dying clam?

[MegsB]

i bought a clam a month ago, was a very nice healthy little crocea (i beleave, blue) clam, about 3".

now the nitrates in my tank were up a bit, so i put it in my moms tank (in the sand, so it didnt attatch, until i got my nitrates down, the store had them in the sand so i thought it was OK temporarily)

her tank is a 46 gallon bow with a 250w MH (hanging fixture, with actinics/moonlights as well), she has had a nice crocea clam in there for 4 months and its doing great.

params...
nitrate- 0
nitrite- 0
ammonia- 0
Ph- 7.8
temp- 80*

she tests (and suppliments) calcium, as well as the other appropriate tests (KH etc, not exactly sure what else), and her water is great, everything in her tank (she has lots) is growing like mad.

anyways my clam in her tank stopped opening fully 2 days ago, and there was a 1/2" hole opening up inside, and today her 2 peppermint shrimp were all over it so it was closed, my tank was ready for the clam (nitrates down to, or close to 0) so i picked it up to put it in a container and there is a big hole in the bottom, looks like mushy white stuff inside, i beleave where the foot is supposed to be, i think it is dying? i put it in the rocks in my 65 (with 250W MH) to see how it does.

ETA: i tried to search function for similar threads, but it never works for me (always says server to busy)

 

[acrodave]

Clams need a little bit of nitrate in the tank as food or depending on how many fish u have. They will use the fish poo for food.And the shrimp all over it means it is on its way out . They should not have any mushy white stuff on them

 

[MegsB]

the 46 it was in had 6 fish in it...
purple firefish
mandarin
flame angel
2 spot goby
flashers wrasse
springers dottyback

could being in the sand for 4 weeks have done it in? i just dont understand, the tank is doing beautifully and is well maintained with good water quality and MH lighting, and the other clam is amazing (in there for 4 months).

im afraid that you are right and there is probably no saving it, i think it is dead, but i would like to get an idea as to why?

 

[acrodave]

no the sand would have not hurt it . In the wild clams live in sand rock and in corals. Putting them in the sand lets you move them later with out being attached

 

[ROB2005]

Did you check for any pyramid snails that may be on it? They are clam killers you know.

 

[a4twenty]

i would be very suspicious of the flame angel, they are known clam nippers. from the sounds of it ( clam not opening, then the hole ) something was nipping at the clam, then the clean up crew came in to do their job.

i know it seems odd that he went for your clam and not your moms but there is no guarantee that he won't in the future, especially now that he has a taste.