Clam gaping

[Crimsontopper]

I just got home and found my clam like this. No changes to water chemistry. I added a watchman goby last week. Fed Reed roids last night. Anything I can do?

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

@DSC reef I don't believe the clam is gaping.

 

[KJ]

@DSC reef

 

[BranchingHammer]

How old is the tank, water parameters, how old is the clam, did you rotate it to release bubbles when you added it (if it’s new), and did you check for pyramid snails. Sorry, that’s a lot.

 

[BranchingHammer]

Also, looks like a derasa, or is that a chute so it’s a squamosa?

 

[BranchingHammer]

Sorry, last one. Does is it react to shadowing when you put your hand between the tank and the light?

 

[Crimsontopper]

How old is the tank, water parameters, how old is the clam, did you rotate it to release bubbles when you added it (if it’s new), and did you check for pyramid snails. Sorry, that’s a lot.

I should have included those. 1.026, 80.8, ~410, ~9 dkh, 0 po4. Clam has been there about 4 - 5 months good growth. Perfect health until now.

 

[Crimsontopper]

Sorry, last one. Does is it react to shadowing when you put your hand between the tank and the light?

It did once, then not the second time.

 

[BranchingHammer]

Has it done this before, sometimes that just do this for a day and come back. IDK and I think @DSC reef may also help us solve this.

 

[DSC reef]

That's just an open incurrent siphon, the clam is not gaping. It's a typical response from a clam time to time. That's a nice derasa

 

[Crimsontopper]

That's just an open incurrent siphon, the clam is not gaping. It's a typical response from a clam time to time. That's a nice derasa

Clearly I need to do some research on what gaping is. I love this clam. I will absolutely take your explanation and rest easier.

 

[BranchingHammer]

+1 should resolve by tomorrow, my derasa has done this once before.

 

[DSC reef]

Gaping clam is when the shell is open and the mantle is severely receding

 

[DSC reef]

Keep us posted on your clam @Crimsontopper. An open incurrent siphon can look detrimental but our clams always returned to normal. Could never tell what caused it as my assumptions would be anecdotal. I've noticed that reaction with new additions like an acclimation response as well.

 

[sfin52]

@DSC reef I don't believe the clam is gaping.

I was going to call you two in.

 

[DSC reef]

I was going to call you two in.

Thank you and thought that counts

 

[ca1ore]

Gaping clam is when the shell is open and the mantle is severely receding

That’s dead .... not gaping LOL. Can be hard to judge exactly, though I would agree that the OP picture isn’t gaping per se, at least not yet.

 

[DSC reef]

That’s dead .... not gaping LOL. Can be hard to judge exactly, though I would agree that the OP picture isn’t gaping per se, at least not yet.

Gaping is general term for the clams mantle retracting in a wide open valve with little to no reaction. Often confused with an open incurrent siphon. I disagree with you as I've had plenty of experience with clams. There is no reason to believe his clam is going to start gaping. Also, gaping means certain death for tridacna.

 

[ca1ore]

Yes, I recognize that picture you posted from an old Fatherree article. Don’t know that I disagreed with you, so not sure what you in turn disagreed with. Regardless, a stretched inhalant siphon that persists isn’t a good sign.

 

[DSC reef]

I disagreed with that his clam might be gaping soon. Our clams would do this periodically but for a reason I could not figure out. Sometimes after a water change, sometimes just for no apparent reason and new clams acclimating. Lived many years while sometimes opening its incurrent siphon wider than usual. If it keeps its incurrent siphon wide open while slowly becoming more retracted then that could be a concern but for now I see no need to worry. From his pic it looks to be excreting from the exhalent siphon.