Clam Keeps Overturning Itself

[johnstires]

I've had a clam in my 15G reef tank for a couple of months now under about 90W of PC lighting (recently changed). It was quite happy for a while and dug itself deep into the sandbed. Recently it's upturned itself and I've seen the foot for the first time. It looks a little brown and feathery towards the tip. I posted a pic of it in my gallery, although my digital camera doesn't get too close. Also one of my hermits keeps crawling around the mantle. I have had to bat the hermit away a couple times and I've also had to reposition the clam a few times to turn it up towards the light. Should I keep doing this or should I just leave it alone. It still is responsive. I don't feed DTs but I do feed kent phytoplex once a week. The clam is about 3 inces in length. Can anyone help me understand what is happening.

 

[derrikd]

well he wants to sit up right, try to put a peice of LR under him to attach to. i think he is looking to get stable.. try that, see what heppens

 

[jda]

What kind of clam is it?

 

[johnstires]

It's an aquacultured crocea.

 

[jda]

I hate to be a doomsdayer, but I don't think that it is good sign then. The corcea is probably searching for more light, or getting ready to die.

Croceas and Maximas have a tendency to look good for a while under PCs or VHO and then all of a sudden kick the bucket.

I hope that it comes out of it.

Good luck.

Oh, how are you PH, Alk and calcium levels?

 

[johnstires]

In situations like this is it too late to save it. I could place it back under MH lights at the LFS. Would yo suggest this? I could also place it in a container up near my lights.

I don't usually test the water in my tank as I use the growth of the corals and general well-being of the tank as my indicators. I can test my pH tonite. I have been considering a 2 part calcium supplement. Maybe it's time.

 

[jda]

If it is dying, then it cannot be saved.

If it does appear healthy, I would try and find it a more suitable home.

Clams use a lot of calcium and alk. I would guess that those levels are pretty low if you have never added anything.

 

[Cearbhaill]

Croceas and Maximas have a tendency to look good for a while under PCs or VHO and then all of a sudden kick the bucket.

So is there no way to determine if one is hanging on or thriving?
What if any warning signs would there be if one were failing?

 

[jda]

There is little way to tell how they are doing until they start to die. Once they start to die, they are nearly impossible to bring back under the best of conditions. There is no chance for them to come back under the same conditions that led to the demise.

Some people have seen them grow before they die.

The only way to keep clams is to provide them with idea conditions. Just trying to meet their needs usually does not work. They are not like mushroom polyps that thrive under the best conditions, but still will live in the worst. They need to thrive to live.

As a rule of thumb, if you are not sure if you can keep a clam, then you probably can't.

I with that they were like coral that can give you signs (like SPS being brown and not growing when they aren't happy), but they aren't.

 

[johnstires]

Haven't posted in a while, but my hermits pretty much made the decision for me while I was at work writing my last post. They had swarmed the clam and had devoured a portion of it within those few hours. I guess that's one indicator that your clam is not doing well.

I agree jda, clams do need ideal conditions. I have very ideal conditions for alot of corals, but obviosly not for clams. I thought I had enough light and could supplement by feeding, but was wrong. At least it was aquacultured. I probably won't try a clam again until I have a bigger tank with MH.