Is this gapping and if so what are the causes?
Gapping T. Maxima
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mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
hotashes
Well-Known Member
Although I’m not convinced it’s actually gaping, it could be. However it appears the lights are not at their peak power, for example the look to be ramping up/down.
However it could be the verge of gaping as it appears there is no new shell growth, which is a way of telling if a clam is health. So it doesn’t appear as healthy as should be, but my be able to rescued.
Check your Alk, Cal, Mag levels and can you tell us a little more info on the clam. How long you’ve had it? Have you had it out of the tank recently? Did you know pyramid snails can kill a clam by attacking its insides via the clams byssal/foot.
@DSC reef or @jda your thoughts are valuable as always.
A.
However it could be the verge of gaping as it appears there is no new shell growth, which is a way of telling if a clam is health. So it doesn’t appear as healthy as should be, but my be able to rescued.
Check your Alk, Cal, Mag levels and can you tell us a little more info on the clam. How long you’ve had it? Have you had it out of the tank recently? Did you know pyramid snails can kill a clam by attacking its insides via the clams byssal/foot.
@DSC reef or @jda your thoughts are valuable as always.
A.
Maybe beginning stages but can you get some more pics? It might be the blue but the mantle looks bleached. I can't see any new shell growth. Gaping is basically the clam dying so the reasons/causes have a wide range from starvation to protozoans.
OP
OP
I’ve had the Clam for 3yrs, tank is 4+ years old. Calc=440 Alk=8.7 mag=1400. It’s not been out of the water, nothing’s harming it. I did however a couple months ago move it higher up by about 4-6”.
What exactly should I be feeding it?
Sorry for crappy pics I’ve misplaced my filters.
What exactly should I be feeding it?
Sorry for crappy pics I’ve misplaced my filters.
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Lovemyreef2015
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What was the reason for moving it? If it's been growing in the tank for that long I wouldn't suspect chemistry. I wouldn't worry about feeding the clam, starvation can happen from not enough light but you've had it long enough to know its receiving enough light. I would take a few more pics over the next few days. If a clam has been doing well for a number of years with new growth I'd be very reluctant on moving it around.
Agreed. I wouldn't move a happy clam unless absolutely necessary. Keep an eye for the usual suspects like pyramids, I don't see evidence of pinched mantle. Did you have to cut byssal threads to move the clam?
OP
OP
No cutting as it’s on its own rock. Moved it due to light program and scheduling change.
I’ve moved it back down and returned schedule back to its original goodness. Hope it works.
I’ve moved it back down and returned schedule back to its original goodness. Hope it works.
Lovemyreef2015
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Hope it recovers, keep us posted
OP
OP
Pretty sure I’m losing it. Very little mantle extension, no reaction when I pass my hand between it and lighting.
reef lover
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Does it look like the mantle is pulling away from the shell?
OP
OP
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reef lover
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Not a goner yet then...hows the flow is it laminar to the clam? Meaning it passes over the large incurrent siphon first then over the small exhalent ?
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Lovemyreef2015
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I don't know if it's just the lighting but I'm not seeing any new shell growth.
IMO the clam is not doing good and I see some bleaching in the mantle from the last pic. No new growth, definitely gaping, I hope it pulls through. A side note, a lot of fish including wrasses find the mucus the mantle produces irresistible so picking can cause issues. The centralized bleaching usually means over illumination in a specific spot.
OP
OP
Thank you for your help. Not what I wanted to hear but I was expecting bad news. I’m heartbroken [emoji17]
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I’ve got 2x WP40’s, one on each end. Flow crosses over Clam.
With the mps on each end i would think the best way to orient him would be having the points of his.shell pointing towars one... so the flow goes up and over him and not across him..if that makes sense..
Might not be any helping him now but might help for future clams.
OP
OP
It’s still hanging on.
OP
OP
Still hanging in there. [emoji16]
