Sick Maxima

[ddr]

Appreciate any help or advice.

I have a 8" Max that I got from a Friend about 2 years ago that has done well up until about 4 months ago when I noticed it hadnt opened fully for a couple of days (3 at most)

While the MH were still on I lifted the clam off the sand to have a look if anything was attacking it, when looking at the foot there was a large split down the centre of the foot & it looked like it was rotting away.

I put the clam on a safe rock where over the next day it attached itself, started opening (Much less than origionally) its mantle & generally looked like it was recovering. 2 weeks ago I added more rock too the tank & moved the rock the clam was on & it ended up on more of a downward angle (Not a lot maybe 10degrees)

This morning I found the clam had let go of the rock & fallen (4") down to the sand. As the lights were still off I picked up the clam & had a real good check over for snails, but didnt find any.

The foot looked partly repaired but still had a large gap in it.

I stood the clam upright on the sand until I get home from work.

Anyone with any tips or ideas to try.

Thanks

 

[FunkieReefJunkie]

Sorry to hear this. Need more info. When you say it doesn't open fully are you talking about the whole clam not spreading open or only part of the mantle not extending? If you added a clam or anything new you may have exposed him to the protozoan going round now causing pinched mantle. The clams eventually weaken and let go at the foot.

For more info on pinched mantle & tx do a search at reeffrontiers.com

 

[ddr]

Last clam I added was about 6 months ago.

The Mantle extends out from the shell, but the clam only opens about .5" rarther than about 1" that it used to.

I havent heard about the clam pinching problem in Australia yet, & the LFS I got my last clam from dosent have that problem.

Thanks Dan.

 

[FunkieReefJunkie]

Hmmm... I'm wondering if a short freshwater dip would do the trick. Most parasites can't tolerate FW and clams can.

 

[ddr]

THanks, I guess ive got a lot of reading to do to know how to fw dip it

I try to get a picture tonight of the foot of the clam if it may help.

Something I didnt say before is this was my second clam, I have 4 in total. The other 2 Max's & the 1 Squamosa are doing fine.

Dan.

 

[FunkieReefJunkie]

One more thing is to keep an eye out for a crab, flatworms or other odd creatures you may not know about. Best time to check for those sneaky guys is at night with flashlight in hand. I wish you good reading.