Just tore my FOOT off. Pls Help.

[Mini Me6]

While trying to grab a hitchhiker, I accidentally pulled my clam of the rock it was attached to.

Is my clam going to the BIG HEAVEN above or will it survive the encounter???

The clam is still opening and closing at this time.

[Aquarist007]

It will survive and grow another foot

[Reefmore]

Should be ok although probably not too happy...I found when I put my clam on a rock it was a small flat rock...easy to move and secured to it

[papagimp]

FWIW, ripping a foot off a clam is a little more serious than made out to be so far. I would never buy a clam that has obviously been ripped off a rock, best to find one that's still attached to something, especially if it's a larger clam) It can definatly cause plenty of harm, even death, but if ya got a nice, well maintaned and clean tank, just keep a closer eye on em and most likely he'll pull through with minimal problems. They don't actually have a 'foot', but more like bysal threads that are used to attach themselves. When they attach, you don't want to rip em off and try to relocate them either. Try to get it right from the start to avoid any potential damage. I had one while back that managed to attach himself to a buried piece of pvc, really sucked trying to cut that small section of PVC out when i removed the clam, but the extra time and care is worth not hurting the poor guy.

All that said, be sure to research your particular species of clam, some prefer being sat on a sandbed, while others such as crocea's like to have a hard substrate. Others will even burrow into a coral colony like a barnacle would. Knowledge is key in keeping these guys happy. That and dose some phytoplankton for them to eat on. Can't get all their nutrition from lighting alone btw.

[Aquarist007]

thanks for correcting papagimp---I have been told different many times and have often had to gently peel off the foot of a clam

I like the idea of the mobile frag though :)