I need Tear drop help please!

[Fanatic]

I purchased a 4" blue teardrop 3 weeks ago. It did fine for the first 2 weeks, but for the past 4-5 days, it hasn't expanded at all. I've looked for irritants, snails, etc, but I'm not seeing anything. It's sitting in the sand, underneath a 250w 10k XM mogul bulb, and water params are as follows:

PH 8-8.3
salinity 1.026
temp 81-83
calcium 400
alk 10 dkh
mag 1250
amonia, nitrite, nitrates, phosphates not detectible(all tests are salifert)

Please help, I don't want to loose the beautiful specimen.

 

[Hooligomy]

Has the clam attached or set foot?

Also how many inches is the clam from your 250 MH?

Do you keep your salinity at 1.026 normally?

 

[Fanatic]

Has the clam attached or set foot?

Also how many inches is the clam from your 250 MH?

Do you keep your salinity at 1.026 normally?

1) It's sitting in about 5" of sand, nothing to attach to at this time.

2) About 24"

3) Yes

 

[Hooligomy]

I usually find that the teardrops seem happier as rock dwellars (off the sand). However, had luck with them in both positions.

Has anything else changed in the environment? How are the other corals/clams doing?

 

[Fanatic]

I have been acclimating the tank to new bulbs(went from 10k ushio to 10k XM) over that past 2 weeks(sorry I failed to mention that). Maybe it doesn't like the lighting change?

 

[hwynboy]

I have 4 teardrops and I put them all in the sand. I usually put something for them to attach their foot to a couple inches under the sand. But I have noticed that they do not always attach... I have had mine for close to a year and 2 of them are attached and 2 of them arent. But they are all doing fine.

My suspicion is that the 250s are not enough light to penetrate through the 24 inch depth. I would go with 400's or move them higher up in the rockwork. IMO I dont think they are getting enough light.

 

[Fanatic]

I have 4 teardrops and I put them all in the sand. I usually put something for them to attach their foot to a couple inches under the sand. But I have noticed that they do not always attach... I have had mine for close to a year and 2 of them are attached and 2 of them arent. But they are all doing fine.

My suspicion is that the 250s are not enough light to penetrate through the 24 inch depth. I would go with 400's or move them higher up in the rockwork. IMO I dont think they are getting enough light.

Thanks hwynboy. But if it isn't getting enough light, wouldn't it be spreading it's mantle out as much as possible instead of closing up?

 

[hwynboy]

actually no. When a clam is happy the mantle is spread all the way...when they do not receive enough light they actually close up as they are not happy. That's what I have noticed IME anyway.

 

[Fanatic]

actually no. When a clam is happy the mantle is spread all the way...when they do not receive enough light they actually close up as they are not happy. That's what I have noticed IME anyway.

Then onto the rock it goes! Do you suggest a certain depth?

 

[hwynboy]

I have 400watts above my new 24 inch tank...and my clams are ok but I had them in an 18 inch tank and they seemed better there...so I would say about 12-18 inches would be optimum but that's JMO....

 

[triggerman71]

teardrop

teardrop

JMO but your temp. is on the high side. I keep mine at 78-79. And my calcium around 410-420. Also teardrops are the most sensitive to changes in the water. I have kept many clams and have around 20 + clams in my tank presently with 6 teardrops. If something is off in my tank the teardrops are the first to show it. With teardrops you want to keep all your parem's as stable as possible,one of the most beautiful clams yet most difficult to keep.

 

[pecan2phat]

I've also noticed that my Teardrop does not expand it's mantle as far as my other Maximas or Croceas, is this normal in this species?

 

[Fanatic]

update

update

Well, the good news is it's still alive. Whenever I place it on the rockwork, it jumps back down into the sand....so I'm leaving it there. It is opening up, but no mantle extension al all. I check it from time to time for snails, even went out & purchased a potter's wrasse, just in case. I'm continuing to feed the tank DT's every other day. I'm not sure what else to do at this point, other than to just leave it alone.

 

[pecan2phat]

Glad to hear that your Teardrop is still alive. My Teardrop went from reactive, to pinched mantle and kicked the bucket last week. All in a course of a week or so.

 

[Fanatic]

Glad to hear that your Teardrop is still alive. My Teardrop went from reactive, to pinched mantle and kicked the bucket last week. All in a course of a week or so.

I'm sorry to hear that

 

[hwynboy]

I've also noticed that my Teardrop does not expand it's mantle as far as my other Maximas or Croceas, is this normal in this species?

I would disagree....Mine when they are happy expand fully here is a couple pics...

 

[Bemmer]

hwynboy,
You said earlier in the thread that you put something in the sand for your clams to attach to. Can you share with me what that is? I have just purchased my first clams today. I bought two 3" Croceas. I was not sure if I should put them on the rockwork or put them in the sand. In either case, if it is asthetically pleasing, I would like to put something under the clams.

Also, I have 2-250W 10K Ushio MH bulbs that will be the primary light source for the 28" deep tank.

Thanks

 

[Bemmer]

hywnboy,
Oh, I also meant to tell you how beautiful your teardrops clams are. I did not realize that they are so sensitive. Good to know.

 

[hwynboy]

I use some rubble or half a clam shell if I have one available. Just place it a couple inches beneath where the foot of the clam lies in the sand and he will bury his foot into the sand and hit the rubble or the half clam shell and attach to that. That way if you have to move them it's a lot easier than if they attach to the bottom of your tank.

And thanks for the compliments...I love my clams as well.

Oh by the way I love your Aussie...I have 2 of my own and they are my family.

 

[Bemmer]

Hey Hwynboy,
Thanks for the tip, I have some LR rubble in my refugium that I will use for my clams. I am really excited about these beauties. I got them from ClamsDirect.

Actually, my dog, which is my user name "Bemmer" is a Bernese Mountain Dog. She is about 100 lbs and is a big baby. I guess she does look a little like an Australian Shepherd. We also have a Greater Swiss Mt. Dog as well. They are great family dogs. I think two dogs are the way to go. They keep each other company when we aren't home. Good to meet a fellow dog lover.

Rebecca