Clam pic!

[Dr. Beer]

For the 14th try...


Here is a pic of my T. squamosa. The picture isn't a good representation of the colour of my clam. It is actually a golden/rust colour.

Also, would this be considered gaping? It has gotten a bit wider every day since I got it last week. Other than that, colours are great, it is opened up nicely (maybe too wide?), mantle is out fully and it responds well to all stimuli.

 

[Dr. Beer]

OMG IT WORKED! W00T!! FOUR HOURS OF TRYING TO POST THIS PIC AND IT IS FINALLY UP! YAY!

 

[cromax]

Cool clam.

Nice pic.

Good reaction to stimuli is a good sign. Your clam could be gaping, but I find that many clams exhibit behavior similar to gaping on occasion, so it is probably nothing to worry about. I would be concerned if he had mantle retraction beyond the shell rim and excessive incurrent siphon dilation.

Happy Clamming:bum:

 

[Dr. Beer]

Got a reply from Anthony Calfo concerning the clam. I'll put it here in its entirety as a reference for everyone.

eh his replies won't post here hmm

Hmm ok basically he says that based on his experience with thousands of clams the clam is gaping. He says tying it shut (as was mentioned in a post here quite some time ago) is a weak idea at best.
So hopefully I won't have to chalk this up as a loss but from all I have read it isn't likely to live. *sigh*

 

[Peabody]

No no no, wait wait wait! Have you already tied the clam shut? I would reccomend untying it if so. My understanding is that TRUE gaping is when the adductor muscle is damaged and non-functional. The clam loses the ability to close the opening and also the shell. Your clam does NOT look like that to me. Is he still light reactive? Can he still copen and close his shell?

Many clams have their own unique personalities. A rare few (particularly croceas) spent long lives happily "gaping" their incurrents away.

In my little opinion, I WOULD NOT tie that clam together! If he loses the ability to close his shell, then yes, his adductor muscle needs to heal. But, that doesn't look like it to me.

 

[holeinone1972]

Don't give up. Gaping is a sign of stress. Wether it be from shipping, sickness, bad water conditions, parasites or other things. It does not mean certain death. Squamosa'a are tough lil clams too. Is it new? What elso lives in your tank that could be bothering it? Are your water parameters ok?

Rob

 

[Dr. Beer]

Ack no I haven't given up! That is not in my nature.
The only reason I am concerned about the gaping is that it has gotten progressively worse since day one. I'll attach a horrible picture of it taken 12 hours after placement in my tank. I had just turned on one of the 10k bulbs. If you notice (it is hard to tell) the upper left side of the inhalant siphon is rolled back, missing if you will. Looks like something took a bite out of it. Nothing did that of course, it just has that appearance. Every day after that it would progress to the state in the picture yesterday. The progression is what concerns me.

Eh the picture won't post surprise surprise...

I think the shipping must have been rough. The box arrived in good order but I looked at it again two nights ago as I was putting it into my closet (I keep such things for several reasons) and noticed that the lid of the styrofoam was mashed in some. I am guessing they placed it upside down or jostled it around quite a bit during shipping. I know in the course of one night the package was loaded/unloaded some 4 or 5 times.

Parasites? I've counted 9 pryamidellid snails so far, and brushed those off with a toothbrush along with an orange mass on the bottom. I have stayed up two nights in a row watching for predation - none at all. Everything leaves it alone. It has two commensal shrimp living in it, but they don't bother it.
Water is fine and more importantly stable:
temp 79F, NH4 - 0, NO2 - .07 (bioload increase with addition of clam and six line probably caused a small spike, it is usually 0), NO3 - 1, Ca - 410-450, dKH 12.5-14 (hard to read colors), pH 8.15-8.2 night and day, PO4 - .13, SG 1.024.

Hmm from my understanding Peabody true gaping is anytime the clam cannot keep its inhalant siphon closed, prevent its syphonal mantle from stretching or effectively contract its adductor muscle.

Thanks for the replies and advice! I've asked all around concerning this. I find it better to get more than one opinion on any given subject, so if someone I've asked for advice privately or elsewhere reads this please do not take offense.

 

[holeinone1972]

Well the 9 pyramid snails are a bad sign. Did you have them in your tank? Or did they arrive with clam?

Make sure that before you introduce any clams or corals into your reeef, inspect very closely for parasites. A little time before can save hours and hours of time later.

Rob

 

[Peabody]

D'oh! Dr. Beer: I meant adductor muscle, not byssal organ. Sorry about that. (Edited my earlier post)

 

[Dr. Beer]

Nope never had any pryam snails. They came on the clam. I didn't see any when I introduced the clam. Trust me I learned to check.
If the clam dies I will wait 3 or 4 weeks minimum before trying another to make sure all the snails are dead. Unless they decide they want to suck on my snails... *sigh*