

 

[duckdodgers]

I have one of my clams on the samd bed bc hes so large but i have a rock underneath of him so he can atatch his foot to .

 

[chris124]

That's a bivalve and they don't care which way they are.

Thanks for the id. This is the second time its gone to the bottom and almost in the same spot and it has attached to the rock both times. So I guess I will leave it and see what happens.

 

[mps026]

I have a deresa clam on the sand. Its super happy.