Getting new clam tips

Boboe77 · Feb 18, 2014

I have a derasa clam and I'm planning on getting a maxima or a crocea clam. I have a 38 gallon innovative marine tank with a JBJ unibody 54 watt LED over the tank. Any tips on buying a maxima or crocea clam? How would I know if the clam is getting enough or not enough light? Thanks y'all!

skinz78 · Feb 19, 2014

I just look for clams that are opening and extending their mantels well. Once you get it make sure it doesn't have any Pyramid snails or Aptaisia on it and you should be fine. If the clam isn't getting enough light the mantle will be reaching for the light and possibly bleaching.

Boboe77 · Feb 19, 2014

Ok great thanks!

mtnrunner · Feb 19, 2014

Don't let it fall! I had mine for nearly 2 months and it fell off a rock, damaged its mantel and died within a couple of days. He was doing so good, just wasn't happy where I had him placed and eventually managed to topple off. It's amazing how they can move.

Boboe77 · Feb 20, 2014

Oh ok! If I get a maximas, do I have to put him in the rocks or sand? Can i just out a frag plug on the bottom of him so he will attach to it?

TriggerThis · Feb 20, 2014

Put him on something he can attach to in the sand, then glue that on the rocks.
The higher the better. They need lots of light to keep their complex organ system operating

MondoBongo · Feb 21, 2014

my crocea can't get enough light.

check out the clam's reaction time when shaded. i can't speak for maximas, but my crocea will slam shut with a vengence when shaded.

also make sure that there is a well defined growth edge at the top of the shell, it should be nice and smooth/pearly white looking under the mantle.

make sure the inlet siphon isn't gaping, and that it doesn't otherwise look distressed.

the final tip is hard with a clam you just met, but when my crocea doesn't get enough light for a while the mantle will look a bit washed out and faded. when he is happy with light levels he has a very rich and healthy looking hue to his mantle. a little tough to describe, but once you get used to your new clam's look it will be easier to pick out.

i have my crocea 3/4 up in my tank under AI Vegas running at over 80%. he has even gone so far as to align himself with the LED's. i'm pretty sure if i put a tanning bed next to the tank, he would climb out and get in it. literally cannot provide enough light for him so far.

obviously you want to light acclimate him to your system first though.

TriggerThis · Feb 21, 2014

Got pics of mine tonight. Literally 1.5" under the surface as high as I can get him under a full length 6 bulb T5 ATI

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Boboe77 · Feb 22, 2014

Waw that's crazy! Your tank looks awesome! Thanks for the advise. I read in an other article that some clams get pinched mantle decease, like when the mantle gets kinda scrunched in. My clam might have it

The upper right part of his mantle is scrunched up. Some days it's bad and some days it's not too bad. I took out my GFO and threw in a bag of carbon. Is this pinched mantle decease spreadable? If it is I won't get another clam. And is the only way to fight this disease (other than freshwat

Boboe77 · Feb 22, 2014

Er dip) is to put tons of carbon in my filter?

Boboe77 · Feb 22, 2014

TriggerThis said:
Got pics of mine tonight. Literally 1.5" under the surface as high as I can get him under a full length 6 bulb T5 ATI

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Thanks!!

Boboe77 · Feb 22, 2014

MondoBongo said:
my crocea can't get enough light.

check out the clam's reaction time when shaded. i can't speak for maximas, but my crocea will slam shut with a vengence when shaded.

also make sure that there is a well defined growth edge at the top of the shell, it should be nice and smooth/pearly white looking under the mantle.

make sure the inlet siphon isn't gaping, and that it doesn't otherwise look distressed.

the final tip is hard with a clam you just met, but when my crocea doesn't get enough light for a while the mantle will look a bit washed out and faded. when he is happy with light levels he has a very rich and healthy looking hue to his mantle. a little tough to describe, but once you get used to your new clam's look it will be easier to pick out.

i have my crocea 3/4 up in my tank under AI Vegas running at over 80%. he has even gone so far as to align himself with the LED's. i'm pretty sure if i put a tanning bed next to the tank, he would climb out and get in it. literally cannot provide enough light for him so far.

obviously you want to light acclimate him to your system first though.

Thanks!!!!

MondoBongo · Feb 22, 2014

so there is some debate as to what causes pinched mantel disease (aka PMD).

what is agreed upon is that doing a series of fresh water dips in a very specific manner usually have a reasonable degree of success for fixing it. if you're concerned he may have PMD, it would be advisable to get a definitive diagnosis and research fresh water dips for PMD to potentially proceed with treatment.

vlangel · Feb 22, 2014

I also read that pinched mantle disease can be a result of stress. My crocea appeared like he might have had it a month ago and I had just added reef crabs and some were hanging near the clam. They were banished to the sump and the clam has been fine ever since.

Boboe77 · Feb 23, 2014

MondoBongo said:
so there is some debate as to what causes pinched mantel disease (aka PMD).

what is agreed upon is that doing a series of fresh water dips in a very specific manner usually have a reasonable degree of success for fixing it. if you're concerned he may have PMD, it would be advisable to get a definitive diagnosis and research fresh water dips for PMD to potentially proceed with treatment.

Well I don't think I can do freshwater baths because my clam some how attached to the bottom of the sand through 1 and a 1/2 inches of sand

Boboe77 · Feb 23, 2014

vlangel said:
I also read that pinched mantle disease can be a result of stress. My crocea appeared like he might have had it a month ago and I had just added reef crabs and some were hanging near the clam. They were banished to the sump and the clam has been fine ever since.

Ok when I got him his mantle was perky and full. But one I put him in the tank he started getting the PMD. I do have hermit crabs and a urchin, do you think they might have something to do with it? His foot is connected to the bottom of the tank through 1 and a half inches of sand.

fisharefriends · Feb 23, 2014

how do you remove a clam that has stuck his foot on the glass already....

TriggerThis · Feb 23, 2014

A power head usually, just like when trying to get a anemone to move

GHill762 · Feb 23, 2014

fisharefriends said:
how do you remove a clam that has stuck his foot on the glass already....

If it's on glass you can slide a razor under its foot right against the glass, not to cut the threads but to scrape them off . I did this twice with my crocea that kept attaching to the glass in my last tank. Clam is still doing great today in the new tank..

skinz78 · Feb 23, 2014

I don't agree with some of the stuff being said about pinched mantle treatment above. A FWD is only a last resort for treatment and when doing so it may cause more stress making matters worse...

Here is a write up that I did on PMD.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/clams/98140-pinched-mantle-disease-id-treatment-options.html

GHill762 said:
If it's on glass you can slide a razor under its foot right against the glass, not to cut the threads but to scrape them off . I did this twice with my crocea that kept attaching to the glass in my last tank. Clam is still doing great today in the new tank..

I agree with this too, using a powerhead is even more stress on the clam and seldom works.

Here is a write up that I did on clam removal.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/cl...uarantine-new-clams-how-remove-them-rock.html