Meet Clive

[OwenInAZ]

So I just picked him up from the LFS about two hours ago... dripped for about 45 minutes and nestled him into a spot. Billed as an "Maxima Ultra" (oooo, ahhhh). I know that everyone gets excited about their first clam, but sue me.

I'm sort of amazed at how fast he opened up. Must really like his spot

 

[commonstranger]

Thats a nice one.

 

[acrodave]

that is a nice one... but i would just make sure its not to tight in that crack that it cant open all the way

 

[OwenInAZ]

Yeah I've been thinking about that. I may give him a move to the right a bit. I'm just worried about turbo-snail-knock-overing.

Finally, I've found something my wife likes! Now it's Clive and the yellow tang (as yet un-named, although I'm thinking Sven )

 

[acrodave]

if it likes that spot you wont have to worry about the snail . the clam will attach to the rock

 

[OwenInAZ]

How long does that usually take? I have read anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, although I imagine it has a lot to do with how stable the clam in question is on the rockwork.

 

[acrodave]

if it likes it should take no more than a few days.. ive had them do over night

 

[bubba1170]

I just got three clams delivered today and they are on the sand bed. I put a piece of rubble rock under one and it has already attached to it and it's only been 8 hrs.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Thanks, good to know I just took a look downstairs (6:30 on a Saturday. Apparently I'm an old man now) and he's doing well. All plumped up, siphoning away. I didn't try to move him, but I figure if it ain't obviously broke don't try and fix it.

 

[Whisperer]

Good, they do not like being moved especially when they are already attached.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Ruh-roh.... over the past couple of days I've noticed that he hasn't been opening as far. It looks almost like a pinched mantle (checked the reefkeeping article), but it also kind of looks like the gaping that people talk about. The other thing I'm worried about is the fact that he hasn't attached yet. He does, however, retain the shadow response.

Here's a picture:

My water conditions are stable; nitrate/nitrite/ammonia are consistently nondetect, alk ~9-10, Ca ~460, Mg is higher to combat some bryopsis ~1800. I have two K4's and the return for water movement, but the shelf he's sitting on is reasonably calm. The other corals, fish and snails are doing fine, and there are no crabs or shrimp in the tank (that I know of).

My fish are:
1 yellow tang
1 blue eyed tang
2 cinnamon clowns
2 pajama cardinals
1 zebra goby

Any ideas? I'm getting pretty concerned. Thanks

 

[a4twenty]

when you got him did you inspect for pyramid snails??

are you running any media??? ( AC / GFO / etc... )

what and how do you dose??

please try to post a top down pic or two, this will help determine if it is PM or not.

 

[OwenInAZ]

when you got him did you inspect for pyramid snails??

are you running any media??? ( AC / GFO / etc... )

what and how do you dose??

please try to post a top down pic or two, this will help determine if it is PM or not.

I run passive carbon, no gfo or any other media. I dose two part ca and alk each morning and mg weekly - I have those dialed in. I checked for pyramid snails, but did not see any, unless they're a lot smaller than I already think they are and just missed them.

I'll try and get a top-down shot tonight after work. Thanks

 

[moliken]

pyr snails are grain of rice size. check at night, if possible.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Checked again tonight, no snails. I thought I knew what I was looking for before, look like tiny tiny cerith snails but all white and tiny. Didn't see any of them.

One of the clam guys in my local forum suggested moving him to the sandbed with a shell or tile underneath. I put him down there tonight, we'll see what happens.

Here's about the closest to a top-down I could get.

He opened this far fairly rapidly after being placed down there. If that helps any...

 

[Whisperer]

He doesn't look good. Hope he pulls thru.

 

[OwenInAZ]

It almost looks like pinched mantle to me, the big fix seems to be a 20 minute freshwater dip. I may try that if he doesn't improve in a couple days. He's better than the pic last night, but not a whole lot.

 

[OwenInAZ]

OK, trying the cut 2-liter bottle top method tonight. We'll see what happens.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Well, last night I tried the cut up 2-liter bottle trick to prevent pestering by fish. Lo and behold, this morning he's farther open than he has been in a week. Now I just have to figure out what the hell I'm going to do about this, since getting a fish out is going to be a pain in the behind, and I can't really leave a bottle top in a tank long term.

 

[todd141]

Any updates???