Clam Question (Urgent)

L

lbv

New member
For the past 2 weeks, my T. Deresa Clam has not been opening much, and seems to open very slightly right now, enough to get the mantle out. I got 2 65W PC 10,000k and Actinic (130W total).

When I first got it, it opened VERY wide and looked nice, now it is not opening fully anymore


Parameters:

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrate / Nitrite: 0ppm
pH 8.2
Calcium: 370ppm
Magnesium: 1280ppm


Livestock:
2 Trachy Geoffry
1 Maze
1 Ricordia
1 Zoo Colony
1 Star Polyp colony
1 pagoda CUP
1 candy cane
Scarlet Hermits
Nassarius and Astra Snails

Nothing is near the clan and the clam is placed in the sand. When ever I try to place it facing vertically it goes back to be laying on the shell (always did this). Could the scarlets be aggitating it? If not what else could be the factor?
 
You probably dont have enough light. I dont know the dims of a 20 gallon tall tank but I really dont think 2 x 65w PC's is enough for the height of your tank. Let me guess, the clam has been in there less than 6 months right?

While Derasa's are considered low light clams, I personally feel you would need to at least double your lighting to keep one successfully.
 
I would pull it out and place it in a bowl and inspect it. I noticed the same happening with my Crocea and Squamosa. What I found were pyramid snails. They are tiny some smaller than a grain of rice. You have to look around and under the clam sometimes to see them. Once I pulled them all off with tweezers my clams opened back up. It is an ongoing process though. The first time I pulled maybe 15-20 off of each clam. Now I pull them once a week and only get 1 or so. They are white and have a cone shaped shell. You will recognize them right away if you have them. I have to use a magnifying glass to get them all. Also my Squamosa used to flop on its side when I first got it. I took a small bathroom tile and cut it in half. I then placed the clam on the tile and pushed some substrate up around the clam to stabilize it. Now it has attached to the tile and does not flop.
 
Clams will live (and grow, though more slowly) under PC, but I second adding some more light. It also would not hurt to examine it or even take it off the sand and set it on rock to allow it to attach. Also, what is your alkalinity and salinity/specific gravity? How much current do you have it in?
 
Is the mantle fully extend? Some clam open fully and some do not. As long as the mantle is fully extended, it will be fine. If the mantle is retract alittle more each day and finally caves in, there is a problem. It seems the clam doesnot like it placement or something is bothering it(you may something living in the sand), so it is trying to move with it foot. This is why it is tipping over. The Scarlet Hermits should not bother the clam, unless it is arleady dead. An expensive meal for them.Your calcium level is alittle low. IMO, I like it around 400-450ppm for clams and stony corals. I agree with everyone else about more lighting.
 
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Doesn't seem like alot of light to me, especially with one being the actinic.

That said though, derasas are a bit more tolerant of lower light.

It laying on its side is definately a bad thing, the mantle won't be angled toward the light and it's harder for the clam to fully open. you can try digging a hole in the sand and then piling some rubble around the clam so it's upright.

You could also try replacing the actinic with another 10 k to increase the par.

While you're fiddling with the clam look for pyramid snails. Turn it over and look very closely along the byssal opening and in the crevices of the shell. If you see any brush them off with a toothbrush in a tupperware outside the tank.

Calcium is a little low but not terrible. What is your alkalinity at?

Good luck!

:)
 
Forgot the MAJOR things to add.

Alk: 8.6dKH
SG: 1.025-1.026

I think I solved the problem, I think my lights were at the end of the line, just replaced them and the tank is almost brighter by 3 fold.

Also Pyramid snales, how tiny are they? I see white bumps on them about the size of the tip of a ball point pen (only like 3), very hard to remove.

Look how crisp the colors are since i replaced the lights 10 min ago (always keep 4 spare bulbs of each)

Before:
P1010002.jpg


After:
P1010003.jpg
 
HA!
Guess what, the clam is opening more, but still prefers to lay on its front.

I usually keep an Excel Grid i printed out of dates of matinence, forgot to fill in the LIGHTING section.

Forgive my emptiness of my tank, working on that, adding about 1 coral a month to avoid problems ;)
 
Also forgot to add, my Calcium levels peek at 370ppm no matter how much Turbo Calcium I add (2grams for 3 days is usual treatment but i did 5 grams in 2 days, and didnt move). Anyone know why, I think Randy is getting frustrated =P. All tests done with SALIFERT

Only current I have is a Magjet 1200 on my Remora Protein Skimmer and my Aquaclear 110. THe Aquaclear is set on the minimum, and it still makes the tank look like Typhoon Lagoon. Its kind of the way I like it set up, one side is lots, and other is minimal. Clam is kind of in the middle.

I have Nasarrius snails in the sand, don't know if that will bother it. Still not the same as it was before... heres what it looked like when i first got it:

IMG_0149.jpg
 
If Randy doesn't know, then I have no clue. I am glad it is doing better. If you still see a problem, try placing it closer to the light--besides, rock happens to be this species' preferred substrate.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6585709#post6585709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
besides, rock happens to be this species' preferred substrate.
Click to expand...

Derasa's like the sand actually. Maxima and Croceas are rock boring clams but Derasa's should definitely be in the sandbed.
 
Don't know if this helps, butI had a cleaner srhimp about 3 months ago, and left the clam alone until it was feeding time. And picked at it, as soon as it did this I put it in my10 gallon tank.

It seems aggitated because one side of the clam is folded over (not inside, but almsot as if something nipped at it). This is what it did when the cleaner picked at it. I forget what that little thing comming out of the calm is (the tube), but since I added the new lights its no longer flappy, but long and full. Good sign?

Also could the sign of low light being the Stometella Slug/Snail comming out when the lights on?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6585503#post6585503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jasper24
I would pull it out and place it in a bowl and inspect it. I noticed the same happening with my Crocea and Squamosa. What I found were pyramid snails. They are tiny some smaller than a grain of rice. You have to look around and under the clam sometimes to see them. Once I pulled them all off with tweezers my clams opened back up. It is an ongoing process though. The first time I pulled maybe 15-20 off of each clam. Now I pull them once a week and only get 1 or so. They are white and have a cone shaped shell. You will recognize them right away if you have them. I have to use a magnifying glass to get them all. Also my Squamosa used to flop on its side when I first got it. I took a small bathroom tile and cut it in half. I then placed the clam on the tile and pushed some substrate up around the clam to stabilize it. Now it has attached to the tile and does not flop.
Click to expand...

Jasper24-The same thing happen to me. I purchase a Squamosa clam and there were they liitle rice size snails. I called the LFS where I purchase the clam and told me to use a very soft tooth brush and brush them off into a separate contain. I was lucky, this was done before the clam was place into my tank. The LFS state that six-line wrasse would eat these snail. I also read this in "The Reef Aquarium Vol. 1" by Delbeek and Sprung. I currently preform a visual inspection of any new clam before they go into my tank. it is woorth the extra work.
 
Derasas prefer the sand.

Do try very hard to get your clam upright. It won't do well long term laying on its side like that.

:)
 
Ibv-Your photos of your clam looks fine to me, except he is not upright. He looks open and the mantle look fully extended.
 
Yes I had a 6 line for about 6 months until he jumped one day. If you have small white objects on the clam pull them off with tweezers. With a magnifying glass you will be able to tell if they are cone shaped snails or not.
 
Update:
I did notice these small things running inside of my clam as I picked it up, they Ran/ Swam very fast. 1 came out in a small tub so I picked it out. Don't know if there is anymore.

They were almost clear, had antennas, and looks liked like a little spine at the end of it. Could this be a problem?
 
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