Is my derasa dead? *saddening

[greenfroggiespawn]

This is depressing and saddening.

I have had this clam for 2 years or so and it has grown. Everything seemed fine, but about a month I added a EMPEROR Angel (juvi). I have not seen it pick at it at all, nor have I seen any nips on the blue outter rim of my clam.

These few days the clam hasn't opened up fully.

However today, this morning the clam shells opened wide and it seems to have receeded itself very in. Is this what you guys call 'gapping' ?

Is it on its way to die? I honestly don't know the reason, nor do I know if it's with the water.

The color of it is still nice, with patterns and pigment.

 

[a4twenty]

unfortunately this does sound like gapping. do you have a picture? ( you couldn't have described it any better )

have you run any water tests?

does he react to shadows?

i don't want to be the one to say it but he is probably to far gone .

 

[greenfroggiespawn]

I'll try get a picture.

It looks like he has dried up and shrivveled. I still see him attached. His shell is WIDE SPLIT, and the meat part has shrank in, but its as though he is still attached and i can see the white part of the shell (inside) and through the whole.


He closes sometimes and opens, but I have never seen anything like this. This sucks, it happened so sudden.

My salinity was a bit low, but everything is fine.

 

[Unarce]

Unfortunately, from what you described, it's probably on its way out. Were there any other changes you made, other than adding the angel? Even though there was visible, physical damage that you can see on the mantle, the clam can become severly stressed if the angel even just sampled its mucus on occasion.

 

[greenfroggiespawn]

i really don't think I did anything other than perhaps the salinity was a bit low from water change.

i didn't observe any visible picking by the angel.


-- should I just let it go b4 I take it out? i see the muscus and that clear film inside the shell/mantle starting to become loose..

damn =\

 

[greenfroggiespawn]

when i touch it to move it a bit. it closed, but it doesn't look good =(

 

[Unarce]

I'm just going by what you described, but it does sound like it's done. I wouldn't let it decay too long in there.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8659927#post8659927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenfroggiespawn
i really don't think I did anything other than perhaps the salinity was a bit low from water change.

how much of a water change? (%)

and how much lower was the salinity?

 

[greenfroggiespawn]

i do my normal 10-15% which is about 10-15 gallons.

It was at 1.019-1.020

One culprit I remember, it might've been a sudden spike in additives. I had told my friend to add some 'seachem reef builder' into the top -off water, and I suppose she added a bit too much.

But this doesn't seem so as my other things are looking good.

I did feel wierd when i see my clam 3/4 closed even when the lights were on. that was a wierd sign for me..


I dunno, there could be many factors. But I'll try do a larger water change tomorrow.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8660261#post8660261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenfroggiespawn

It was at 1.019-1.020

that is to low, clams like it up around 1.025 - 1.027 ( sea water is 1.026 )

 

[greenfroggiespawn]

yeah i think i had mis calculated while I was doing water change. i had up it now slowly, every. hour. i'll update.

 

[a4twenty]

you have to raise your salinity slowly, one point per day. anything more and you will just be causing more stress for the entire tank.

 

[OrionN]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8660261#post8660261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenfroggiespawn
i do my normal 10-15% which is about 10-15 gallons.

It was at 1.019-1.020

This is really too low for invet.

One culprit I remember, it might've been a sudden spike in additives. I had told my friend to add some 'seachem reef builder' into the top -off water, and I suppose she added a bit too much.

When I have someone keep my reef for me I always portion out the food (daily package) and portion out the additive (very rare if ever).
Specific instruction written and check mark place for him to check so he won't forget. Contact number to get in touch with me or another expert friend in case anything go wrong.