Laura D
Premium Member
I have a derasa clam that I have had for two or three years, and has always seemed like a healthy, growing clam. Was very small when I got it, now it's about six inches from end to end.
The other day I saw that it had flopped over, as if it's shells were not hinged together on the bottom. The shells were not lining up the way they usually do so the rippled edges meet. I set it upright and propped it up with some rocks and it expanded nicely, it is even trying to expand when it falls over. I have to upright it about once a week. I made it a little "corral" of rocks and extra deep sand, this seems to work the best, but after a few days it's shells become misaligned again and it falls. I think the rocks I am using are to small and they get shoved out of the way as the clam settles.
Does anyone know what the heck is going on? It seems healthy as far as mantle expansion, no gaping, has that nice ridge of new shell that growing clams do, it just can't stay upright.
This is in a heavily skimmed tank that has thriving sps, Lps and a very few softies. My calcium has been at only about 390-400 for a while, having trouble keeping up. It was on the sandbed, about one inch of southdown, although the little bed I made it is about three inches. I have three 175 watt MH and a lot of VHO actinic. Tank is 80 degrees all the time. I add home grown phyto a few times a week. I have a refugium too.
The other day I saw that it had flopped over, as if it's shells were not hinged together on the bottom. The shells were not lining up the way they usually do so the rippled edges meet. I set it upright and propped it up with some rocks and it expanded nicely, it is even trying to expand when it falls over. I have to upright it about once a week. I made it a little "corral" of rocks and extra deep sand, this seems to work the best, but after a few days it's shells become misaligned again and it falls. I think the rocks I am using are to small and they get shoved out of the way as the clam settles.
Does anyone know what the heck is going on? It seems healthy as far as mantle expansion, no gaping, has that nice ridge of new shell that growing clams do, it just can't stay upright.
This is in a heavily skimmed tank that has thriving sps, Lps and a very few softies. My calcium has been at only about 390-400 for a while, having trouble keeping up. It was on the sandbed, about one inch of southdown, although the little bed I made it is about three inches. I have three 175 watt MH and a lot of VHO actinic. Tank is 80 degrees all the time. I add home grown phyto a few times a week. I have a refugium too.
