Fluffeh Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I recently purchased a maxima clam and it has been in my tank for about 1.5 weeks. I noticed that there have been only a couple of moments where the clam looked happy. The majority of the time I notice that the clam has a GAPING mouth, is not fully extending its mantle, and be releasing 'strings' (which doesn't look healthy). I have tried moving the clam to all levels of my tank (I tried putting it on top of the rockwork as well as on the bottom of the tank) and also adjusted my flow to see if that would make a difference. There are long periods of time where the mouth will not be gaping, but by the end of the day it'll be gaping again. I just don't know what to do with this clam, and I hate to see it waste away. The clam itself is about 4-5" long and a nice blue color. The tank I have it in is a matured biocube29 several years old, with ecotech radion xr15w for a light, with mp10 for flow. My tank parameters are as follows: CA (440), Phosphate (.03), Magnesium (1280), ALK (7.8), Salinity (1.25). I keep my tank at about 80-82 degrees. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 What intensity is your Radion at? Do you have a picture of the clam at it's "best" and "worst"? Moving a Maxima clam is a BAD idea. They really need to be attached to rock or they will never open fully or be as strong as their potential. A clam hammock is a great option Link to comment
patback Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I could be way off, but it may be expelling zoox to accustom itself to your tank. Is it attached? Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I recently purchased a maxima clam and it has been in my tank for about 1.5 weeks. I noticed that there have been only a couple of moments where the clam looked happy. The majority of the time I notice that the clam has a GAPING mouth, is not fully extending its mantle, and be releasing 'strings' (which doesn't look healthy). I have tried moving the clam to all levels of my tank (I tried putting it on top of the rockwork as well as on the bottom of the tank) and also adjusted my flow to see if that would make a difference. There are long periods of time where the mouth will not be gaping, but by the end of the day it'll be gaping again. I just don't know what to do with this clam, and I hate to see it waste away. The clam itself is about 4-5" long and a nice blue color. The tank I have it in is a matured biocube29 several years old, with ecotech radion xr15w for a light, with mp10 for flow. My tank parameters are as follows: CA (440), Phosphate (.03), Magnesium (1280), ALK (7.8), Salinity (1.25). I keep my tank at about 80-82 degrees. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks. Gaping is a sign of starvation or severe stress. If it is gaping at night see if you can have a spotlight on the clam 24/7. A mature clam may not attach so that's not an issue but gaping is. Link to comment
Fluffeh Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 The clam was attached very well to a rock when I purchased it. It has not left the rock since I bought it. I should have clarified in my post, when I move the clam, I move the clam AND the rock it is attached to. The clam is always gaping at night, and maybe 70% of the time during the day ;\ I have been messing with the radion intensity. I recently lowered it from 75% to 60%. I also swapped out the normal lens with the wide angle lens to see if that makes a difference, but I've noticed no difference Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 The clam was attached very well to a rock when I purchased it. It has not left the rock since I bought it. I should have clarified in my post, when I move the clam, I move the clam AND the rock it is attached to. The clam is always gaping at night, and maybe 70% of the time during the day ;\ I have been messing with the radion intensity. I recently lowered it from 75% to 60%. I also swapped out the normal lens with the wide angle lens to see if that makes a difference, but I've noticed no difference Sounds like you have vermatid snails bothering the clam. Can you check its foot for little snails? Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 The clam was attached very well to a rock when I purchased it. It has not left the rock since I bought it. I should have clarified in my post, when I move the clam, I move the clam AND the rock it is attached to. The clam is always gaping at night, and maybe 70% of the time during the day ;\ I have been messing with the radion intensity. I recently lowered it from 75% to 60%. I also swapped out the normal lens with the wide angle lens to see if that makes a difference, but I've noticed no difference As I mentioned gaping is a sign of starvation and stress. Clams need light for nutrition. You can try a 24/7 spotlight on the clam, if possible. Or at the very least don't lower the light it is getting. Good luck. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Sounds like you have vermatid snails bothering the clam. Can you check its foot for little snails? vermatids bother clam feet? Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 vermatids bother clam feet? Someone on ReefCentral said they did. Actually a better guess would be there are pyramidellid snails on the foot, not vermatid. Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Someone on ReefCentral said they did. Actually a better guess would be there are pyramidellid snails on the foot, not vermatid. Pyramid snails are a possibility and they kill clams so removing them is necessary. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Pyramid snails are a possibility and they kill clams so removing them is necessary. Yes I know, that's why I suggested they may be a cause of the gaping if the parameters and lighting are adequate Link to comment
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