Gigas mantle receding

[ellisz]

Hi all,

I have a Gigas that is about 3-4" and has been in the tank for about 2 months. I have a 2x250 MH w/ 2x54 T5 actinics on my 75 gal tank.

I was cleaning the tank wall yesterday and tried to move the clam back away from the glass a bit. It has been moving itself up towards the glass even though that is not where I initially placed it. It seemed to have attached itself to something under the sand as it would not move. I did not force the issue once I noticed it seemed to be attached. Today the mantle receeded into its shell. It is still opening and closing and my shrimp are leaving it alone at this point. Will they do this if stressed? Can they come back from this?

I tested my water tonight and found my alk to be a bit low- 2 meg/L but Ca tested normal at 410.

Any ideas?

 

[Julio]

What are your mag readings? Just let him go where he pleases, thsi way you can find out which is the place where he is happiest.

 

[ellisz]

I don't have a magnesium test kit. It seems to be shriveling up but the clean up crew has not taken after it yet.

Thanks

 

[Julio]

do you have any other clams in the tank that are doing this?

 

[ellisz]

No that is the only clam I have. It has shriveld up to almost nothing. I can't believe nothing is going after it.

With clams placed on the sand bed, are you pretty much stuck with where they want to go? I had a Crocea that I placed on a rock but I thought the Gigas would like the sand better.

I lost the crocea about a month ago but it was never quite right from the LFS. It was stressed there and in hind site was a bad purchase. I had hoped to rescue it.

The Gigas opened great and had a nice mantle extension. It has added about 1/2" in new shell since I have had it. I guess my trying to move it did it in

 

[ellisz]

Weird thing. The clam has completley released itself from the shell and it sitting in the bottom of the shell but the bysal is still attached? I can't just lift the shell out?

 

[Julio]

sounds like yoru clam is gone on to better places.