clam dying? need help saving it please!!

[sabazerehi]

i got this clam yesterday from a friend and it's not looking well. it's somewhat reactive, able to close its shell. but it looks like it's missing some of its mantle on one end and it's mouth looks like it's gaping. it does still have its foot, and i moved it a little yesterday and some of its foot was hanging out (if that makes sense) i'm hoping this means it was trying to attach to the rock, although i can't be sure.

here are the best pictures i could get:

the first pic, the mouth is towards the bottom and hopefully you can see how open it is

<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz330/sabazerehi/?action=view&current=IMG00329-20101024-1005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz330/sabazerehi/IMG00329-20101024-1005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

the second pic shows the missing/receding mantle

<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz330/sabazerehi/?action=view&current=IMG00328-20101024-1005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz330/sabazerehi/IMG00328-20101024-1005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

i have a 60g tank, w/ 6x39 w t5s, the bulbs were just replaced 2 weeks ago. and i've placed the clam in the top middle of the tank.

i'm planning on going to buy some live phyto soon to feed the clam. anything else i can be doing to increase the survivial chances? or am i just overreacting lol.

thanks so much!

 

[preef]

I'm not a clam expert by any means but your clam looks fine to me. I'd just leave it alone. Can't go wrong supplementing some phyto.

 

[James404]

an open mouth is normal for a clam especially when its been recently moved, if you can see the substrate through the hole then that would indicate gaping. I would just let it be and see how it does.

 

[cakemanPA]

No need to feed anything to your clam...

 

[Toddrtrex]

I would check at night for any "tentacles" coming from that LPS -- could very well be stinging the clam.

 

[Alysiak00]

i would check at night for any "tentacles" coming from that lps -- could very well be stinging the clam.

+1 ^

 

[mike_cmu04]

I dont think it is dying either likely being stung.

 

[NYCBOB]

u said its gaping? can u see through it to the rockwork? if not, then its not gaping. also, the mantle looks open. moving it will only stress it further.

 

[sabazerehi]

i can't see through the rockwork, and i won't touch it anymore, it's not being stung in my tank, possible in the previous tank.