Dead Derasa don't know why

[RMS18]

So I came home today to find my clam dead. I was away for 1 night. Yesterday morning before I left it was fine. The only thing I did was 2 days ago I put a piece of rock under it so it could attach it's foot as another member suggested I do. Any ideas?

 

[cloak]

Have you checked it for Pyramid snails?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3/aafeature1

 

[RMS18]

Have you checked it for Pyramid snails?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3/aafeature1

Just check it nothing, clean just sand. What a mystery.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You didn't mention how long you've had this clam.

THIS video should be required viewing of anybody who wants a clam. Hope this helps resolve the reason for the calm's demise.

 

[Tahoe61]

Next time do not worry about placing an item for attachment under a Derasa. Derasa will be fine unattached and in the sand bed, they are not rock boring clams like Maxima and Crocea.

Did you trouble shoot chemistry, did the clam show signs of Pinch Mantle Disease(PMD)?

Where did you purchase the clam?

 

[RMS18]

Next time do not worry about placing an item for attachment under a Derasa. Derasa will be fine unattached and in the sand bed, they are not rock boring clams like Maxima and Crocea.

Did you trouble shoot chemistry, did the clam show signs of Pinch Mantle Disease(PMD)?

Where did you purchase the clam?

Bought it divers den, had it for 4 weeks and it was doing great here's a picture. I never saw any issue with the mantle, last week it was knocked over a bit from a hermit or snail and I didn't see any pinched mantle.

 

[pickupman66]

I don't see any pm from that image. What lights do u have? Water params?

 

[RMS18]

I don't see any pm from that image. What lights do u have? Water params?

I have 2 AI primes, the clam was sitting in 110 par.
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 3ppm
Phosphates .03
Cal 480
Mag 1370
Alk 9.8
PH 8.0

Pm?

 

[Mattrg02]

Maybe an ammonia spike?

 

[pickupman66]

Idk man. 110par is insufficient in my opinion. All clam are light hogs. My Ora derasa has prospered in 400+ up high but I'd now happy in the 200s at the bottom of my tank on the glass. What r tank mates? Any other events?

 

[rajkovich207]

Pinched mantle is pm. I also didn't see mention of its size. Small clams aren't big enough to fully support themselves photosyntheticly and require to be fed phytoplankton, I can't remember until what size but it could be the cause.

 

[RMS18]

Pinched mantle is pm. I also didn't see mention of its size. Small clams aren't big enough to fully support themselves photosyntheticly and require to be fed phytoplankton, I can't remember until what size but it could be the cause.

I have been feeding it, the tank get reef snow every night. It was 2 inches.

 

[RMS18]

Idk man. 110par is insufficient in my opinion. All clam are light hogs. My Ora derasa has prospered in 400+ up high but I'd now happy in the 200s at the bottom of my tank on the glass. What r tank mates? Any other events?

Hmm I was told the derasa would be ok in that par from divers den. They list moderate light but I wasent sure that that really meant. So I posted on here what par range moderate light is and I had one reply of 120. So I figured 10 par less couldn't have been that big a difference. So I was watching the clam and it was opening like it should and looked normal. If it needed more light it would have opened up more no?

I have blue leg hermits, Nass snails and fire shrimp. Fish are clowns, cardnialfish and flasher wrasse.

 

[rajkovich207]

2 inches still requires feeding. I think it's up to 3. Give me a bit to pave through my clam book and I'll let you know. I just got another tonight so I wanted to look it up anyways.

 

[Mattrg02]

Derasea are supposed to be okay with less light. I had a crocea for a few years on the bottom with lower light. It died after my clown started nipping it all day long.

 

[rajkovich207]

OK I flipped through my book real quick and couldn't find mention of size but he recommended live yeast and or phytoplankton so I'm not positive that was the problem. Clams in general are heard. I've lost 3 so far for what seemed like no reason at all.

 

[pugcrush]

Didn't see it mentioned; how old is the tank?

 

[RMS18]

Didn't see it mentioned; how old is the tank?

7 months old. I have a rbt, 3 mini maxis all doing good and a ton of lps and sofites. It's just strange how for 4 weeks it was good then the 1 time I leave for 48 hours and come home it's dead.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

This is a tough one. I have found Derasa sp. one of the easiest to keep. Your par is certainly ok albeit at the lower end. I would expect to see it open wider to collect as much light as it can. Maybe it was in a hot spot or something was scaring it. Some inexpensive LED fixtures can cause problems. If a clam gets pushed on it's side it can die quickly if not righted. I have lost a clams for no apparent reason in a tanks with many so I wouldn't give up. FWIW I don't feed clams under three inches as suggested and have about a dozen now below that size that have been doing well for about 6 weeks. These are getting 110 -210 par with hydra 52 LED and some are maxima which seem to require a bit more light. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[RMS18]

This is a tough one. I have found Derasa sp. one of the easiest to keep. Your par is certainly ok albeit at the lower end. I would expect to see it open wider to collect as much light as it can. Maybe it was in a hot spot or something was scaring it. Some inexpensive LED fixtures can cause problems. If a clam gets pushed on it's side it can die quickly if not righted. I have lost a clams for no apparent reason in a tanks with many so I wouldn't give up. FWIW I don't feed clams under three inches as suggested and have about a dozen now below that size that have been doing well for about 6 weeks. These are getting 110 -210 par with hydra 52 LED and some are maxima which seem to require a bit more light. Sorry I can't be of more help.

I appreciate the help, at my lfs now and he is saying the same clams can just die out of the blue. He said the same not to get discouraged. I might give a bigger one a try that he has. Last one came from divers den.