Need Quick Help with Clam!!! With Pics

[SteveNMegz]

So we woke up this morning and or croacea is totally retracted but the shell is open still, we know its mantle was blowing a lot with all the flow we have in the tank(60X) turnover, so we moved it to a lesser flow spot this morning but its condition hasn't changed. we're now thinkin that maybe it cannot control it shell opening and closing????

what could possibly be wrong and how could we help???

heres some pics taken jsut a few minutes ago..

hopefully we can figure it out before its to late.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[SteveNMegz]

we did move the powerheads slightly, we're also not sure how well its eating (we feed phyto, zooplex couple times a week)

not to sure what else would cause this???

 

[quicksilverq]

the clam is dying its been stressed out to much. 60x turn over is proably 2 much for it my tank is only 11x turn over and thats alot of movement in some areas.

 

[SteveNMegz]

its weird how this would happen overnight though isn't it???
wouldn't it show some sign it wasn't doing good because of the flow earlier?

 

[SteveNMegz]

why would it not have any control over its shell?

 

[a4twenty]

sorry to hear, but i agree the clam is probably done. unfortunately them going overnight is very common, i can't count the number of times i have heard but he was fine last night.

it has lost control over its shell because he has lost control of his adductor muscle which is commonly referred to as gapping.

i don't know for sure if the flow is the problem, in nature they are found on the crest of the reef and are subject to great amounts of flow. i have about a 50x turn over in my tank and my clams do just fine but to much direct flow can be stressful.

clams are also very sensitive to changes in water params, especially alk. if i remember correctly you were having problems with you Ca reactor, did you get this straightened out??

 

[SteveNMegz]

yah the calcium reactor has been set and runnin perfect for the last while now, we moved some rocks around in the tank, maybe we stirred something up?(this was about 4 days ago)

since our lights turned off he has closed his shell more than what it was when i moved it????

we're hopin for the best, it never had anythign to latch its foot onto, could this possibly be the problem?

 

[SteveNMegz]

well hes still there today but he looks like hes shrunken more

 

[a4twenty]

i don't think the lack of attachment had anything to do with his condition, i have kept crocea's on the sand before with no problems.

has there been any interest from the CUC?? if you're in doubt of whether he is still alive, take him out and have quick sniff, you'll soon know.

i'm keeping my fingers crossed but you should be prepared for the worst

 

[SteveNMegz]

well just this afternoon one hermit kept going up and eating its mantle, the clam is still alive but its obviously on its way out, we jsut threw the hermit in the sump after its second time making it back up there.

Its a hard call since meg is gone on a trip and i'm left to make the decision myself haha but should I just pull him out before it creates ammonia problems or the like.??? if i do pull it out what sahould i do with it?

 

[Reefer07]

Someone once told me that a good idea for flow on a clam is you want to be able to see its mantle moving slightly as a result of the current. Is this a good rule of thumb?

 

[scapes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13162469#post13162469 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SteveNMegz


if i do pull it out what sahould i do with it?

throw it in the garbage can outside. it's dieing that's why the crab is trying to eat it. sorry for your loss

 

[brokereefer617]

sorry for your loss

 

[ezcompany]

can you give us a complete list of livestock you have (assuming all water params are spot on)