Gap in Crocea?

[Doug]

Hi HFF,

It seems that in most of the pictures that I have seen of Crocea clams all of them have a gap or hole in the mantel area and I was wondering is this just a trait of this type of clam or something else.

Here is a picture of the Crocea that I just bought last weekend that is expanding nicely under the 400w MH w/VHO Actinics.

http://www.hawkfish.org/images/crocea020301.jpg

TIA

Doug

[herefishiefishie]

Hi there. If I read you correctly, you're talking about that largish opening that you can see there in the pic...

That's the inhalant siphon. It's where the clam "inhales" water. The clam "exhales" water through the (you guessed it) the exhalant siphon, which looks like a hose or nozzle and is located at the other end of the mantle. Both of these are normal parts of every Tridacnid clam's anatomy and are no cause for worry.

HTH :D

[Edited by herefishiefishie on 02-07-2001 at 10:33 PM]

[Doug]

Thanks HFF,

I didn't think it was a problem but was just curious because I never noticed the inhalant siphons on other types of clams being so large like the ones on the croceas.

Thanks again!

Doug