Can someone help me save my clam please!

[Stoney Mahony]

Its not the lighting, I keep 2 croceas, 1 maxima and a gigas in my 35ish hex under 1 x 150w 20k hqi. I have had all clams for over a year(the maxima for 1.5) and they have put on substantial growth. I hate seeing stores selling 3"-4" croceas for $60-$80 when there wholesaling at $10-$15 ea...freakin crazy.

Also...people hate hearing it but as long as your rock is cured, temps are stable and parameters are in check, it shouldnt matter how old your tank is. I have added SPS and clams within the first month of setting up new tanks and they thrived. I have also worked with the construction of tridacna aquaculture facilities that are not using NSW, and they introduce clams within the first month. It is too expensive to have a large system/operation running for sevral months to "age" it into stability. With the proper equipment, this can be done in a very short period. It ALL has to do with water quality. Also IMO, the first pic looks fine and is not displaying characteristics of "gaping". Sorry for your loss.

 

[Lake75]

I've seen healthy crocea gapping for no reason (they tend to do this more than other clams), but they never looked so wide as your first pic shows, which is almost like a big circle. So, I agree that your clam didn't start very well at all.

I also agree with Stoney that tank ageing isn't something necessary to keep clams as long as you have a stable and healthy tank. Several months back I transferred the contents of my 30 gal into a brand new 75 gal and added more LR. I didn't experience any ammonia spike and every parameter looked good. So I added my first crocea (2.5") just 4 weeks after the upgrade. Now it's been 4 months. The clam is very happy and has got 3 new growth rings on it.

 

[Melkor]

Yes for real, if that's how the clam was gaping on day 1, then it was already on it's way out the door.

 

[Zoom]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8327557#post8327557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lake75
I've seen healthy crocea gapping for no reason (they tend to do this more than other clams), but they never looked so wide as your first pic shows, which is almost like a big circle. So, I agree that your clam didn't start very well at all.

I also agree with Stoney that tank ageing isn't something necessary to keep clams as long as you have a stable and healthy tank. Several months back I transferred the contents of my 30 gal into a brand new 75 gal and added more LR. I didn't experience any ammonia spike and every parameter looked good. So I added my first crocea (2.5") just 4 weeks after the upgrade. Now it's been 4 months. The clam is very happy and has got 3 new growth rings on it.

Yes that is correct about the tank don't need to be age to keep sea life in there if you have the Experience but many don't so we tell them to slow down that will give them some time to get to read and talk and come to RC and get some knowledge.
As for the clam yes many croceas gap when we first put them in our tanks but after a week or two they should get better if not the clam is on the way out.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I disgaree. Ive seen MANY MANY Croceas where the incurrent siphon is very exaggeratedly open, as in the firts photo. That is not gaping. Gaping is when the shell adductor muscles atrophy and the sheel open wide when it should not.

Also, clams do not die "for no reason". There is a reason, we just dont see it! Crocea, may be more prone to gaping, as perhaps they are more sensitive, but there is always a reason. To be honest, Im still leaning toward parasite, or sudden fluctuation in salinity, temp, etc.

 

[TWallace]

Was your clam shipped to you or purchased locally? I've heard most clams are gaping after going through the stress of shipping. I ordered 3 croceas from Clams Direct about 3 months ago and all 3 showed up gaping, but have since recovered.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I have never seenj or heard of a clam recovering fom gaping. what symptoms did you see TWallace? If we are talking about the incurrent siphon just open wide, that is not gaping- at least in the terms I am considering.

 

[derekman]

yeah man, sorry. that clam was doomed the day you got it. when you choose a clam, make sure it is already living under MH lights and that the mantle is "floating" in the water not puckered at all...
Clams are pretty tough though, they will tolerate a bit of nutrient build up, and my derasa didn't really acclimate in my tank cuz the bag fell in.... ooops, doing great though!!!!

 

[MarineGirl411]

I think his clam looked good when he got it. From what I've seen and heard croceas open quite a bit more than Maxima's, deresa, etc. I have a crocea that opens quite a bit more than that at times and he's doing great.

 

[popsock]

That's a lot of differing opinions!! Who's right please? ;-)

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10595431#post10595431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by popsock
That's a lot of differing opinions!! Who's right please? ;-)

what exactly are you asking about.