Help my clam

[Charlie Davidson]

I use R/O water, heated to same temp as aquarium, let them set25-30 minutes, return them to tank. look in the dipping container, there might be an unwanted critter or 2. The cost might be your clam-----either way. You have tried other things for 2 weeks. FYI, The 2 clams I dipped, opened soon after putting them back in the tank and were fully open the next day! Good luck to you, whatever choice you make.

 

[bhujang]

Charlie Davidson

What crittors did you find in your ro water after dipping?

cheers

Bhu...

 

[Charlie Davidson]

1 brissal worm, one small snail, green goop the he "coughed-up" on one of them. Snail was a good kind. one clam had nothing, the one that died also had spit out alot of green goop. I belive it was dead phyto or stuff blocking its feeding. Don't know for sure. and hey that is a pertty one you have showing!!!

 

[bhujang]

Thanks Charlie Davidson

Yes sure its a beaut... grew 1.5 inches in 1 month then had real bad pinch!!! Satarting to recover now, I havent done a fresh water dip just doing some research first. I did get another deresa clam in the last 2 weeks to see how things would be, it was really healthy at the LFS, I introduced it over 6 hoyurs with a drip method and it was fine the first week, but I am sure its mantle is starting to go wavey as if its tending toward pinch... I could be paranoid but I do hope its not the same problem. I do have brisstle worms one of them a monster! But from late night vigils and checking around the mantle I havent seen a worm or snails on them. Im just hoping they will "toughen up" and cope with what ever is bothering them in the tank.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Smart thing, R/C is the greatest!!!! keep reading!! I hope the best for yours!!!!!! monitor your water. do not do Fw dip untill? sorry, do not have aswer for that? I need to read/ learn more! Marines are Very hard to Keep- My dad an brother are one!!!

 

[bhujang]

Sure I wont be FW dipping at all....

He is slowly recovering and getting better as the days go by, what ever is irritating hiom he will have to learn to live with... I think he will be fine now. Had me worried for a while though...

 

[banzai75x]

Well I dipped him. 25 minutes in RO water. I saw a bristleworm in the bucket. All curled up. Only .5-1" long. That was pretty much it. Some dirt and other stuff.

The clam was gaping after I put him back in the tank. It's been 24 hours now and he is back to what he was looking like before the dip. His mantle is not fully extended but at least his exit syphon is perking up again. Before it used to be a hole and no "spout".

 

[bhujang]

Maybe the bristle worm was agrevating the clam? Mine is slowlt getting better on its own, what ever had caused its pinch is either gone or the clam is getting used to it and coping. I still fear the FW dip...

 

[Charlie Davidson]

banzai75x, my telling you to look at what was left over was to help me and others to better understand- most/ alot of the people do not have anything. I am glad you understand, I hope the best for your clams.

 

[Foster]

What is pinching, and what cuases it?

 

[bhujang]

platapus that seems to be the million dollar question... Could a number of things, from water conditions, nutritional deficiancy, parasites or less likely an actual disease...

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Platapus, I am not trying to give a short answer- but- go to the bottom of page and do a search- pinching- very good reading- I hope this helps, SOME seem to have become experts on this very quickly!

 

[banzai75x]

Update: Just wanted to let everyone know that my clam is doing ALOT better. His mantle has re-extended over the sides of the shell again. He is almost fully extended except for a small part by his mouth.

I also moved him to different spot in the tank which gets a little less flow. He seems happier there and hasn't jumped or moved in awhile.

Maybe it was that one bristleworm that was causing so much pain for this guy.

 

[bhujang]

banzai75x what type of clam was it again? COuld you see the bristle worm anywhere before the FW dip? If it was a maxima it may have been in the shell fins... Just wondering where the bristle worm was!?

Glad to hear that yours is getting better... My first Deresa clam is also recovering from the pinch, it did loose some of its zooxanthae algae cover around the pinch. I recently bought another deresa...after 2 weeks same pinch again... still not sure whether to do the fw dip or wait it out like the first one that recovered...