pesky shrimp

[parks]

Hello all,
I have an issue with my clam. I purchased it about a month ago. It did well for the first week and then my skunk cleaner shrimp started to pick at it. I know this can be a sign that the clam is doing poorly, but- I covered it with a clear tuperware container with holes poked in it. The clam still fully extends its mantle and appears healthy. Whenever I remove the cover the shrimp will be picking and pulling at it within a few hours. He already has eaten a previous clam. I just attributed the previous death to poor water quality but now the clam seems well and I think the shrimp may have gotten a taste for clam?

Also... The clam is resting on the bottom of my 120. At 20 inches deep the clam is resting on the sand bed. The tank is lit by two 250-halides and a 270 power compact unit. Is enough light reaching it? I think so but what do the experienced folks think?

 

[ExoticWonders]

Hey Parks,
1. What kind of clam is it?
2. Are you feeding the clam and if so what?
3. Stupid question but are you sure it is a cleaner shrimp. Cleaners are smart in figuring out when something is wrong with the clam.
4. I used to have a sim. problem with some of my clams. What I did was to take some croche netting and construct a box that I inverted over my clam for a couple of weeks to let it heal.
5. how big is the clam? anything under 3 inches should be spot/bowl/bell fed daily.
6. do you possibly have a picture of the clam?

I do not mean to sound as if you do not know your clam or system just asking a few basic questions to help out.

Mario

 

[rmesola]

My clam is healthy and my skunk picks at it now and then... The clam so far has not shown any signs of stress and reopens fully seconds after the attack... it's a 4 inch crocea and extends it's mantle 1-2 inches in each direction... it's 10 inches from a 400W MH.

Lately I haven't seen the shrimp pick at it... but i stopped looking too..

 

[parks]

I believe it is a Derasa clam. Yes, the shrimp is a cleaner. And no I am not feeding it. It is about 4 inches. I do have zooplankton and I can target feed it...is that recomended?

 

[rmesola]

far as i've found out in reading clams only eat phyto... has something to do with their size...

not sure if zooplankton would be the right size...

I do notice that my clam shuts it's siphon when I put cyclopeeze in my tank

I find DT's way too expensive and may think about culturing my own phyto...

 

[ExoticWonders]

it is recommended to feed any clam under 4 inches. you sound to be right at the limit. i still feed mine over 4 inches just not as often. one way to tell if it is getting enough to eat is to see if it is gapping. if it is, feed it. DT's works the best, zooplancton is to big (at least from what i know), cyclopleeze is to big as well. you can make your own green water though if you do not like the price of DT's (worth it though). no need to spot feed it though. also something else to think about is what are your water params. clams need a fairly clean tank. also check your calcium levels. anything over 450 works best.