Clam not opening up properly

[seabea]

Hi

I have a large Maxima clam I have had for a year and a half, over the last few days it is not opening up properly the mantle is sticking right up during the day but not falling over the shell there seems to be one area of the mantle that is more retracted than the rest, kinda as if it was folded over and caught in the shell underneath this part of the mantle is quite white coloured but I can't see anything predatory, the clam has been overgrown around the edges a bit with some mushrooms could these be the problem? although until recently it just used to open out over them, the problem is I can't get the clam out to have a look it is wedged in between two rocks and obviously I can't pull it out I noticed this morning as well that before the lights come on one of my cleaners (but none of the other 3) was pestering it a bit

I was wondering if any of the hitchiker crabs I have has had a go and done some damage although up until now they haven't shown any sign of picking on anything in my tank

Any help would be most appreciated as I have had this clam for a while and don't want to lose it

Cheers

Carolyn

 

[toptank]

I know you don't want to hear this but you need to try to get those rock moved and get him out. It isn't going to get any better the way it is.

Barry

 

[reefrunner69]

I know you don't want to hear this but you need to try to get those rock moved and get him out. It isn't going to get any better the way it is.

Barry

I agree , it needs to be done. To answer to the reason it isn't opening, it is very likely the shrooms, it is a violent reef out there and if the clams mantle is blocking the light they will bite back. You may get away with removing the shrooms for now, but eventually having the clam wedged between the rocks will cause problems related to opening as well.

 

[carolyn]

Hi, thanks for your replies

There is no way I can move the rocks as there is lots of stuff around the clam and I have heard that cutting the byssal gland isn't really a good idea? that's the only way I could MAYBE get him out if so how would I go about it? I'll check out my Daniel Knopp book and see if it mentions how to remove them I had a good investigation yesterday and removed what looked like a couple of predatory snails (tiny white ones like grains of rice) but couldn't see any more one thing that did alarm me slightly was a tiny little bristleworm was in between the scutes, the mantle is still coming out slightly ie just over the shell in all but one area where the mantle isn't coming out at all I do think there is some kind of damage to that part but because the clam is keeping it inside I can't get a good look, the one cleaner shrimp still seems to be pestering the clam and sits on top of it all the time but he doesn't appear to actually be trying to "eat" it or anything.

Even if I do manage to get the clam out, if the damage is where it appears to be on the mantle and the clam pulls itself shut how will I see what the problem is anyway any ideas

Anyway thanks again for all your help

cheers

Carolyn