Mysterious clam death

E

ento-reefer

New member
I lost one of my crocea clams. Last night he looked just fine as he has the entire time I have had him. He has been in my tank for 2 weeks and I thought he was perfect.

I tested my water last night and everything was spot on: Am-0, Niti & trate-0, Alk 9dkh, calc-420. Temp is running 79-82.5 spg-1.026.

This really has me dumbfounded as everyone else in the tank looks great as did he when I went to bed last night. The only fish in my tank is a false perc. Here is a recent photo of the clam which is exactly how he has looked everyday:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/564/186899_EMA2517crocea.JPG

Anyway this morning I look in the tank and his mantel was all drawn in and his shell was wide open. I picked him up and I knew right away he was gone. I am really at a loss as to why he died.
:(
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12585555#post12585555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Barry N.
I agree with mbbuna but am inclinded to think a predator.

Sorry for your loss.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It really upset me. I guess these things just happen sometimes. If it was a predator what would I be looking for? Maybe a large bristtle worm or crab?

I hope my other crocea will be okay. He looks healthy.
 
mysterious clam death

mysterious clam death

sorry for your loss. I have been seeing alot of clams dying on 3 reef, reef frontiers, and here. I'm not very experienced in reefing but ther seems to be pattern going on. Could there be some kind of disease coming out of one or more of these aquaculture facilities? Clams are one of the main reasons i set up this tank. I would hate to see my clams die. It seems that reefers are loosing their clams shortly after they introduce a new one. Has anyone noticed this sort of epidemic?
 
Re: mysterious clam death

Re: mysterious clam death

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12589067#post12589067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plasterman
sorry for your loss. I have been seeing alot of clams dying on 3 reef, reef frontiers, and here. I'm not very experienced in reefing but ther seems to be pattern going on. Could there be some kind of disease coming out of one or more of these aquaculture facilities? Clams are one of the main reasons i set up this tank. I would hate to see my clams die. It seems that reefers are loosing their clams shortly after they introduce a new one. Has anyone noticed this sort of epidemic?
Click to expand...

I wonder if you could be right? I have been searching my tank for any signs of a predator and I just haven't seen anything. The strange thing is this clam seemed to be in perfect health for 2 weeks. It was always open and very responsive to movement or shadows near by. Hell he was fine last night and dead this morning.

Maybe a bacteria or virus????
 
all the posts i've been seeing have great h2o parameters with no real reasons for the die off. it seems if theres something going on in the supply line. hope not
 
Could there be some kind of disease coming out of one or more of these aquaculture facilities? Clams are one of the main reasons i set up this tank. I would hate to see my clams die. It seems that reefers are loosing their clams shortly after they introduce a new one. Has anyone noticed this sort of epidemic?
Click to expand...

Am sorry, but I disagree with that statement. Like the person that posted after you said,

The strange thing is this clam seemed to be in perfect health for 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

IMO & IMVE, most clams will not look GREAT one day and then be dead the next without some sort of signs.

It would be a preditor that comes out of the LR at night or many other things.

As far as a epidemic, we always seem to hear about the ones that die but never hear about all that live.
:confused:

We don't hear about masses of clams dieing from anyone, just a few post now and then. No empidemic
 
I would have to agree with Barry. Everyone seems to always claim "my clam suddenly died for no reason". There is always a reason. People just dont seem to want to look for it, but instead blame someone or something else. "Mystery disease", "sick to begin with", anything, but "my parameters were wacky", "I didnt have enough light", "I didnt house it correctly". Clams have specific requirements, which when met, can be understood why clams can be considered hardy. Dont meet them, and there will be problems.

I am absolutely not pointing any fingers at anybody in this thread. This just seems to be a trend that is especially prevalent in clam keeping, in my opinion.

rant over.
 
I do know of a lfs that is in fact selling diseased clams in my area. I thought it had something to do with my tank but I found out that the same thing has been happening to other people buying from him.. Be careful and always quarantine. I no longer have clams. I think people often dont post about it because it sucks so bad they dont want to talk about it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12590653#post12590653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
I would have to agree with Barry. Everyone seems to always claim "my clam suddenly died for no reason". There is always a reason. People just dont seem to want to look for it, but instead blame someone or something else. "Mystery disease", "sick to begin with", anything, but "my parameters were wacky", "I didnt have enough light", "I didnt house it correctly". Clams have specific requirements, which when met, can be understood why clams can be considered hardy. Dont meet them, and there will be problems.

I am absolutely not pointing any fingers at anybody in this thread. This just seems to be a trend that is especially prevalent in clam keeping, in my opinion.

rant over.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying, but this clam did not display some of the typical signs of stress that you would recogonize as a clam not doing well. Mantle was always open normally, no gaping, no pinching, highly responsive. Water parameters were good and stable, other corals and clam doing fine also. Then in the space of 10 hours it was dead.

I think clams can be very hardy and I have been successful keeping them in the past. I haven't had a reef tank in a the past 8 years, but am not knew to the hobby. I worked for a LFS for 5 years back in the 90's and I got a good amount of experience observing corals and clams that were stressed , and or declining in health.

The clam that died in my tank did not show any signs, as far as I could tell, that it wasn't doing well. It very well may have been a predator, and I will continue to observe my tank for the presence of any. I have just been speculating on what might have caused this clams demise. I doubt seriously that I will ever know for sure, but if I can learn something knew about these wonderful creatures by posting my failures as well as my succeses than that is a good thing.:)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12585410#post12585410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
theres no way to tell what could have caused it, could have been sick, weak or a predator
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mbbuna,

I see you are in DE. I am also. Are you involved with the reef club? I am wanting to join as soon as I can find some free time. This is a busy time of year for insect rsearch.

Great to meet someone local on RC.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12591066#post12591066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ento-reefer
I understand what you are saying, but this clam did not display some of the typical signs of stress that you would recogonize as a clam not doing well. Mantle was always open normally, no gaping, no pinching, highly responsive. Water parameters were good and stable, other corals and clam doing fine also. Then in the space of 10 hours it was dead.

I think clams can be very hardy and I have been successful keeping them in the past. I haven't had a reef tank in a the past 8 years, but am not knew to the hobby. I worked for a LFS for 5 years back in the 90's and I got a good amount of experience observing corals and clams that were stressed , and or declining in health.

The clam that died in my tank did not show any signs, as far as I could tell, that it wasn't doing well. It very well may have been a predator, and I will continue to observe my tank for the presence of any. I have just been speculating on what might have caused this clams demise. I doubt seriously that I will ever know for sure, but if I can learn something knew about these wonderful creatures by posting my failures as well as my succeses than that is a good thing.:)
Click to expand...

Like I said, I was not aiming that comment towards anyone in this thread. I know there are pathogens and disease out there for these animals, and that it can strike quickly and mercilessly. However, thsi becomes an "excuse" for too many people for clear cut poor husbandry, or incidental occurances (parasites, predators, etc.)

Lets look at your situation a bit more. You say the shell was wide open, and the mantle was withdrawn, but you knew right away it was dead. How?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12591881#post12591881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
Like I said, I was not aiming that comment towards anyone in this thread. I know there are pathogens and disease out there for these animals, and that it can strike quickly and mercilessly. However, thsi becomes an "excuse" for too many people for clear cut poor husbandry, or incidental occurances (parasites, predators, etc.)

Lets look at your situation a bit more. You say the shell was wide open, and the mantle was withdrawn, but you knew right away it was dead. How?
Click to expand...

The mantel was curling inward and I had never seen this on a clam that was alive. It s hard to describe, but the clam just looked dead. When I lifted the clam up there was absolutely no reaction from the clam. When I took it out of the water for a closer examination I could smell the beginning of decay. I did not see any evidence of an attack by a predator.

I still have the clam in my freezer and I hope to look at it under the scope at work next week when I am not so swamped.
 
I do know of a lfs that is in fact selling diseased clams in my area. I thought it had something to do with my tank but I found out that the same thing has been happening to other people buying from him..
Click to expand...

With the statement above, possible that LFS has a pathogen in his tank. Let's face it, there are some good LFS out there and then there are some that shouldn't be in business.

One more thing and I will get off my soap box. Most of us test for the normal things, pH, salinity, alk, CA but not other things such as iron, iodine, mag and other things. I see people that just stick there hands in a tank without even washing them first. Now you have oils, nicotine if your a smoker and other things in your water. I always see people post, "All my perimeters are ok" Really! One other thing, how much electric current do you have in your water from powerheads, heater and other things?? Did you change brand of salt, started adding suppliments. See where I am going here. :confused:

Last statement that johnnybravo234 says, quarantine EVERYTHING prior to placing in main display tank. For those that have seen me speak at IMAC, MACNA and many other clubs/organization, I spend sometime on talking about quarantine. Some of you have thousands of dollars in your reef tank but many of us won't spend $100.00 on a Q-Tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12592105#post12592105 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Barry N.
With the statement above, possible that LFS has a pathogen in his tank. Let's face it, there are some good LFS out there and then there are some that shouldn't be in business.

One more thing and I will get off my soap box. Most of us test for the normal things, pH, salinity, alk, CA but not other things such as iron, iodine, mag and other things. I see people that just stick there hands in a tank without even washing them first. Now you have oils, nicotine if your a smoker and other things in your water. I always see people post, "All my perimeters are ok" Really! One other thing, how much electric current do you have in your water from powerheads, heater and other things?? Did you change brand of salt, started adding suppliments. See where I am going here. :confused:

Last statement that johnnybravo234 says, quarantine EVERYTHING prior to placing in main display tank. For those that have seen me speak at IMAC, MACNA and many other clubs/organization, I spend sometime on talking about quarantine. Some of you have thousands of dollars in your reef tank but many of us won't spend $100.00 on a Q-Tank.
Click to expand...

Very good points Barry. There are so many things that could be present in the water that we don't test for. I agree that a QT tank is essential. I have always used one for fish, but never for inverts. I think it is time to start. How long do you keep corals and other inverts in qt? Do you match the lighting that is on your display? I would think not. Would you mind giving a little detail about your qt procedure for inverts?

Thanks.
 
I am waiting a few months for whatever the disease that my tank was exposed to to die off. I will buy ONE clam. I will only add more once I have a quarantine to keep new clams in. Its not worth it to lose your entire collection over one sick animal.
 
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