Any clam experts?

[JonnyJ]

Here's a photo of my new clam, picked him up on Sunday, acclimated him and he opened right up.

As of Last night i noticed that part of him isn't opened, so i decided to browse the internet to see what i can come up with. Clam is from Dr. Mac.


Tank is an elos70 sps dominated, excellent water parameters with high flow.


heres a photo...

 

[JonnyJ]

Photos


could it just be acclimating to the tank [lighting/flow]? I'm new to clams & figured i would ask.

 

[jedimasterben]

That's a bad sign. I'm assuming you got it from the swap, i have heard they are dropping like flies. Do a pH and temperature equalised freshwater dip in RO water (or dechlorinated tap water if no RO). Use baking soda to help match the pH of the dip water. Dip for 5 minutes as a test, and it is alive in a few days and still looks like that, do a 30 minute dip.

 

[JonnyJ]

Thanks Ben,

It was from Sundays swap.

I will wait till tomorrow to decide my next step. Going to see if its my flow

Yesterday

Today

Doesn't look damaged, just one side is not extending.

 

[jedimasterben]

It doesn't appear damaged, but it may have pinched mantle if it's withdrawing like that. Don't wait too long like I did - I dipped my crocea and a maxima last night and immediately killed the crocea because it was too weak.

 

[jedimasterben]

This was Dr. Mac's booth at the swap, and from the looks of things, they sold cheap for a reason.

Every picture from hobbyists I've seen so far of a clam from this tank most likely has PM, if they've survived.

And yes, clams go through tons of stress, especially being flown around to get to the swap and then into other's tanks, but it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[skinz78]

Don't dip it! I see absolutely no evidence of PM and you'll just cause it more stress and possibly kill it.....

What fish and inverts do you have? How did you acclimate it? What are your params? Are you running GFO or carbon?

 

[JonnyJ]

Skinz, Running bubble magus doser, tank tuned in and doing great.

Alk 10.7 brand new salifert
Cal 460 brand new salifert
Mag 1300 brand new salifert

Ph 8.23 (brand new calibrated probe today)
Salinity - 1026 (refractometer, could it be off? Possibly. I want to calibrate this because I haven't in a long time, I don't see anything else that may suggest salinity issues)


I did a quick 30 minute acclimation. Clam never touched air.


I'm running both gfo and carbon. Less than recommended dose for my tank (- displacement). I actually changed it this morning. (Maybe I should take it offline?)

All 90 species of Sps in my tank look amazing (I know) full PE.

A friend linked me up with a clam guy zeph. He told me not to dip and that he doesn't see PM, but did say to check nitrates. Tested with salifert and low rang .02 nitrates. Very low, he said to do a heavy feeding.

As far as livestock
2 cleaner shrimps - could definitely have messed with him

Purple tang juvi
Pair of firefish
Pair of clowns juvi
Pair of cleaner gobys juvi
Pair of banghai cardinals juvi

Lighting is a 6 bulb ATI sunpower
W/ a build my led strip 24"

Yesterday I made a post because I saw this unknown thing pop up on the clam - which was id'ed as an abalone?

I spoke with dr Mac about the clam and he responded but didn't really answer my question at all.

Here's his response to me asking if its PM

It's difficult to say on these clams, some have this and are fine. It may be a matter of time before you know for sure. I have had some that have this and live for a long time just fine and others may slowly decline. I lie to keep alkalinity more at natural saltwater level of 8dKh? Long term this clam will need more light though, we recommend metal halides or strong LED.

 

[skinz78]

Remove your GFO and replace your carbon and see what that does. Clams don't do well with GFO but carbon seems to do wonders for them.

Nitrates won't hurt a clam.

 

[JonnyJ]

No, he wanted me to check for nitrates because he said clams need some.

Ill shut the gfo offline tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[skinz78]

FWIW I have had Peppermint shrimp cause a clam to do that as well, so I'd keep an eye on the cleaners too.