New clam owner with a question (pics included)

[Mish]

Hi all, I've spent some time reading as much as I could before purchasing my 1st clam, but now I need some help.
I've had him for 2 weeks, and he has been holding his mantle like this for most of the time. He responds very quickly to light, and I don't see anything picking at him. Is this pinched mantle? Should I be concerned?

He hasn't moved from where I placed him in the tank, so I was guessing he liked it there. (he is attached)

Water prams
1.025
0 Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate
410 Calcium
10 DKH
8.2 PH

Any thoughts?

 

[justin-branam]

i have had one for over a year that always looks like this. never had any problems with him.

 

[mbbuna]

try adding 1L of carbon(in a reactor, canister filter) per 100g tank size. if you run any iron based PO4 removers run all the effluent through carbon as well. if you know how to do a FWD give the clam a 20min dip also. please report back and let us know whats going on

 

[Mish]

Thanks for the replies.

I didn't want to do a FWD and cause stress if it wasn't necessary (this being a new clam to my system). I have not been using carbon or phosban (if that's what you mean by PO4 remover), but I have in the past. I don't use a canister filter, but I use media trays with the media in bags. I'm guessing this would produce similar resaults.

I'm glad to hear that someone elses clam looks like this, and is doing well. I will keep an eye on him, and post if there are any changes.

If anyone else has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Thanks

 

[Snprhed]

what kind of flow does he receive in that location?

 

[Mish]

He doesn't get direct flow, but I was concerned about that also. I have a power head on a wavemaker system that bounces off two sides of the tank before it would strike him. He wiggled himself forward to where I thought he might be affected by that powerhead. I will have to check at lunch to be sure.

 

[mbbuna]

i would at least run the carbon as apposed to doing nothing

 

[Snprhed]

I think carbon is always a good idea. It can remove a lot of nasty stuff anyway. Use it once every few weeks for a day or two.

 

[Mish]

I will add carbon tonight.

As for flow, I checked at lunch, and I felt little to no flow on the clam. So I'm guessing that is not the cause.

 

[hairymushroom]

as long as his mantle isnt flapping , there shouldnt be a problem with flow

 

[Mish]

Nope, his mantle is not flapping.

 

[onegreenray]

have you checked the clam at night to see if you see any pyramid snails on the shell or in the sand bed?

 

[Mish]

I haven't seen any snails, I checked the first night he was put in the tank. But I will check again tonight. I have put the carbon in and, I haven't seen a change. I will probably do a FWD this weekend. Just to be sure. I'm really bummed about this.
I'll keep everybody up to date, Thanks.

 

[mbbuna]

how much carbon are you running and how are you running it?

also (if i haven't already asked) what do you add to the tank? please list everything

 

[Fridmani]

It looks like it is getting irritated by something. Get a toothbrush and scrub around the shell to remove the possibility of any predators and rinse it in a container of your saltwater...not your tank. Also, check if there are any fish or crabs bothering it.

 

[Mish]

Just a quick update:

I added carbon to my sump (a tidepool) I tried this for about 6 days, saw no improvement so I decided it was time to try a FWD. I dipped for 15-20min. I also scrubed the cam shell. After the dip I examined the water, and I found nothing.

3 days after the dip, he appears to be better. He is extending his mantle, and has reattached to the rock. I will post a pic later today to show the improvement.

I hope I don't have to do this again, and I hope he really is better.
Anybody that says saltwater tanks are relaxing, never had one. : D

 

[Mish]

Just a quick update:

I added carbon to my sump (a tidepool) I tried this for about 6 days, saw no improvement so I decided it was time to try a FWD. I dipped for 15-20min. I also scrubed the cam shell. After the dip I examined the water, and I found nothing.

3 days after the dip, he appears to be better. He is extending his mantle, and has reattached to the rock. I will post a pic later today to show the improvement.

I hope I don't have to do this again, and I hope he really is better.
Anybody that says saltwater tanks are relaxing, never had one.

 

[samvanrf]

It might not have enough light. What kind of lighting do you have and where do you place it?

samvan

 

[Mish]

I've got pics. I know it's pretty soon after the FWD to be celebrating, but he really looks better. Maybe gaping some, it's a crocea, so I'm still not sure how big his opening should be.

as for the lighting, I have T5. He's in the top 1/3 of the tank, so I feel that he is getting good light. Also, the FWD really made a difference, I don't think there would be a change like this if it was lack of light. or would it?

 

[Snprhed]

not a light issue