Máxima Clam Receeding

[Andrewrckt]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a maxima clam on Saturday. I acclimated it and scrubbed the exterior shell with a brush. It has some pyramid snails in it and some Astria starfish, but they came off.

it looked great yesterday but came home from work today to see it look off (see pict).

many recommendations? It still responds to stimuli, but nervous.

water parameters are good:

PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Phosphate: 0.25
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 79

ca: 440
Mg: 1400 (little high)
Alk: 11.9 dKH

I am going to do a 25% water change just in case. I checked the base of the clam and around it for snails...did not find any

 

[Fishy212]

Anything attacking it? What else are you housing? Any visible damage to the mantle?

 

[Andrewrckt]

Anything attacking it? What else are you housing? Any visible damage to the mantle?

No damage from what I can see. I have a wrasse, 2 clowns, scooter blenny, damsel, some turbo snails and hermits. I haven’t see anything bother it.

 

[Neo Jeo]

When the hole is that big, that’s a bad sign. You can make a shadow over it with your hand, if it responds then that’s a good sign.

nothing you can do really. Feed some phytoplankton could help.

 

[Fishy212]

Did you light acclimate the clam?? I would be cautious of over exposure of light especially if it’s just getting used to the new conditions.

What kind of lights are you pumping? I would try moving it to a less lighted area and observe.

 

[Andrewrckt]

Did you light acclimate the clam?? I would be cautious of over exposure of light especially if it’s just getting used to the new conditions.

What kind of lights are you pumping? I would try moving it to a less lighted area and observe.

I have reef breeders on about 60% on blues for 4hrs.

I just moved it in a shaded overhang to see if that helps. Did not respond to shadow, but lights are fairly dim already. It did respond to me moving it.

 

[Fishy212]

I hope moving it helped it a bit. Just be aware of your hermits, they will definitely attack it if the clam is weak and can’t defend itself.

 

[Andrewrckt]

I hope moving it helped it a bit. Just be aware of your hermits, they will definitely attack it if the clam is weak and can’t defend itself.

He opened fairly wide under the overhang and shading...mantle is still sunken in...

 

[Fishy212]

At least it’s in a better spot than it was just a few hours ago. At this point there is not much you can do besides moving it and changing the lighting and flow conditions. I would not even try to feed it at this point.

Hope, observe and report back , let us know if it survives.
Hoping your clam pulls through. Good luck!

 

[vetteguy53081]

If sunken in the morning, try a 2 minute freshwater dip.
Additionally, they do not favor strong water flow if present. Lighting appears adequate. feed filter feeding foods. I use Liquid reef by Brightwell.

 

[Andrewrckt]

If sunken in the morning, try a 2 minute freshwater dip.
Additionally, they do not favor strong water flow if present. Lighting appears adequate. feed filter feeding foods. I use Liquid reef by Brightwell.

Freshwater dip?

 

[Poseidon's Reef]

any update? curious how the clam is doing, fingers crossed for you!

 

[Uncle99]

0.25 is a bit on the high end for phosphate, especially when nitrate is 5ppm
Should be around 0.02-.1
Not sure the clam would do that though....looks attacked.....to me.....wrasses?

 

[DMG Reef]

Your parameters are fine. That clam is on its way out though. It should have a ring of bright white at the top of the shell to indicate new growth. I always ask the LFS to make a clam close up so I can verify new growth before buying it.

Fresh water dips are effective if the clam isn't too far gone. And even then, it's used for certain ailments. FWD won't do anything for starvation.

With the lack of new growth, this clam has probably been slowly starving to death in subpar conditions before you got it.

 

[DMG Reef]

I made my Maxima close up to show you the white ring you want to see on a new clam in order to know if it's healthy.

 

[Andrewrckt]

0.25 is a bit on the high end for phosphate, especially when nitrate is 5ppm
Should be around 0.02-.1
Not sure the clam would do that though....looks attacked.....to me.....wrasses?

I am using an API test kit, so 0.25ppm is the lowest threshold for phosphates, so I would err to say that phosphates are detectable but maybe as high as 0.25ppm. It is hard to say as it is between 0 and 0.25 according to API.

 

[Andrewrckt]

any update? curious how the clam is doing, fingers crossed for you!

I deemed it a lost cause this morning. Time of death 11:35am. It will now become fertilizer in my garden unfortunately. Really bummed as this was my first clam and it died within a weekend.

 

[Lithoman]

Sorry to hear... wait awhile and try again someday. I would invest in a better po4 kit.