Clam acting weird

rydr119

Member
So the clam I have had the longest the other day wasn't open. I picked it up to get a good look and make sure nothing was bothering it and didn't see anything. I placed it back down and within 10 minutes it was open like normal. So I figured maybe something was on it that I couldn't see and now its gone .Yesterday open like usual. Today not open again. So I again picked it up and looked even harder this time and I didn't see any snails, feather dusters nothing.Its still firmly attached to its flat rock, and it still reacts to shadows. I did however notice what looked like microscopic black dots on the shell just below where the mantle would extend over. So I placed the clam into a small bowl w/ RO water and took a tooth brush and gently brushed the whole, shell. I gave the little guy a good rinse and put it back into the tank and its open like normal. Is what I saw some kind of egg possibly thats bothering my clams. All others are open and acting normal.
 
My fish include the following
1-blue hippo tang
1-2 bar rabbit fish
1-baby blonde naso
1-tomato clown
2-Lyretail anthia
1-bi-color blenny
1-green watchman goby
1-long nose hawkfish
1-Copperband butterfly

My params are
Ca-470
Alk-10
Nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia all zero
pH-8
Temp-78.6 Always
I can get a pic tomorrow when the light come back on
 
bi-color blennies are known to nip at clam mantles, i would sit back from the tank and watch the blenny. occasionally a CBB can bother them too but my money is on the blenny.

you could also try covering the clam with half a pop bottle with some small holes for flow. this will usually tell you if he is being bothered by a fish.
 
The blenny can't go down to where the clams are. He and the watchman are fierce rivals and stay far from each others territory. I have had the blenny for 2 years and have never seen it anywhere near the clams. Doesn't mean it can't happen of course. I will be keeping a close eye on the little guy.
 
i would also watch the hippo, the rabbit fish and the butterfly. if you going to brush the clam i wouldn't do it in RO water, just use some tank water
 
So the clam has been open all morning, but I did notice the CBB closer then I find comfortable near the clam. I think the CBB may be trying to get stuff off the shell and its bothering the clam. Of course when I get close to the tank it swims away. I think I may have found the culprit.
 
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