Mysterious death of clams

[cityofangels]

About 3-4weeks ago, a friend's crocea in my tank perished without any warning or signs of distress. When I retrieved the clam from my tank, I found bristle worms at the base of the clams. I know bristle worms will not attack live clams. So the worms must have started feasting on the clam when it was already dead.

2 days ago, one of my croceas also decided to give up on me and died. :sad1:

All my parameters are ok (i.e. 0ppm). I've been dosing Ca, making sure my pH, SG & Alk are stable. I also dose Liquifry Marine in my tank once every 3-4 days.

I am using 150w MH with my chiller set at 26degs.

What's going on? Why are clams not fated to be in my tank? I still have 2 croceas & 1 squamosa in my tank. I don't want them perishing too. :worried:

There don't seem to be any parasitic snails or chitons. As far as I know, none of my fishes are pecking on the clams. Out of all my fishes, the only fish that even goes near my clams is my algae blenny and he merely perches on the side of their shells.

Is this what they call, 'myterious clam disease'? Is there no cure? :sad2:

 

[Snprhed]

What size are your clams?

 

[acro-wrasse]

Is anything else in your tank looking sickly??

Have you looked at the clam at night to see if a noctural predator or pest is visiting?

How long had the friend's clam been in our tank? Maybe it brought the problem.

What fish are in the tank besides the blenny?

How long have you had the remaining clams?

 

[bngowe]

for some reason my crocea clam isn't doing well either.. it doesnt fully open. .and seems a lilo. .id unno sunken in...
did a 10 % water change..but everything else in my tank is doing well. and parameters should be fine too.

 

[Bax]

I moved my 26 bow after about 18 months of enjoying real good stability (aside from some cyano trouble). My clams, two real nice croceas and a derasa were looking great, this pic was taken two weeks before the move ...

... both croceas withered and died very quickly, within about 4 weeks of the move.

The derasa is now in a new 75. And thankfully looking OK.

I blame the move and disruption of the sand bed.

 

[cityofangels]

Snprhed: The clams are about 3-4" each (excluding the Squamosa).

acro-wrasse: So far, nothing else in my tank is looking sickly. I have stalked my tank at night, hoping to get a glimpse of the culprit but without success. When the lights go off, all my fishes go off to hid among the rocks to sleep. Couldn't find anything else bugging the clams.

My tank has mostly tangs, 3 fire gobies, 1 dotty back, 4 chromis & 1 Copperband Butterfly. I know CB are known to nip at clams but I bought him from a fellow reefer who kept the CB with clams, without any trouble. He doesn't seem to be the one disturbing the clams. I have kept the remaining clams for about 3-4months now.


Bax: Gee, I'm sorry for your lost.. They were nice clams.

 

[acro-wrasse]

when your crocea died did it show any signs ?? gaping, withdrawing the mantle, staying closed??

If you have not done anything new or different to cause the problem, do a 25% water change. It can't hurt.

 

[Bax]

In cityof angels first post, there were no signs of distress, it was similar to both my losses which were about 11/2 to 2 weeks apart. Both really caught me off guard.

 

[acro-wrasse]

Re: Mysterious death of clams

About 3-4weeks ago, a friend's crocea in my tank perished without any warning or signs of distress. When I retrieved the clam from my tank, I found bristle worms at the base of the clams. I know bristle worms will not attack live clams. So the worms must have started feasting on the clam when it was already dead.

2 days ago, one of my croceas also decided to give up on me and died. :sad1:


The first clam died in his tank without signs, I just wanted to make sure the second died the same way.