New tridacna maxima

[Gianfranco]

Hello everyone!

I have bought a month ago a small 5 cm T. maxima blue. At the LFS they told me to place it on the sand bed, tu put a sort of little rock or shell underneath it and not to feed it. They also told me that shortly it would attach to the glss of the tank and be happy like that.

I did what they recommended me to do but : the clam barely opens, it is not attached at all and doesn`t look very happy.

This is my first T. maxima and what I have always read was that these clams needs lots of light. So, on the sandbed I don`t think it gets lots of light, despite the fact my tank is only 65 gallons.

So, what do you recommend me to do to make this little marvellous creature thrive?

Thanks,
Gianfranco

 

[Peabody]

First, what are your lights, what other creatures are in the tank, and what is your current water chemistry (and method of measuring) please. Hope we can help!! ALso, have you checked for pyramid snails?

 

[Gianfranco]

Well,
I have metal halides lights. The other creatures in the tank except corals are a coral beauty, a flasher wrasse, a mandarin, a rock blenny, a blue sea star, some hermits, an emerald crab and turbo snails.
the water chemistry is ok.
I have just moved the clam on top of a rock.
Gianfranco

 

[Gianfranco]

What are pyramid snails?

 

[Gianfranco]

What are pyramid snails?

 

[Peabody]

RUn a search and you'll find out all the info you need. THey are a common small snail they preys on clams at night. (THey look like little grains of rice). Several hours after lights out take your clam out, check with a magnifying glass around the bysall opening and all the scutes especially. They can and will kill a clam slowly.

Please list your water paramaters and how you're testing them

 

[Peabody]

What is the wattage the color temperature of your bulbs? Depending on what, you might not have enough light on the sandbed.

 

[Jimbo327]

You have to feed that clam...some kind of phyto. He's still a baby, and lights alone will not keep it alive. Any clam under 2 inches will probably need food as well as good light.

J

 

[Gianfranco]

Unfortunately I have just found my clam dead and almost empty.
Gianfranco