Please help me identify gaping

[Bayliner]

I have spent hours searching on clams gaping and I am still not confident I understand what it is.

I just purchased my first Crocea 3 1/2 inches and it is doing very well...at least I think.

Its mantel extends out quite far and it reacts to shadows.
After tons of reading I am worried about it extending this much, about 3/4" around the shell.
I am I just being a paranoid new clam owner?

These two threads touch on the issues but I would like to see what gaping looks like.


http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100825&highlight=gaping

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65727&highlight=gaping

Thanks
Cam

 

[Peabody]

Gaping can be really tough to identify because each clam has its own personality. What makes it harder is that I hear Croceas tend to open their incurrent syphons much more so than other species. I have heard of Croceas that look like they're really gaping, but are fine and live their happy little clam lives just gaping away!

What we call gaping can be a warning sign of something bad, but "true gaping" is a condition there the clam has lost muscle control and cannot close his siphon, and also the shell, I believe.

What you describe sounds like your clam is OK, although I'm no expert! Can you please give us a rundown of your water paramaters and also let us know if you're feeding DT's or othercultured live phyto?

Happy holidays!
Jeff

 

[Bayliner]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the reply. I think I am just a little nervous because it's my first clam. Wow they are addictive...I can't leave my tank. I will post a picture of him shortly.

I currently have him in a 30gal tank with
1 - 250W M/H
2 - 55W P/C
1 - 15W Actinic

I am staging the lighting so he does not get blasted all day with the M/H light. I also started him down low, gradually raising him up.

PH is between 7.5 and 8.. I am slowly trying to raise it to 8.3
Calcium is around 400, but I don't trust my test kit so I will be getting a new one over the holidays
Ammonia and Nitrite are 0 and I never let the Nitrates get higher than 15ppm.

I am currently building the hood for his new homeââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦.100g freshwater tank that I am converting to salt.

Thanks again for the help
Cam

 

[Bayliner]

Sorry I forgot to mention,
I am feeding him ever other day with 2 products.
I alternate between Marine Snow and Micro - Vert.

Take care
Cam

 

[Peabody]

Cam,

Sounds like you have a great little tank.....especially when it comes to lighting! (I was hoping you weren't another kid: "Why is my clam dying, I have him under 2 flourescent tubes.....)

Without seeing a picture I would guess (in my little opinion) that your clam is probably not bad, as many croceas I've seen really like to open their incurrent syphon wide.

But, I would suggest losing the marine snow. The kindest reviews, analysis, and reports seem to say it's crap, with others saying worse. At the best, it's just water your adding to your system, nothing more. Mircovert I do not believe is benificial for clams. If my memory serves me right, it's a lot of liquified fish meal and stuff. I don't think it's the appropiate particle size and shape for clams to accept like many phyto products. Your clam would REALLY benifit DTs or other live culttured phyto. (Is it available in CA?) If there's absolutly no way you can get it, ESVs spray dried might be OK. Actually, if you can't get DT's try to get Daniel Knops yeast based foor that clamsdirect carries!

Best of luck to you and your clam!
Jeff