clam seperating from mantle

[reefrider]

i got a deresa last thursday. i have noticed my cleaner shrimp walking all over it and picking at it. now i noticed the meat is seperated from the mantle. does that mesan death is immenent (sp). why does this happen?

 

[Peabody]

Sounds like it is dead/dying. A cleaner chrimp will go after a dead/dying clam.

Take it out and give if a whiff...you'll know if it's dead. If it is, take it out of your tank ASAP...you don't want that sucker decomposing.

Now you need to figure out whay it died. First, what size tank do you have and what lights? What are your water parameters and other tank residents?

 

[reefrider]

my tank is 75 gallon
4" dsb
2-175w 14k mh
2-110w vho actinic

nitrate 2.5ppm
phos 0.1ppm
ca 500ppm
alk 9dkh
ph 8.2


tank residents
yellow coris wrasse
2-percula clown
yellow watchman goby
2 scarlet cleaner shrimp
2 fighting conchs
1 cucumber
1 serpent star
blue leg hermit
astrea snails

 

[Travis]

Sounds like your parameters are good. I would guess that the clam wasn't healthy to begin with before it entered your tank.

 

[Peabody]

I would think that too...sounds like your equipment/paraneters are fine. Better luck next time!!

 

[reefrider]

thanks for the reply and help

 

[reefrider]

HE IS COMING BACK!!! HE IS OPEN WIDE UP AND ABOUT 3MM IS LEFT OFF THE MANTLE. LOOKING REALLY GOOD!!

 

[Peabody]

GREAT! Keep us posted!

 

[Peabody]

Oh, and one last thing...make sure he is free of pyramid snails. Best of luck!

 

[reefrider]

Final update. The clam looks great and has laid down a layer on the mantle. I guess this clam would be an exception to the normal clam fatality. Thanks for the help!

 

[SeaView]

I think having your tank params right on the money was a contributing factor. A stressed clam in a less than perfect environment usually won't make it