clam in trouble...

[gp2]

I came home from work today to see my clam completely withdrawn into his shell with the shell open. He is not responding to light or touch at all. I have 2 other clams that look fine. He is in with a variety of LPS/SPS/fish that all look fine. The only thing I can come up with is that I had a new sea urchin die about 6 inches from him yesterday/today. Is he gone? Is he doomed? Man, I am so depressed about this. Checking parameters now...

 

[gp2]

http://<a href="http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd468/gp2do/?action=view&current=IMAG0156.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd468/gp2do/IMAG0156.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[firebirdcrzy]

I would sadlly say, that clam is a gonner.

 

[gp2]

he actually does respond if I touch him, but I agree it looks bad. I got him about 2 weeks ago. He looked fine when I left this A.M. params:
pH 8.4
temp 78 F
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0
Mg 1380
SG 1.026
Ca 380
kH 9.0 dKH

 

[moliken]

critters?
check for snails?

 

[gp2]

critters?
check for snails?

could not find any... He is now dead:sad2: On retrospect his mantle was never that extended. Certainly, nowhere near as extended as my other 2 clams or other clams I have seen (although this guy was at least twice their size.) I have much more to learn. I just cannot figure out what I could have done differently. He may have not been in good shape when I got him? It sure seemed to happen suddenly. Such a magnificent animal...

 

[billrob71]

Sorry

I lost a prize tear drop few days ago with on reason at all, mantel got light and simply started to shrink. About 20 other clams in my system and all others ok and nothing was around it at all.

 

[bglegs]

I had the same thing happen to me a week ago fine one and the next day retracted. I could not figure out why.

 

[mscarpena]

Id agree something was up with it. No new growth on the shell at all. Hard to say what happened, but if it never was fully extended I'd say it had some sort of an issue when you bought it.

 

[ssavader]

So many nasty things can happen to a clam and never be realized- I agree that pyramidal snails and parasites and crabs, etc. should be considered, but this looks like a case of advanced Pinched Mantle Disease (PMD), which is caused by a protozoan. A 30 minute fresh water dip can actually save some infected clams if caught early enough, but the best advice is to NEVER purchase a clam that is not fully extended. Put down a deposit and check on a potential purchase for a couple of days. Check the bysal gland for pyramidal snails, then acclimate slowly.

 

[gp2]

really appreciate all the feedback. I wish I had taken some pics when he looked better to compare and see if it was pinched mantle. That really makes the most sense. I assumed he just needed some time to acclimate and then he would extend more. Just ordered a clam book that one of the stickies recommended, and researched like a mad man on pinched mantle. Does anyone dip their clams before putting them in a DT with other clams? or do you QT? or just go for it?

 

[gp2]

Id agree something was up with it. No new growth on the shell at all. Hard to say what happened, but if it never was fully extended I'd say it had some sort of an issue when you bought it.

What does new growth on the shell look like?
thanks,
Greg

 

[moliken]

look at the white beneath the mantle i this thread
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1947741