Clams Questions...

H

Herbert T. Kornfeld

In Memoriam
I ordered the 'ultra-grade crocea 2.5"-4" a few weeks ago when they were offering them at a $30 special. I ordered 3...but they were out. They did get them in and shipped out my order....BUT...Fed Ex really bungled it up. First, instead of overnight, due on the 14th, there was a hold up in indianapolis and they didnt get to me until the 15th. On top of that, when I called for the package tracking, and told them what was in the package, they told me that they would track the package and give me an update. In their brilliance, they decided that they should do me a favor and put the package in the COOLER to keep them until today....WTF?!!? I told them that was a boo boo. anyways, after telling them multiple times just to return the package to sender, they left the package on my doorstep, without even a signature taken. Long story short, after 36+ hours in a box and who knows how cold before they pulled them out temps...they are in a 5 gallon bucket now (1 gallon water), in an 80degree room, with a 60gph powerhead, and a PC fixture over. I will post pics later.

My question is...will they make it? They arent tore up from the floor up, but their water was pretty dirty, and they dont look in the best shape I have seen... How can I tell if they are gonners? How long until I know for sure? Is my holding procedure a smart idea (just a bucket? Maybe I will throw a couple chunks of LR and some macro in there for filtration)? What can I expect?
 
heres a look. They have all come out. FWIW the 'mouth' on the left one is opening and closing...sometimes quite a bit....but the other two have their mouths just gaping wide open.
 
it was about $130 with shipping from what I remember...today, the small one on the left seems most active and 'whole'. When I walked near the bucket he let out a blast of water that hit me in the belly three feet above!!! his 'mouth' seems to be more active. The other two seems less active. Sure, they open and close, but rather slowly...w/o water jets!

Now, forgive me, as I am new to clams, but tell me...what should I be checking? The foot? the mouth? the mantle? Some bysal thread thingie (could someone explain?)? FWIW, the center one, gold color one, has some really big chunks taken from it's mantle. So far, it just seems like the smaller one on the left is doing better...but am I missing something here?
 
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I knew some mod would see the 'foster&smith' in the thread title and try moving this thread. Hey, MOD, move this thread back into the clam forum so I can get some help! The only thing that has to do with a vendor here is the fact that I bought them from one. this is not a vendor feedback...it is a plea for help from my clams!!!
 
Ten -four on the move! you my need to repost. I would get them into your main tank, they need the MH light and they do look fine considering!!! keep a eye on them. (as if you wouldn't)
 
I'm not an expert and I've only had one clam die so I can't offer that much advice.

But, do you have any shrimp or nassarius snails in the tank? They will usually seek out anything that is dying. If they are leaving the clams alone it's probably a good sign.
 
Herbert T. Kornfeld said:
I knew some mod would see the 'foster&smith' in the thread title and try moving this thread. Hey, MOD, move this thread back into the clam forum so I can get some help! The only thing that has to do with a vendor here is the fact that I bought them from one. this is not a vendor feedback...it is a plea for help from my clams!!!
Click to expand...

I moved it back to the clam forum, and changed the title for you. :D

Personally, the clams look good, but I'd get them in the main tank (that's where conditions will be best for them, right? ... not in a bucket).

Also, have you followed up with Drs F&S to let them know of the shipping problems, just in case?

FWIW,
Kevin
 
I agree with getting them in the main tank and if they look any worse for wear call drs foster and smith immediately and let them know, i did with something that i bought and they gave me credit to my account, if nothing else let them know all the problems with the shipping, you paid for next day not 2 day.
 
Well, I have been on the phone with LiveAquaria since day 1. See, I bought the clams a few weeks back cuz they were on special. On the day I was supposed to get them I got an email saying that my order couldnt be filled but would be as soon as they got more in. Well, I had to coordinate their shipping with when I would have a day off again, so I called them up and told them to call prior to shipping to arrange a ship date. They didnt. Instead, two weeks later I got an email telling me that my order had been shipped and would be there the next day...when I was at work!!! I called liveaquaria to complain, and then my boss, who was pretty cool and understood. So I waited at homethe next day for my box. The FedEx truck stopped across the street...I ran across to check...the driver said no box for me. I checked the online tracking again. It said in bold print "held in Indianapolis,IN" as of 4am. Crap. I called FedEx to confirm and tell them my situation. They said my box was delayed and would not arrive until friday. They offered to do a package tracking, and call me back when they found my clams. They did call that evening, telling me that they were keeping them in a FREEZER!!! I told them to just ship the box back to sender...I figured 48 hours in a box and then a freezer would be it. I had called LiveAquaria a few times already. They already had offered me a replacement by then too.

The next day I went to work, and called LiveAquaria to tell them about the freezer incident and me just sending the box back. They checked the tracking and told me that it was prepped for delivery that morning! I told them that the clams were beyond doomed then, as nobody would be home and the clams would end up held through the weekend! They of course tried to get me to have somebody to receive the package, but that was impossible. I called FedEx and they said they had not been able to reroute the box in time but would ask the driver to return the box to sender then....yeah, right. A whole receiving station couldnt reroute my box, what confidence would I have that a single driver would? But I had to try...

I got home that day to find a box on my porch...cooking in the sun. Funny, I thought someone would have to sign...not like I left a message waiving my signature or anything. But they left them anyways.

So I opened them up to find clam soup. LiveAquaria is going to reship the order to be due on wed...my next day off. They also require the bodies back they said, but the prepayed return shipping labels wont arrive until later this week...or maybe even later. I was going to just leave the bodies in the bags, but LiveAquaria said I would have to drain the bags. I figured why not see what I was going to get anyways...??? And I opened them up to find they werent as bad as I thought. So I have payed for 3 clams...and I will have 6 by wed...and then have to kill these to send back as I thought they were already dead....unless anyone has some dead 4" crocea bodies I can send back instead. LOL.

The truth is that the small one might make it. He can send a jet of water almost 4feet out of the bucket! It's mantle looks in good order and it's using it's foot. The other two are very lethargic. The middle one has large pieces of it's mantle missing. I cant tell if it is continuing to loose pieces, or if I am just noticing prior damage now.
 
Well, today I was going to put just the small clam in the main tank. As I still dont want clams crapping out and disturbing the rest of the system, but I agree that a bucket with a 36wattPC isnt enough... This is my plan. I took a spare 10gallon. I plumbed it into the main tank (with a sponge on the outlet to capture the mantle chunks before crapping up my main tank) and put a large flat chunk of LR in it. I also hung a 150wattDE MH above it. This should keep give them a fighting chance...although the gold one looks really tore up at this point.
 
I'd want more than just replacements. It's absolutely ridiculous that you should have to miss work and deal with reshipping etc.... My time is money and I can't stand when it's wasted because of others mistakes.

Some vendors just have a lot to learn as far as customer service goes.
 
Are you saying that the three look substantially worse than in the photo above? If not, I think you really need to rethink euthanizing them because there is no reason to kill these clams. With all they have endured, they are survivors. You should be honest with the vendor, since the truth is bad enough.
I've only lost one clam, but was shocked to see how much of a non-event it was. The shell was shiny and clean the next morning and there was no issue with water quality whatsoever.
If the clams don't survive, F&S should replace them regardless, but I think the clams in the photo look like they should be fine once they are in better conditions. $0.02
-Ron
 
Mr. Kornfeld,
I'm not sure how cold was the place where Fedex cooled your clams, but if the temp didnt get too low and the dudes at Live aquaria know how to pack, there should not be any problem.

Clams that comes from Solomons or for Vietnam go through much longer periods packed, and sometimes un-packed.

I would not leave them in a bucket for so long, as soon as you see they are living and not severly gapping , I'd slowly acclimate them to the tank or to a proper Q tank, and keep a close eye on'em.
The bucket wont be enough.
 
Put them in your tank. The bucket will not be enough. If the clam die, you can alway pull them out after death.
They looks fine to me. 48 hr shipping should be OK as long as they are well in the first place.
Minh
 
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