Flame/Flasher scallop help

[BigRedSpecial]

four days ago I bought a flasher scallop from the lfs. I read up on them before hand and figured I could keep one fed by target feeding phytoplankton.

He was carefully acclimated(drip for several hours), and quickly moved into a crevice. Up until this morning, it was doing fine; fully open, tentacles extended, and flashing a lot.

This morning he was fully open, but the tentacles seemed to be retracted somewhat. Thinking there wasn't enough flow in the crevice, I moved him to another spot.

Now, his tentacles are fully retracted, and he seems to be on his last breath.

In people's experience, is this behavior normal? if not, what could cause it? water parameters are normal and stable, and there are no predators in there that I know of.

I can post a pic if it will help.

 

[jcgso]

I hate to say it, but he's more than likely not going to make it. The decorative scallops rarely make it in an aquarium, not even with target feeding. It's too bad they are even sold to hobbyists.

 

[BigRedSpecial]

That's not what I was hoping to hear, it was such a beautiful animal in the 4 days I had it:rolleye1:

Goes to show you can never research enough... I had read about them from at least 6 different websites, and one book, and never heard a single mention of them being fragile beyond starvation.

I'd still like to know exactly what is happening, he turned so fast(within 8 hours).

 

[jcgso]

It sounds like something with the water prameters. they don't usually go that fast. have you checked all your levels?

 

[BigRedSpecial]

I haven't checked since last week; I'll test and post again

 

[BigRedSpecial]

well, the scallop is dead. All water parameters were fine according to my test kits(pH 7.9, NH3, NO2 and NO3 all zero). All corals are doing fine and are fully open, so I have no idea what could do him in in less than 18 hours.

That was $25 that would have been better spent on lotto tickets

 

[taillonjohn]

$25 for a scallop is too much. I usually see them at $10. But anyway, I've seen a few posts where people have managed to keep them alove for 2 years, but the general experience, including mine, is that they last about 5-6 months, then die. Basically, our tanks are just too "clean"... meaning not enough filter food in the tank for the scallop to live off of

 

[BigRedSpecial]

$25 may seem like a lot, but keep in mind I'm in Newfoundland and livestock is expensive(due to completely ridiculous shipping costs... about 40% more than shipping to Halifax for dry goods; I shiver at the thought of shipping live goods here).

I assumed I could keep one alive by target feeding it with phytoplankton; I have no idea what happened here.