Is my Tridacnid Sick?

[lynnburn15]

I have had a Tridacnid clam for about 9 months in my reef tank without any problems.

But now I don't think my clam looks as healthy as it used to. It used to be more plump and I think the vent is gaping more than usual.

Could something be wrong with my clam?

 

[jdieck]

The picture is very small to really see. Search for pinched manttle and see if it is simmilar. Also look for parasites around the clam specially under it.

 

[jbittner]

What type of lighting are you using?? and what are your water conditions??

 

[JamesJR]

It sure doesn't look right to me. It may very well be pinched mantle.

 

[reefkoi]

It looks light on the zooanthellae in the center? Its hard to tell from the photo though, if so its starting to gape and will die soon if thats the case. When the inhalent siphon is open thats not certainly a bad sign but if the mantle pulls in at the same time then its gaping. I have found that if the center gets really light and loses the color then your done, it dies within days of the gaping part.
Let us know though.
Good luck,
Chris

 

[coraladdict]

I'm not an expert on clams but you can consider fresh water dip.
If you do make sure the ph and temp are the same,you can dip it for 30 min.If it is pinch mantle or pyramed snails that's causing the problem,you'll most likely cure it.

 

[coraladdict]

Let me retract here on the fresh water dip getting rid of the pyramid snails.Fresh water won't do much you have to use a tooth brush to get rid of them.

 

[vector]

Your clam has most likely got some sort of parasite. Boring sponge, alge or snail. Bets course of action is to remove from tank and give it 30 mins or so on each side in the sun. Also examine the shell for any holes on the outside going into the shell. If you find any of these be sure to clean them out.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8507746#post8507746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vector
...Bets course of action is to remove from tank and give it 30 mins or so on each side in the sun. ..

Now that is a new one. Is this done outside of the water?
Sounds like baked clam to me... Do you have any references to the tratment?

 

[vector]

Daniel Knop touches on it in his book p 110 just don't use the formalin he mentions unless you have more than 1,000 gals of isolation system. I do this with all my clams after 1 week in quarantine, before putting them in my clam system.

 

[ezcompany]

very very intresting!
i have seen a pic of a clam farm in australia where the clams are exposed to the air in low tide. is this direct hot sunlight we're talking about? would this be more stressful than a FW dip?

 

[vector]

I personally dont and wouldn't use fw dip so I have no idea if it is more stressful.

I carefully wash shell with fw making sure to get none on the animal. Yes full sunlight mid-day in summer here in FL, I have done this to more than 60 clams, the only time I lost any was when I did it to a fresh shipment that had been at a LFS for a few days and lost 2 of 14. Thats why I now hold in quarentine for a week or so first to let them de-stress before cleaning.

 

[COreefer]

IME when a clam gets to the point it is in the pic, there is no hope. I don't think it is PM, soley that is taking that clam out. There maybe some PM going on, but it looks severely stressed and gaping with its mantle retracting. It could live a few weeks or be dead tomoorrow. Looks to me like environmental shock of some sort. Has anything changed lately in your tank?? Alk, lighting, PH, DOM, etc...