Red clam shell!

[Magnus042]

So does anyone know why my Mimosa clam is bright red wherever there is new growth? It’s healthy and happy but I’ve never seen this before and I’m so curious!

 

[Sosuke]

My only guess is a type of algae is growing on it

 

[Copingwithpods]

Do you happen to have cyano? Does it blow off the clam or is it encrusting?

 

[Magnus042]

Ok so it’s not ON the clam. The new growth of the shell itself is red/orange. It’s not sponge or cyano or coralline, it’s the shell itself

 

[Magnus042]

Better pics:

 

[johnc_ct]

Sure looks like algae to me. Have you tried to scrape it with your finger nail?

 

[jeffrey750750]

You can see stringy cyano with bubbles

 

[johnc_ct]

You can see stringy cyano with bubbles

Thats what it looks like to me

 

[Arthacker87]

how fast did it happen? New clam shells won't grow that much in a week let alone a few months. I'd say some algae as well

 

[Magnus042]

Guys... I’ve been reefing for 20 years. It’s not cyano! You can’t scrape it off. The shell itself is orange. Even along the top edge of the shell. I’ve had the clam for more than 6 months so it’s certainly new growth. Interestingly, the scutes are the normal white/grey color

 

[GK3]

Sure looks like algae to me. Have you tried to scrape it with your finger nail?

+1 to algae

 

[Magnus042]

It’s looks like this but much deeper and more vibrant. What causes this?

 

[Copingwithpods]

Guys... I’ve been reefing for 20 years. It’s not cyano! You can’t scrape it off. The shell itself is orange. Even along the top edge of the shell. I’ve had the clam for more than 6 months so it’s certainly new growth. Interestingly, the scutes are the normal white/grey color

Have you tried scraping it off?

 

[johnc_ct]

Maybe you got a color morph.

 

[Sosuke]

I see where the part is orange but there is cyano on the shell, I think thats what's getting people confused

 

[DeniseAndy]

Maybe it is picking up some mineral making it colored. Interesting. Not seen it in any of mine before. Healthy? Cool genetic quirk?

 

[Sosuke]

Maybe it is picking up some mineral making it colored. Interesting. Not seen it in any of mine before. Healthy? Cool genetic quirk?

+1 I was also thinking maybe there is something in OPs water that it uses to build its shell coloring it

 

[Magnus042]

Maybe it is picking up some mineral making it colored. Interesting. Not seen it in any of mine before. Healthy? Cool genetic quirk?

This is the kind of thing I want to discuss! Anyone have any ideas along these lines?

 

[DHill6]

Any update on this? My mimosa Growth is white.

 

[techdef]

Neat, maybe some byproduct of the hybrid? Two semi-related but unhelpful questions: whys the clam not open? And where’d you score a mimosa!?