If I have to FW dip my clam in the future (don't think it is necessary now... I *think* it might have barely started pinching some parts of its mantle, however the gaping *seems* to be slowwwwwly healing- we'll see on this one) I want to remove the shrimp so they do not die. Any ideas on how to get them out without harming the clam?
Removing commensal shrimp from clam?
- Thread starter Dr. Beer
- Start date
Oh, man. I don't think that's possible. You can't tempt them out with food, and you can't physically remove him without the clam closing up and being potentially harmed by your attempt to remove the shrimp. Just continue to give your clam DTs and a stable environment and hopefully you won't have to remove them. A thought about "pinching"...I think there is more than one cause. One time I thought my clam was "pinching".....I got a refractometer and my salinity was 37.5!. I lowered the salinity to 35 and hewent back to normal. I will never trust a swing-arm hydrometer again. Have you ever tested with a refractometer, Dr. Beer? I think mine is one of the best investments I have made! ($64)
I do have bad news, I think the shrimp inside my clam is no more....I haven't seen him in a while
I do have bad news, I think the shrimp inside my clam is no more....I haven't seen him in a while
I JUST got my refractometer in this afternoon, and what do you know, my SG on my swing arm is off by .05! That is WAY OFF. My water in the clam tank was at 1.027 but the swing arm read 1.022. I had just lowered the SG read on the swing arm from 1.025 (which was in reality 1.030) because my anemone was acting funny.
*sigh*
The mantles stopped "pinching" within 1 hour of lowering to a reading of 1.025 on the refracto.
*sigh*
The mantles stopped "pinching" within 1 hour of lowering to a reading of 1.025 on the refracto.
Well for an update, the last few days the clam has not gaped any. The inhalant siphon is still quite round and curled back, but doesn't appear "gaped" anymore. Still no tentacles though, and as I said the edges of the siphon are still rolled up. It can unroll them when it wants to though. Sometimes at night they are. There was some minor central fading (not bleaching) when I got him which is filling in nicely.
Though I'm a pragmatic person and realize that sick clams rarely recover, if ever, I am inclined to remain quite hopeful for my fat T. squamosa. When it uncurls the mantle around the siphon and starts to grow back tentacles then I will say it is going to make it.
Though I'm a pragmatic person and realize that sick clams rarely recover, if ever, I am inclined to remain quite hopeful for my fat T. squamosa.
When it uncurls the mantle around the siphon and starts to grow back tentacles then I will say it is going to make it.Just a suggestion, my clam started to "gape" a little once. So I decided to give him a little TLC. Even though he is 3.5 inches. I took him out, and put him in a bowl with 2 capfuls of DTs and 2 drops of selcon. He looked REALLY good after that treat! I figured it couldn't hurt him.
I figured it couldn't hurt him.
