Help! Clam Turning Orange!

[hgbarwick]

I have had this beautiful purple clam in my 90 allon for about a year. He was doing great. On Wednsday I left for Thanksgiving holiday. When I cam back today he had turned orange. Their are still some spots of purple but mainly a dull orange. I will get a pic tommorow as my antitic lighs are on right now. Does anyone know what this is and how I can treat it? Thanks.

Hgbariwck

 

[a4twenty]

you need to post your water parameters with the picture if you can.

what type of clam is it?, what type of lighting do you have? how old are the bulbs? where is the clam in the tank? was anyone watching the tank for you? does he react to shadows?

plus anything else you can think of

 

[mbbuna]

were your lights left on by chance?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Or did your temp get too high? that clam has launched it's zooxanthellae. It may recover, but first find out what caused it. Probably an abnormal parameter. I am guessing either light or temp.

 

[ezcompany]

i want an orange clam!

 

[hgbarwick]

Thanks for the replies. No I don't think the lights were left on, I have them on timers. My params are fine since my las visit to the LFS who tests them. But I will test them again to make sure. The bulb has been running for over a year now. I will try to get a pic tommorow as I got home late today and the antitques are on.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630980#post8630980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hgbarwick
The bulb has been running for over a year now.

the general consensus on MH bulbs is that they last for 8 - 12 months with 12 being the extreme. what k are the bulbs and how long do you have them on per day?

 

[jay24k]

Certain bulbs yes. I ran my XM 10K's for 18 months with no issues. Granted the new bulbs did lighten the corals for about 2 weeks some. I would recommend 12 to 16 months on XM to be safe and probably 12 or less on 14K or higher temp.

Many of your 20K bulbs need changing out in 9 months.

 

[Elite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630890#post8630890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ezcompany
i want an orange clam!

Me too

 

[slojmn]

I have an orangish clam...I designer named it "salmon maxima" . It is actually really cool looking, especially form the top down and it came like that, healthy as can be.

I'd agree, your clam expelled its zooaxnthealle and needs really good water params to recover. Something was amiss while you were gone.

 

[hgbarwick]

i will do a massive water change. will that help?

 

[slojmn]

Massive might not be in your best interest. A regular water change would be a good idea and if you run carbon you may want to get a new batch in there. Have you figured out if anything happened? How is everything else looking?

 

[metalManiac]

lets see that orange clam slojmn.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8643564#post8643564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hgbarwick
i will do a massive water change. will that help?

i guess that would depend on if there is a problem with the water. did you get it tested? or are you guessing?

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8647648#post8647648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by metalManiac
lets see that orange clam slojmn.

if you got to his web page there are a couple of pics of the salmon clam :spin1:

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8643527#post8643527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slojmn
I designer named it "salmon maxima"

its a Crocea

 

[slojmn]

Actually the one on the left. more golden brown is a crocea and the lighter one on the right (the "salmon maxima") is a maxima. The picture of the maxima one is a bit washed out but it is really orangish salmon colored. This ID is per Barry at Clams Direct who I believe knows the difference, but I suppose he could have made a mistake. The clam shell has the characteristics of a maxima so I am thinking it to be a maxima.
I'll try to get a better picture when I get home tonight. I think I can get the color to show up a bit more.

And for the record...chick here, not a "his"

 

[mbbuna]

no big deal, just thought you would like to know what you haveif this is the clam in question, it is a Crocea



BTW. i know Barry well, ive had a few long conversations with him

 

[mbbuna]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8618149#post8618149

 

[scapes]

great explanation mbbuna...thanks!