Another clam in distress

[Eric the half-bee]

A clam that was doing well upto today now looks like crap. Parameters are pH 8.1, temp 79.0 F, Ca2+ 400, near 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates. Other clams in the tank look fine. Only recent changes- I've been feeding fish 5-6 x/week including sea veggies, brine, and frozen and treating ich that only manifested on my tangs with garlic. No visible parasites on shell or inside of the affected clam. See pics.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Here is a view of underside...

 

[skinz78]

Sorry but that clam is a gonner. What is your alk, and mag? What fish and inverts do you have?

 

[Eric the half-bee]

That was my gut feeling skinz. It did well for 3 months and seemed to crash overnight. I don't measure mag and alk runs 10-11. Other animals - pair of maroon clowns, 5 firefish., pair of janns' pipes, mandarin, railway slider goby, chevron, kole & naso tang. 3 anthias, yellow blenny, niger trigger, assorted cleaner shrimp, 2 fire shrimp, 3 emerald crabs, sally lightfoot , various red & blue legged hermits, cucumbers, 2 serpents and 2 sand sifting stars.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Skinz, should I remove him right now from the tank or see what happens?

 

[skinz78]

Well here goe's, your suspects are your tangs, blenny, trigger "especially the trigger", cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp, and the crabs. I would say somebody was picking at the clam and stressed it. You probably won't see a fish picking at the clams, they know when you are watching. How many other clams do you have and can you post pic's of them?

You should be checking your mag too, but the cal and alk look good so it should be good also.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

7 other clams from 2.5 inches to 5 inches. You are correct about not seeing any animals harassing the clams. I can take pics and post them in the next few days. Thanks for the help.

 

[Drachs]

I'm not an expert, but I've read on the forums here that when the mantle recedes from the shell like that that it's already over.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Skinz, here are pics of 6 of 7 of my clams. Due to the tank size, I cannot get overhead shots so frontal shots will have to suffice. Also, I used the flash so the mantles retracted from the light. All of the clams have their mantles nicely displayed.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

More pics. Pics aren't displaying in my text. Click on the hyperlinks.

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/67d/67dd42b611ad8b3384990593441e9787.jpg?ts=1210209334

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/670/670a943168ff5a1ab4c6b0e34d11aa2c.jpg?ts=1210209382

 

[quicksilverq]

Yep Hes on his way out.

 

[skinz78]

The last crocea pic looks like it may have pinched mantle to me. Can you get a clearer pic?

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Here ya go, skinz.

 

[skinz78]

The crocea not the derasa