Hole in between siphons-PLEASE HELP!

[Westpat]

Folks,
My two crocea clams have been acting up for the last two weeks. It initially looked like something was nipping at the mantle, and now both of them have a hole in between the two siphons. The one with the larger hole is not opening as much and seems to shudder from time to time. I have spent most of my day watching the tank and I have not noticed any of the fish bothering the clams. I have not introduced any coral or live rock for at least two months, so is there something that could have been in the tank that long and is now burrowing into both clams?

I inspected the clams for snails last night and have looked inside of them as best I could today. They seem to be still fairly healthy, so I want to diagnose and attack the problem before it goes beyond help.

I welcome any thoughts!
David

 

[Westpat]

Here is a picture of the one with the smaller hole, and the one that is opening better.

 

[Westpat]

Here is the other more affected. You can see the hole somewhat.

 

[Fish-o-holic]

WOW. Sounds like you have some sort of predator in your tank. Do you have any hermits, crabs, etc? Many a mantis? All this occurred within two weeks? Did you add anything new recently maybe a hitchhiker was aboard.

 

[SaltwaterSensei]

whoa, thats crazy! I would think they is some sort of preditor doing this. Did it seemingly happen over night? like one day its fiine the next theres a hole? or did it progress into a hole starting off small?

I hope this doesn't result in death...:-/

 

[Westpat]

Unless my new Lawn mower blenny brought in some pyramid snails, they have been here all along and just decided to strike. I found some tonight when I checked the tank after dark.

Any suggestions for eradication would be great!
Also, now that there are some in my tank, am I forever doomed in the clam department?

Looking for a cure,
David West

PS, I saw what looked like a cut a little over a week ago, but the hole just popped up yesterday.

 

[Westpat]

Also, no crabs or shrimp that I know of, as my lunare wrasse would be getting a quick snack!

David

 

[SaltwaterSensei]

you can get a six=line wrasse to help with the snails....

 

[holeinone1972]

If the clams are healthy they can recover from the extra hole quickly. But if you have pyramid snails, the clams are going to stay stressed and not recover.

 

[Whisperer]

I had similar event happened to my maxima, two holes in between the siphons!. Took about 5-6 days to completely heal both. I continued to feed with phytoplankton and lots of light (placed it on top of the rock, closer to the light), and moderate water current. Hope yours do fine too.

 

[Westpat]

I have had them isolated on the substrate for the past few days, in tupperware bowls. They are healing nicely. I got them up on the rock tonight, adout 10" from each halide. Each one is directly under a halide.

Thanks for the encouragement!
Holeinone, nice stuff, I hope to do business with you one day!

David

 

[Vili_Shark]

Did you say you have a lunare wrasse?

Besides the hole or can be cause of it, the siphone's too large in the first pic.

 

[Whisperer]

Westpat, how are your clams? Please update us. Hope the holes have healed by now.:rolleye1:

 

[Westpat]

One hole closes and another takes its place, closer to the intake this time. The siphon has always been open that size to half that size since I have had it. I know a lot of maximas or other clams don't open much, but most croceas I have seen open up more than the other kinds.

Could it be a crab of some kind?

Thanks,
David

 

[Whisperer]

I don't think so. Mine is a clawless tank. I don't think any fish can do that either. All I remember is that my water parameter went really bad after adding southdown on top of the existing one. Funny thing is, the older clams (two croceas) weren't bothered, only the new maxima...hmmm, I really have no idea what caused the two hole. All I know is that they are healed and the clam is extending its turqoise mantle (viewed from the top) and rosponds briskly to shadows.