Gaping or just open (healthy)

[awestruck]

I have a new baby crocea and it seems very happy. It is open and getting pretty strong water movement. I saw that someone else had asked about gaping, so I was wondering how to tell if a clam is gapng vs. just opening. TIA

 

[a4twenty]

clams some times hold their incurrent siphon open more when acclimatizing to a new tank. the crocea is also known to hold theirs open more than other clams under normal circumstances.

here's a link to a thread with a good picture of gapping.

HTH

 

[awestruck]

Mine looks almost identical to the first picture. So, does the first picture represent my clam being happy and healthy? Also, it attached to a rock after 2 days. TIA

 

[awestruck]

I just went and looked at my clam more closely; it is not receded and it is moving because of the water movement. It is under pcs until next week when I get my t5s back. At the store it was under very weak light so now I have it about 3/4 up on rock. Last night I dosed phytoplankton. No pics right now, sorry

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10343872#post10343872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by awestruck
Mine looks almost identical to the first picture. So, does the first picture represent my clam being happy and healthy? Also, it attached to a rock after 2 days. TIA

happy as a clam

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10343943#post10343943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by awestruck
.... it is moving because of the water movement.

clams don't like a lot of direct flow, a little movement is ok but he shouldn't be flapping in the current.

 

[reefkoi]

Gaping is when the clam's shell is open but the mantle drawn in.
That's the best description I can think of.
You'll know when it happens cause usually the next day or within hours it's all over and you have no more clam

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10354717#post10354717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
Gaping is when the clam's shell is open but the mantle drawn in.
That's the best description I can think of.
You'll know when it happens cause usually the next day or within hours it's all over and you have no more clam

YES. An overly opened incurrent siphon is not a telltale sign of gaping- so many people think it is. I have seen countless healthy clam with their incurrent opened extraordinarily wide.

The telltale (and usually fatal) symptoms is when the abductor muscles atrophy (or the adductors seize), and the clam cannot close its shell, the mantle withdraws (with no place to go), and occasionally the tissue seperates form the shell.

 

[awestruck]

Thank you all for your responses!