Calling all clam experts

MrMikeB

MrMikeB

New member
All,

Can anybody provide some advice on a clam issue I am having below? Thank you in advance...

Background:
I have a Tridacnid clam, approx 3-4" that I purchased about a month ago (along with another clam, which is doing just fine). It has been responding well to the new environment from what I can tell. The mantle shows no sign of bleaching, and the clam is regularly open and responded to shadows.

Problem:
Just today, I noticed the mantle to be severely retracted (approx 3/8" inside the actual shell opening. The bottom, which is typically thin is actually a thoroughway looking down from the siphon hole. I noticed this when I peered in and saw a hermit inside the clam (it looked like it was inside, but was on the sand below it and 'fell' out when I picked up the clam) The clam does not respond to much, and in fact I can pick it up without it closing up - not something I was able to do before

I did notice yesterday it had wedged itself in between a couple rocks (for no more than one day) and was not able to visibly expose the actual blow hole (I am sure that's not the right term). not sure if this has something to do with its ailment, but I thought I would mention it.

Action:
I removed the clam from the tank and added him to a QT tank where it is now in the same condition.

Question:
Is there any hope for this guy? Where did I go wrong? What should I do now?

I can try to post pics later, but I really would like any advice you can give me now if there is a remote possibility of saving this guy.
 
Do you have a pic yet? Can you describe what the edges of the shell (the teeth area) looks like?
 
Here is a pic... cannot get a good angle on the nano, but it give you an idea of what it looks like.

img_5346.jpg
 
Probably not going to make it, sorry. Typically clams start to have issues from the foot upwards. The hermit may have been picking away at a previous wound or something which would allow you to see it through the openings of the clam. Thankfully, they're all aquacultured! Unfortunately money is not aquacultured...
 
Hey Mike

Clams have approx the same environmental requirements as SPS. Rock steady alkalinity, very low phosphates, MH lighting, etc.

What are your alkalinity and phosphate readings?
 
My phosphates are a little high (phosban reactor inbound), at about .1-.2 ppm. Alkalinity is buffered through the use of Reef Builder, and is kept around 9-10kdh. I run dual 250 MH, plus 4x 55W PC Actinics 03, all controlled via AC3 unit which has been a godsend in terms of lighting and temperature stability. Tank size is approx 150 gallons and has 2 powerheads at 600gph ea, plus return pump at about 1100 gph (I believe).
 
How long have you had your tank set up? I forget what you said, sorry. I wouldn't recommend clams nor SPS in relatively new tanks. It's kind of a grey area what exactly is being established as a tank ages, but I imagine it's still an issue of bacteria growing that control more micro nutrient processes relative to the nitrogen cycle. Do you get coralline algae growing on your glass?
 
I thought as much and pulled it out yesterday... those pics are in the QT. I noticed my ORP reading on the AC3 plummeted, which prompted me to start to look in the first place. After pulling the clam, the ORP is slowly climbing back up (although I have to admit the ORP probe is like black magic to me at this point, not sure exactly how something dead affects available oxygen).
 
Hey Mike & Tristan

I'm with Tristan, clams and SPS don't do well in new tanks. In fact most things don't do well in 4 month old tank. I'd wait until your tank is at least a year old before trying clams again. Even then, they are, IMO, harder than SPS.

FWIW - its great that you're monitoring alkalinity. It is one of the most critical settings. Phosphate should be below 0.03. On the flip sode, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but at .1 to .2 you are three to six times above the max for phosphate senstive animals, like clams and SPS. The only test kit I'm aware of that that reliably tests phosphate is the Rowa phosphate test kit. Unfortuntely, it costs around $80 and is rumored to be going up.
 
I have been battling the phosphate for a bit now - realizing they are way too high. I did not (until recently) have RO/DI unit and was pouring in the PO4 from the water supply. My test kits are all Salifert which seems to at least be consistent. The new Phosban reactor should be arriving shortly, and I am moving to a new tank with a built in refugium where I plan to grow macro algae to consume this stuff. I too think I was a little premature on the clam purchase, but was informed that with the setup I had, it would be fine. I still think that was good advice, just did not account for how good 'I' am an maintaining stability.

So do you think this was simply a matter of bad water quality? I mean to deteriorate so quickly, no bleaching, no signs of malcontent that I could pick up on.
 
It's likely that the clams been on the downhill the last couple of months. I'm only guessing though, as the lack of new shell growth is indicative of that. Phosphates is a major inhibitor of calcification, which might be why the clam didn't grow.

I'm not 100% on that, though, as the shell has plenty of coralline, which means that calcification was taking place. It could be that the clam was already sick, and just couldn't compete with your other clam and corals for calcium.

Could be a number of possibilities. Sorry it died :(
 
Are there indicators as to the optimal time to ad a clam to a recently set tank? Having never kept a clam but wanting to, when can I say my tank is ready?

Thanks,

John
 
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