1.5 inch Maxima need help ???

[jacko]

Hello,

I bought a 1.5 inch maxima last Friday. Here is the picture I took on Saturday:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=362404&highlight=maxima .
IT seems to be doing okay. I plucked out the xenia as people recommended. The clam attached (still loosely) to the shell I put under him. I had been feeding DTs by putting him on the sand and covering him with an inverted coke-bottle. But I was told to stop moving him -- just bomb the tank, so I don't bug him.

My question is -- I have not seen him open during this past week more than what is in that photo -- IS THIS A WORRY?

I had expected him to open more.... and when the lights are off, he opens a little less than what you see in the photo.

 

[this is me]

whats your Calcium and alkalinity level?
Ca should be +400ppm
and Alk should be +10dkh

 

[Reefcherie]

Re: 1.5 inch Maxima need help ???

But I was told to stop moving him -- just bomb the tank, so I don't bug him.

My question is -- I have not seen him open during this past week more than what is in that photo -- IS THIS A WORRY?

I had expected him to open more.... and when the lights are off, he opens a little less than what you see in the photo.

Hi Jacko,

I certainly am not in agreement with whomever told you to stop moving the clam. It is a common practice w/ clams that small to move them to a bowl w/ phytoplankton to target feed them. The amount of phyto you'd have to bomb the tank w/ would undoubtedly cause algae problems you'll regret later. If the little guy is attached to a shell, your feeding hat method could work or remove it (carefully to keep the attachment) to a bowl w/ tank water covering it, add enough phyto to tinge the water green (not too much) and let it feed for as long as it takes for the water to clear. Since you want to keep it warm during that process, I usually put the bowl upon the center brace but not directly under the lights. You'll need to keep target feeding frequently until it is about 3" in length.

Is it possible you have a Pohnpei maxima? They often don't open as fully as other T. maximas do or take longer to do so. Just a thought. As this is me mentioned, your water quality is also critical for full mantle display.

Cheri

 

[jacko]

thanks, cherie, for the advice.
alkalinity is a little lower than I'd like (2.4 meq/L).
and Calcium is okay (425 ppm).
I have no idea if it is a Pohnpei.
I was told not to move the clam at all because the disturbance irritates the clam and these small maximas are so so dellicate.
thanks for giving me an idea of how my DTs to add to the water (the tinge only). I was adding too much. And when you say often, do you mean every day, every two days, or once a week? thanks. hopefully 3 inches comes quickly. I really want to make this clam strong and healthy.

 

[Reefcherie]

Here's a tidbit on feeding from Dr. Ron Shimek that you may find helpful:

How can you tell if your clams are getting enough food?

First off, they will be actively growing. Tridacna grow rapidly if well fed, and if they have enough calcium in the water. Second, you will see them actively defecating fecal mucus rope segments. If you feed DTââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Phytoplankton or some other live plankton, you may be able to look into the clams mantle cavity, through a siphon, and see the mucus covering the gills actually lightly colored with the color of the culture. Dead, off the shelf, chemically preserved phytoplankton cultures contain mostly cellular debris and the clams will reject most of this material as it is both the wrong shape and the wrong size.

Even small clams require a lot of algal food, without which their chances of survival are marginal. Many aquarists have had the experience of keeping Tridacna alive for a few months after which they mysteriously die, after seemingly "doing well." Well... they havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t done well, they have slowly starved to death using up all their energy reserves and finally dying. All of these deaths - ALL OF THEM - could have been prevented by adequate feeding with good phytoplankton.

What is the optimum frequency for your size clam? I'm not sure but I'd go for every day or every other day and observe carefully - looking for the signs he mentions.

Best of luck!
Cheri

 

[jacko]

The photo is down in the linked thread, so don't bother looking. But, I can say that the clam is not opening much, still. I am a little worried about that. The good news is that he seems to be eating and excreting. And perhaps even growing a little.

Someone offered this suggestion to me, and I am writing to ask if anyone can support or deny this hypothesis. He said that perhaps the clam was kept in the sand previous to being shipped. And therefore, he is not able to open much. This would also acccount for the entirely white shell upon arrival. Ever heard of this? Also, he said to me the clam could have been dipped in something to make it bleached white....this is obviously a very bad thing, has anyone ever heard of this?

thanks, jack

 

[Reefcherie]

A photo would certainly be helpful. A 1.5" clam has a very small mantle (hence the inability to use photosynthesis for most of its needs - not enough surface area). When you say "not opening much" it is hard for us to judge if the is less than normal for a clam that size or not.

Many clams are kept in sand prior to shipping - that isn't unusual since there is no desire to get them to attach to something prior to shipping. I don't understand the connection to that and not opening much.

I've never heard of someone attempting to bleach the shell of the clam white. People often take a soft toothbrush and gently clean the clam's shell w/o any problem. If the little guy seems to be responsive to motion, feeding, is excreting (a sure sign of feeding) and you see new growth those are darn good signs IMO.

Cheri

 

[jacko]

Here is the photo

Here is the photo

Here is the photo

Do you think the maxima is opening enough?

 

[Reefcherie]

Hi Jacko,

It sure does look like that little guy has a lot of shell. I am wondering if it is from Pohnpei. Is the clam responsive to shadows? Does it feed and excrete? If the answer is "yes" to both those questions and you are feeding frequently enough, I wouldn't worry too much. I've been led to believe that less mantle extension on some thicker shelled clams is normal.

Your clam is a beautiful color!

Cheri

 

[jacko]

thanks, cherie, I agree, it's a beaut, and I want to make sure I am keeping it healthy. It dies eat, and I think it excretes - slime mostly, not always brown -
It seems to have a small ridge of new growth since I put him in 3 weeks ago.
and great reflexes to shadows.

 

[jacko]

here's a better shot

 

[Reefcherie]

Growth, feeding, excreting and responsiveness = healthy IMO. Keep up the good work with it!

Cheri

 

[brc0488]

to feed my baby max which is on a rock i use my vacume. it fits perfectly and only lets out little ammounts of phyto. gives enough time to eat and not choke it or anythig