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Saltwater Sanctuary LLC

Electric Flame Scallop

Electric Flame Scallop

Regular price $34.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $34.99 USD
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The Electric Flame Scallop, Ctenoides ales, is a vibrant, red-mantled bivalve mollusk known for its "electric" flashes, which are actually rapid reflections of light off its mantle, not bioluminescence. 

Here's a more detailed description:

  • Appearance:
    • It has a rough, file-like shell, hence the name "file clam". 
    • The mantle (soft tissue) is a vibrant red-orange color. 
    • It has thin red or white tentacles extending from the mantle edge. 
    • The "electric" flashes are caused by rapid reflections of light off a specialized, reflective tissue in the mantle. 
  • Behavior:
    • It's a filter feeder, consuming microscopic phytoplankton. 
    • When threatened, it can "swim" by clapping its valves together and propelling itself with jets of water. 
    • It can attach itself to surfaces with strong byssal threads. 
  • Habitat and Care:
    • It's found in the tropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific region. 
    • In aquariums, it requires a well-established, stable reef tank with proper water parameters and a diet of phytoplankton and other organic matter. 
    • It's a moderately challenging tank inhabitant and should be kept with compatible species. 
  • Scientific Classification:
    • Kingdom: Animalia 
    • Phylum: Mollusca 
    • Class: Bivalvia 
    • Order: Limida 
    • Family: Limidae 
    • Genus: Ctenoides
    • Species: C. ales 
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