pest, parasite or was it the fall?

[chrssprngs]

My new gold teardrop max is not doing well. Ive had it 3 weeks. The first week it was out pretty good and I was expecting great things to come, similar to my crocea that Ive had for 7 months. At week 1.5 I went out of town for a few days and either leaped from its place high on the rock structure(vhos) or was pushed. Now it is either pinched or retracted (is there a difference?) I know a picture would help but haven't sprung for the dig. cam. yet. The facts: 75 gal. vhos, desjardin, lawnmower, citroen clown goby, maroon clown, checkered wrasse (when he feels like making an appearance) 3 green chromis. The clam is ~3.5 inches and was originally placed on the substrate for a couple of days just to see how he would react to the light level at that depth. My crocea has never been a problem and is growing nicely. The max has pretty quick response to light change, and the mantle is consistent across the length of its shell relative to retraction.

My questions are- is this an emergency?
should I do FWD?
parasite identification guidance?

I just want to make sure I take the right course of action. I don't want to knee jerk this thing if I have the time to identify the specific cause.

Springer

 

[chrssprngs]

Are fresh water dips such a risk that they are last resort type of thing, or are they standard operating, better safe than sorry, procedures. I've read a lot of the threads trying not to pose the same ole help me help me help me. Some people appear to have the "not sure what the problem is? Dip the fella." Whereas I sense that others have a more cautionary approach and advise dipping if the situation is dire and if the clam is dying, what do you have to lose.

 

[chrssprngs]

Obviously not an entriguing thread. There are advantages to being the only "member" interested in my problem. The methodology I employ will undoubtably be supported by those that have so gratiously chosen to assist me with my problem to date, although upon reflection, I must be honest and admit that I have, on more than one occasion entered into hot debate with myself on varying issues.

I am 12 minutes into a fwd.

 

[Peabody]

Patience, young jedi. SOmetimes it takes a while to get a reply...it's nothing personal.
Answered your PM.....

 

[chrssprngs]

Thank you, I was stressing more than the clam. So then the answer to question posed in the thread title could very well be: the clam jumped. I knee jerked the situation last night by dipping him. OK, now that we are where we are, (one freshly dipped clam sitting high in the rock work) do I leave him alone or should move him down away from the light and then do as you suggested slowly acclimate him to the increased light intensity?

 

[SSweet1]

I am having a similar experience, I got 2 gorgeous baby maximas and put them on the sandbed per instructions. My tank has alot of movement and the sand would wift up on the clams from time to time. They started to retract and so since it was almost a week I moved them up onto a rock. Well no improvement they were 1/2 retracted. The advise I was given is to put them in a small bowl/tupperware with a teaspoon of DT's and enough tank water to submerge them, let them soak in the phyto for about 1/2-1 hour. I float the tupperware on top of my tank water so it stays the correct temperature. It is my last resort trying to baby them back. However I was told they are probably gonna die I have been trying this for 3 days and see no decline anyways so I will keep trying. Apparently the sand can clog their gills. I was just following the instructions however I will never put a small clam directly on the sand again for sure!!!! My crocea, huge maxima and derasa are fine as are the rest of my corals so it must be the sand clogging them. It is very upsetting to say the least. Good Luck to you I hope we both can pull them through, Carrie

 

[chrssprngs]

I haven't moved my maxima from the spot I placed it after the fresh water dip. That was Sunday night. Peabody told me that the fresh water dip was probably unnecessary and that the clams behavior was probably due to the fall and would more likely be fine. That was before the dip. I think the clam fell trying to move away from the light. The first few days it was in my tank I had on the sand. I moved it a lot higher on the rock thinking that it needed as much light as possible. It probably does, but not such a drastic change all at once. I just went and looked at it. It is open about 3/4 of an inch with the mantle just at the shell's edge. It didn't respond to my hand passing under the lights so I reached in and nudged it. It closed quickly. It has now attached itself to the rock. That has to be a good sign! I wouldn't think that a little sand entering into the clam would cause any harm. The force with wich they can expel water should act similar to a backwash cycle on a filter and clear their gills.

 

[chrssprngs]

My avatar is annoying