Sick Crocea

[talktojvc]

Hi ya'll

I'm new to this forum. Yesterday I purchased my first crocea clam, about 6 inches. I have been watching it at the LFS for a week. I was very concerned becuase the clam either lost or tore (the LFS claims the latter is not the case) his bypass threads. They were lying on the rock below the clam--fiber glass looking threads. I watched the clam a few more days and it appeared to be fine. Responding well to movement, open...ect. I would have loved to put off the purchase another week but the clam was only under NO light, a few PC at best and not even under any lights really (a corner tank with a dead area at the 2 outside corners) I bought the clam 79.99 ouch and brought it home. Drip accimated it almost 2 hours and all is well. This morning I got up and the clam had turned himself on the rock a little and appears to be putting out a few string to try and attach. I thought this was a good sign, but since he turned he shell slightly I can now see that the left side of his shells do not meet at all and I can see a lot of white tissue, maybe even a hole. It might also be gapping a bit. I was wondering if anyone had experienced this and knows what to do or if the clam will recover. I'll attach photos if I can figure out how. The clam still responds very well. Everytime I walk in the room or move about, he receeds. I haven't seen him close his shell at all, just pull in the mantle. He has plently of room to close/open at will.

Info Of Tank

Ca = 400 ppm
Alk =11

N02 = 0
N03 = less than 10ppm

I add the usual sup and do regular water changes. I have 2 DSB, one in the display, and one with corser sand in the ref, protien skimming ..blah blah

Lighting = 2 x 175 w MH with new XM 20k Blubs
220w VHO 6 months new

The clam is about 10" below the MH blub. Trying to balance not bleaching with getting it some much needed light.

not much in the tank to bother it:

2 chromis
1 clarki clown
1 snowflake eel (small)
lawnmower blenny
2 CB Shrimp (have not given clam a second look)
few blue hermits (also not noticing the clam)

I have moon lights and stayed up some and nothing is even noticing the new clam. I have a dersa (3") now for about 1 year and it has been and is doing fine. This is my third attempt to own a corcea clam (actually one dealth was a maxima. The first 2 I ordered (separately) died in shipping and my small town LFS doesn't usually carry clams, which is why they had puney lights. Are clams hard to ship...?

any help or insite would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Jenni

 

[capt. insano]

is that correct....you have measureable nitrite??

if that is indeed true, that doesn't bode well for the clam or other inverts in your system, let alone the fish. Nitrite is pretty toxic to inverts and most fish

Assuming that you don't have any nitrite and that is a mistake, as long as the Byassal gland is intact and unaffected, new threads should grow back

 

[kfisc]

Welcome- Sadly it sound as if your clam may be struggling but a few more days will tell- that it's responsive is a good sign. Croceas usually attach permanently, and a ripped byssal organ is always bad news; losing some threads is OK. The larger specimens tend to fare better; 6" is pretty big for a crocea. They ship really well, depending on the vendor and your location; some really reputable online stores advertise and post here, and get feedback from RC members, so worth checking out.

If your tank has been up and going a year, and your Derasa is doing well, you ought to be able to keep a crocea with the specs you provided- As always it's worth it to try and aim for no detectable nitrate/nitrite; IME they tend to like a little higher alk/CA, 12/425 or so, they really suck it in, especially with several in the tank. Good luck and I hope it survives!

 

[talktojvc]

Sorry -- My NO2 is Really zero and NO3 is Below 10PPM. I haven't worried so much about the NO3 because I don't keep anything that sensitive. My first carpet anemome loved the nitrate apparently growing from 5" to 14" in 14 months. He had to be shipped out because he was just too big and was replaced with a 3 inch, bleached, sebae which is now a year old and huge and greenish. The Clam responds amazing to movement or light changes very quickly. It is definately trying to attach. It went from a few threads hanging down this am to something larger than my pinkey going down into the rock. What worries me is the big whitish gap on the side where the shell no longer meets and a little bit of gaping. I have posted a pic or 2 in my member gallery under sick crocea. My tank is over 2 years old. The sand bed in a new addition so it is not established well yet. I'm 2.5 - 3 inches deep adding 1 inch each month until I'm about 4.5 -5" The last batch was added well before the clam and its not that close to the bed at all. Anyone expereince this and can tell me it will pull through. Its such a beauty...

 

[mbbuna]

i just responded to your post at ClamsDirect from the pics you posted your clam should do just fine. everything look normal