Why are all my clams dying!?!?!?

[SkyDoodles]

Ive had my clams for a few months now and they seemed happy and pretty, then all the sudden, starting two weeks ago they started dying.
first was one of my Hippos, then a week later its was my maxima and this morning my Squamosa. I only have one Hippo left and i fear his fate will be the same. I keep checking my water and all my parameters are good...I even went to 2 LFS and had them double check EVERYTHING! I started making a slurry of filter food type stuff adding in a bit more plankton than i had and blending it, when this all started. No luck! My current tank is only about 3-4 months old, it was an upgrade from a smaller tank I had that had been running for a few years with a move in the middle. everything was doing well in that tank and in this tank in the begining...I AM AT A LOSS!!! ANyone have any ideas, i would love to save my remaining clam! And no i dont have any copper or things that could have put copper in it...I tested it and my shrimps, crabs and snails seem to be doing fine.
Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[brmreefer]

Post your lighting and what kind of parameter swings exist with this system (Highest highs and lowest lows) through out a typical day.

Though the parameters are okay, it would be best to post those to aid others in assisting.

I have had a clam take a turn for the worst when I dosed Reef Roids (Not saying it is a bad product becuase I still use it for other applications). I dose heavy phyto only for my clam.

Disturbing them further could add to stress, so try and make changes in a methodical manner.

Wait to see what others will chime in with. Best of luck and hope the issue gets pinpointed.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Clams can be picky. First off, breathe. When a clam turns, not much can save it. They go fast.

Now, how large are the clams? The ones gone and the one still alive.

What do your parameters look like? Especially calcium, Mg, Alk, and nitrate?
What is the pH and temp swing like over a day?
What lighting are you using (if you know the PAR even better)?
Next, what animals are in the tank besides the clams?
Did you qt the clams or check for pyramid snails?
Do you have any pictures of the clams when you got them and how they looked as died?
How long did they take to perish?
What are you feeding the system/fish?

All these can help narrow down some issues keeping clams. Have you kept clams in the past?

 

[SkyDoodles]

Okay so I have attached some pics. I have hydra 28s and as far as the clams they looked good one day and were just gapping open the next with no reflex when I disturbed them. The last pic is my hippo clam... I just took it.

 

[SkyDoodles]

This is my lighting... I don't have a par reader... I had been gradually working them up higher...
Ak 10.4
CA 500
Mg I can't remember, ill have to retest it was 1400-1500 if I remember right.
Ph 8.2
Phos . 07
Nit 0
No amonia and no copper traces
Tank runs 78-79 constant... Electric read out

 

[DeniseAndy]

Thank you for the replies. I see one issue right away. That little wonderful goby can be irritating the clams. Not on purpose, just because the clams are near the burrow and they are babies.

Maxima clams are very touchy as babies (under 3-4"). I have had very little luck getting them much past a year or two if begin under 1" or 2". If they get moved or bothered, they die. Very difficult for us in a reef. I have had to isolate them in own tank and feed and managed to get up to almost 3" before perished because I left for vacation. Very temperamental babes.

The hippopus clam I have no personal experience with. I have raised maxima, crocea, derasa, giga and squammies.

Light seems to be okay. I am not familiar with LED so much. I use T5s and MH on all my systems. Kind of old school that way.

Foods are fine if you are broadcast feeding. Do not directly feed the clams. They do like to have the rocks blown off around them every so often to filter particulates. This is mostly how I fed babies.

If you are a new clam keeper, I would suggest a derasa first. If you get one, get one 3" or larger. They can be more forgiving. Honestly though, my first clam was a crocea and was full grown at about 6" and I had it for almost 10 years. So, these are a good option if you have the light needed. They love light. Derasas can get big as do squammies.

Biggest issue with clams is they hate being bothered too much, need very stable water with good supply of ca and mg. They like good light and fine particulates to eat. The source and handling of the clam is important. They can be doomed from that without any cause from you. Also, if pyramid snails are present, they will kill the clam. I got some on a clam and it killed my 4-5yr (with me - 5") maxima before I found them. I saved the other four clams though. Not fun!

I wish you and the clams the best, but know not too much can be done if they turn. Make sure a fish or invert is not bothering them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

UNfrotuantely, the mantle is receded and the tissue is also receding. Clam need the utmost conditions for survival and I doubt goby was an issue, However if you have seen presence of tulip looking snails (pyramid snails), they would be a cause.
Some things to know and check as to why this is happening:

Salinity not to exceed 1.025
Temp not to exceed 80 deg
alk not to exceed 9
CA not to exceed 440
Moderate water flow
Good lighting
Inspect daily for snails and also and crabs inside its' cavity

Feed Phytoplankton daily

Pyramid snails:

 

[SkyDoodles]

Thank you for the replies. I see one issue right away. That little wonderful goby can be irritating the clams. Not on purpose, just because the clams are near the burrow and they are babies.

Maxima clams are very touchy as babies (under 3-4"). I have had very little luck getting them much past a year or two if begin under 1" or 2". If they get moved or bothered, they die. Very difficult for us in a reef. I have had to isolate them in own tank and feed and managed to get up to almost 3" before perished because I left for vacation. Very temperamental babes.

The hippopus clam I have no personal experience with. I have raised maxima, crocea, derasa, giga and squammies.

Light seems to be okay. I am not familiar with LED so much. I use T5s and MH on all my systems. Kind of old school that way.

Foods are fine if you are broadcast feeding. Do not directly feed the clams. They do like to have the rocks blown off around them every so often to filter particulates. This is mostly how I fed babies.

If you are a new clam keeper, I would suggest a derasa first. If you get one, get one 3" or larger. They can be more forgiving. Honestly though, my first clam was a crocea and was full grown at about 6" and I had it for almost 10 years. So, these are a good option if you have the light needed. They love light. Derasas can get big as do squammies.

Biggest issue with clams is they hate being bothered too much, need very stable water with good supply of ca and mg. They like good light and fine particulates to eat. The source and handling of the clam is important. They can be doomed from that without any cause from you. Also, if pyramid snails are present, they will kill the clam. I got some on a clam and it killed my 4-5yr (with me - 5") maxima before I found them. I saved the other four clams though. Not fun!

I wish you and the clams the best, but know not too much can be done if they turn. Make sure a fish or invert is not bothering them.

What is a peramid snail???

 

[SkyDoodles]

What is a peramid snail???

Nevermind I saw the post with pics...I don't have those!

 

[SkyDoodles]

UNfrotuantely, the mantle is receded and the tissue is also receding. Clam need the utmost conditions for survival and I doubt goby was an issue, However if you have seen presence of tulip looking snails (pyramid snails), they would be a cause.
Some things to know and check as to why this is happening:

Salinity not to exceed 1.025
Temp not to exceed 80 deg
alk not to exceed 9
CA not to exceed 440
Moderate water flow
Good lighting
Inspect daily for snails and also and crabs inside its' cavity

Feed Phytoplankton daily

Pyramid snails:

I purchased that marine snow product...is that pretty good?

 

[sublime275]

Judging by the pictures you provided none of your clams show any new shell growth. That means that haven’t been doing well for a long time. Here is what new growth looks like.

 

[SkyDoodles]

Judging by the pictures you provided none of your clams show any new shell growth. That means that haven’t been doing well for a long time. Here is what new growth looks like.

Ohhh wow, I wonder why mine haven't grown...I was thinking maybe they weren't getting a good diet, so I started trying new things...

 

[vetteguy53081]

I purchased that marine snow product...is that pretty good?

Its ok. . . benefits many coral

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Wait a little while and try a clam or two from pacific aquaculture. They seem to do a Good job on shipping healthy clams.

 

[sublime275]

Ohhh wow, I wonder why mine haven't grown...I was thinking maybe they weren't getting a good diet, so I started trying new things...

There are a lot of variables such as:
Adequate lighting
Adequate and stable parameters ie Salinity, Ca, Mg, Alk
Adequate nutrients ie Nitrates & Phosphates

I personally have never fed my clams. I just make sure all the above are met.

 

[Pistol Peet]

Ive had my clams for a few months now and they seemed happy and pretty, then all the sudden, starting two weeks ago they started dying.
first was one of my Hippos, then a week later its was my maxima and this morning my Squamosa. I only have one Hippo left and i fear his fate will be the same. I keep checking my water and all my parameters are good...I even went to 2 LFS and had them double check EVERYTHING! I started making a slurry of filter food type stuff adding in a bit more plankton than i had and blending it, when this all started. No luck! My current tank is only about 3-4 months old, it was an upgrade from a smaller tank I had that had been running for a few years with a move in the middle. everything was doing well in that tank and in this tank in the begining...I AM AT A LOSS!!! ANyone have any ideas, i would love to save my remaining clam! And no i dont have any copper or things that could have put copper in it...I tested it and my shrimps, crabs and snails seem to be doing fine.
Thanks for the help!!!!

Check for flat worms there is a type of flat worms that eats snails and clams this was my problem.

 

[DeniseAndy]

They demand high ca and mg intake. The swings may be hard if your system is not running any supplements. I keep my clams in a qt without supplements, but do water changes at least once every two weeks. So, this may not be a problem depending. Good luck on the next one.