Clam Help Quickly

[zach202]

Ive had a Crocea clam for about 2 months now. Lately hes started to not open fully so I moved him from the sand to the middle of the rock work. Ive got 760watts on a 90gal so I know my lighting is fine. When i did this I also pulled a small rock (about an 1") off of him, Im worried I hurt him by doing this. Now a few days later he is open but his mantel is inside of his shell. This morning I investigated it further and bristle worms are all over his inside bottom. Ive tried to get the bristle worms off of him.

Is this the issue or are they eating a dieing clam? Is there anyways to save him?

The water tests fine and Ive got SPS and all other types of corals along with anemones in the tank, everything else is still fine.

 

[a4twenty]

Re: Clam Help Quickly

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9620249#post9620249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zach202
When i did this I also pulled a small rock (about an 1") off of him, Im worried I hurt him by doing this.

you probably damaged the byssal organ when you pulled the rock off the bottom.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9620249#post9620249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zach202
Now a few days later he is open but his mantel is inside of his shell. This morning I investigated it further and bristle worms are all over his inside bottom. Ive tried to get the bristle worms off of him.

this is not good and is probably a sign that he is dead. the worms are just cleaning up the mess.


sorry to hear

can you post a pic?

 

[zach202]

2 hours after removing the bristle worms I just checked again and the brittle worms are still gone, although his mantel is still far in. The bristle worms out of control (along with star fish) in my tank so they would have found him again if they wanted to. Of course the lights are off also.

 

[zach202]

I'll post a pic when the lights come on.

 

[a4twenty]

when you pick him up to look dose the clam react? can he close his shell?

is there any way you could protect the clam from the worms? i have a large Tupperware that i can place on the bottom of the tank and put the clam in it. should stop stuff from coming in through the bottom.

 

[zach202]

He does not react today when I pick him up. The weird part is that early yesturday he looked better than he has in some time, his mantle was almost all the way out, then yesturday evening he started going downhill.

The tupperware is a great idea! Do you think the worms are eating a dead clam though? Or are they eating a live clam?

 

[WayneY]

Sounds like he could be dead. I've never seen bristle worms attack a live clam but they will sure clean a dead one out pretty quick.Sorry for the loss.