montourgirl
New member
sorry to hear that
This is painful to watch! Can I save my clams?
- Thread starter ReefDream
- Start date
reefmkr
New member
This is really painful to watch, I loosing my acro's left and right...
I had to pull out big colony base (6x3"), cause RTN, also had to break lot of acros too, this morning I had to pull out and frag blue tip acro that I had almost year ( it was 1" frag when I got it, now it was small colony)
toptank, I did had small heat spike about a 5 weeks ago, but it only went to 84.5, I usually keep at 80 - 83.3, I don't it cause by the heat.....
Steve Tyree, Thank You for your advice and I will give lugols dip tonight...
I had to pull out big colony base (6x3"), cause RTN, also had to break lot of acros too, this morning I had to pull out and frag blue tip acro that I had almost year ( it was 1" frag when I got it, now it was small colony)
toptank, I did had small heat spike about a 5 weeks ago, but it only went to 84.5, I usually keep at 80 - 83.3, I don't it cause by the heat.....
Steve Tyree, Thank You for your advice and I will give lugols dip tonight...
<font size=+1><b>Bad News</b></font>
I have some bad news. The crocea that was doing well even a week after being pulled from the antibiotic has generally declined the last few days. It has been gaping during the day for the last three days. Today it looks like the mantle is even receding. I can also see the characteristic dark gills that were present on all the clams I lost is spreading and now covering more of the gills.
I am going to do a full term as a doctor would prescribe (two weeks) antibiotic bath and see if that helps. I will not be turning off the lights over the bucket either since I cannot imagine that a single plexiglass-shielded 55W PC could destroy enough of the antibiotic in 24 hours to matter. If it does, then I guess the clam will die, but it's going to die for sure if I don't do something again. Maybe at the end of the two weeks, we'll have a better solution since the bacteria responsible might be pinned down.
I have some bad news. The crocea that was doing well even a week after being pulled from the antibiotic has generally declined the last few days. It has been gaping during the day for the last three days. Today it looks like the mantle is even receding. I can also see the characteristic dark gills that were present on all the clams I lost is spreading and now covering more of the gills.
I am going to do a full term as a doctor would prescribe (two weeks) antibiotic bath and see if that helps. I will not be turning off the lights over the bucket either since I cannot imagine that a single plexiglass-shielded 55W PC could destroy enough of the antibiotic in 24 hours to matter. If it does, then I guess the clam will die, but it's going to die for sure if I don't do something again. Maybe at the end of the two weeks, we'll have a better solution since the bacteria responsible might be pinned down.
Steve Tyree
Premium Member
Reefdream,
Thats bad news. If anitbiotics do not stop it, possibly our first thoughts here might still be viable. The clams may have consumed, collected or were exposed to too much of their own sperm. They did spawn for us the first few days from stress.
Has anyone had a clam (any Tridacna) spawn (male) within their reef where clams eventually died 2 to 4 weeks after the spawn ?
Thats bad news. If anitbiotics do not stop it, possibly our first thoughts here might still be viable. The clams may have consumed, collected or were exposed to too much of their own sperm. They did spawn for us the first few days from stress.
Has anyone had a clam (any Tridacna) spawn (male) within their reef where clams eventually died 2 to 4 weeks after the spawn ?
Leonard
10 & Over Club
Reefdreams,
Your experiences generally coincide with mine: that the pathogen remains present for at least several weeks without hosts. My experience is rather long-winded, so refer to http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17001 for more details.
I'm trying clams again, about 10 weeks after the last mortality. Updates will be posted at the above URL; here's hoping that the pathogen died off!
FWIW, my corals have been completely unaffected by this clam disease. Fact is, nothing in my tank seems to be affected except for Tridacna clams.
Steve,
I've never had clams spawn in my tank, but I can say that coral sperm does not negatively affect their health. I can say for certain that clam spawning did not lead to my mass mortality.
Your experiences generally coincide with mine: that the pathogen remains present for at least several weeks without hosts. My experience is rather long-winded, so refer to http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17001 for more details.
I'm trying clams again, about 10 weeks after the last mortality. Updates will be posted at the above URL; here's hoping that the pathogen died off!
FWIW, my corals have been completely unaffected by this clam disease. Fact is, nothing in my tank seems to be affected except for Tridacna clams.
Steve,
I've never had clams spawn in my tank, but I can say that coral sperm does not negatively affect their health. I can say for certain that clam spawning did not lead to my mass mortality.
Just wanted to pass this on to you.
A customer of mine in Houston called me this AM and was saying that last Thursday he had his service man come by to do the regular service on the tank and that next day he started losing clams. He has not added any clams in the tank for about 3 weeks. He has not added anything new to the tank.
Barry
A customer of mine in Houston called me this AM and was saying that last Thursday he had his service man come by to do the regular service on the tank and that next day he started losing clams. He has not added any clams in the tank for about 3 weeks. He has not added anything new to the tank.
Barry
TopTank,
So I guess the questions are: was a contagion introduced by the service person (possibly from non-sterile equipment used on a previous tank); or did the contagion come in with the last addition 3 weeks ago; or is this due to a totally unrelated cause?
ReefDream,
Did you re-introduce the clam back into the tank that had the previous mortalities? If so I guess I have to wonder whether: it was re-infected in the tank with the mortalities; or not completely recovered and removal from treatment allowed the pathogen to get a new foothold on the clam; or is due to a totally unrelated cause?
Maybe Dr. Mac could shed some light and give us his thoughts, he is a veterinarian and a fellow reefer. Anyone try to contact him?
Thanks,
So I guess the questions are: was a contagion introduced by the service person (possibly from non-sterile equipment used on a previous tank); or did the contagion come in with the last addition 3 weeks ago; or is this due to a totally unrelated cause?
ReefDream,
Did you re-introduce the clam back into the tank that had the previous mortalities? If so I guess I have to wonder whether: it was re-infected in the tank with the mortalities; or not completely recovered and removal from treatment allowed the pathogen to get a new foothold on the clam; or is due to a totally unrelated cause?
Maybe Dr. Mac could shed some light and give us his thoughts, he is a veterinarian and a fellow reefer. Anyone try to contact him?
Thanks,
SciGuy2, no, I did not re-introduce the clam to a tank that was infected. It was placed in a tank that has never housed clams at all.
Today, the clam looks to be almost dead. It is receded and the mantle looks like its about ready to separate from the shell. I would guess it'll be dead by tonight. The tank I pulled it from has developed something odd. The original tank also has signs of this oddity, but they are few and far in between now since it has not housed a clam for a few weeks.
The oddity is what I'd best describe as white strings attached to things here and there. The strings look like when hair gets into he aquarium and gets coral mucus on it, but unlike hair, they are easily broken and cannot be pulled out. These are not like the mucus coming from the clam; rather, they form definite white strings of 1 to 2 inches in length. I am almost certain they are associated with the clam deaths since I have never seen them before and I've seen them coming directly out of the sick clam. saltkreep also noticed strings from tips of his acros that were not opening. I don't notice the strings necessarily only on the acros, but I do see them on the acros as well. These strings should be analyzed in my opinion.
Here is a pictures of some about 1" long strings:
<img src="http://home.attbi.com/~domitron2/reefcentral/misc/strings.jpg">
Today, the clam looks to be almost dead. It is receded and the mantle looks like its about ready to separate from the shell. I would guess it'll be dead by tonight. The tank I pulled it from has developed something odd. The original tank also has signs of this oddity, but they are few and far in between now since it has not housed a clam for a few weeks.
The oddity is what I'd best describe as white strings attached to things here and there. The strings look like when hair gets into he aquarium and gets coral mucus on it, but unlike hair, they are easily broken and cannot be pulled out. These are not like the mucus coming from the clam; rather, they form definite white strings of 1 to 2 inches in length. I am almost certain they are associated with the clam deaths since I have never seen them before and I've seen them coming directly out of the sick clam. saltkreep also noticed strings from tips of his acros that were not opening. I don't notice the strings necessarily only on the acros, but I do see them on the acros as well. These strings should be analyzed in my opinion.
Here is a pictures of some about 1" long strings:
<img src="http://home.attbi.com/~domitron2/reefcentral/misc/strings.jpg">
Hi Reefdream,
Your white strings stuff look similar to the one I got. If yours are the same as mine, then, I don't think they are responsible for clam death. I got them years ago and I didn't have clams at that time. They look to be some sort of worms. Mine will actually move and response to light, check yours at night when it is dark.
Bongy
Your white strings stuff look similar to the one I got. If yours are the same as mine, then, I don't think they are responsible for clam death. I got them years ago and I didn't have clams at that time. They look to be some sort of worms. Mine will actually move and response to light, check yours at night when it is dark.
Bongy
Bongy, these are not tube worms. I have plenty of those, and they never cause me any trouble. These are composed of something like mucus. If I touch them, they break apart instantly. They are not responsive to anything because I am guessing they are either composed of long strings of bacteria or are excrement from a tube worm.
reefdream,
you are right, they are not substrate dwelling creatures by far. I had my lights off for a 24 hour period. Upon turning on the lights they were emerging from one of my acro's and into the water. they did appear free swimming. If I see them again I will slurp them up.
Scott
you are right, they are not substrate dwelling creatures by far. I had my lights off for a 24 hour period. Upon turning on the lights they were emerging from one of my acro's and into the water. they did appear free swimming. If I see them again I will slurp them up.
Scott
<font size=+1><b>Clam Update: Battle Lost Even With Doxcycline</b></font>
The enemy has won; the clam died tonight. I bleached the equipment and am almost relieved it's over because it means I can start the clock for the wait until the day I'll be able to buy and keep a healthy clam. It could have been worse: the deaths could have sparked off an acro problem like others have had happen.
The bottom line is that while the doxycycline fended off the bacteria or "the enemy thing" for a period, it did not, given the 5-day treatment at least, save the clam. There is a leason to be learned here too: don't judge a clam by its appearance. Clams die fast and can look real good just a few days before they go.
Looks like I'll be waiting some time before I buy any more clams. Maybe I'll get a clam for the holiday season...
The enemy has won; the clam died tonight. I bleached the equipment and am almost relieved it's over because it means I can start the clock for the wait until the day I'll be able to buy and keep a healthy clam. It could have been worse: the deaths could have sparked off an acro problem like others have had happen.
The bottom line is that while the doxycycline fended off the bacteria or "the enemy thing" for a period, it did not, given the 5-day treatment at least, save the clam. There is a leason to be learned here too: don't judge a clam by its appearance. Clams die fast and can look real good just a few days before they go.
Looks like I'll be waiting some time before I buy any more clams. Maybe I'll get a clam for the holiday season...
cal3v
Premium Member
From what I've heard, the disease can be transferred through minute amounts of water. So we should not buy corals, fish,and other livestock from tanks that have contained these clams that were infected, even though the clams have passed on? This is assuming we already have healthy clams in our tanks currently. If thats true, I guess I won't be getting any new livestock for a while.
I don't know if that is true, but if you want to play it safe like that, don't buy anything from the west coast for awhile. Every single major pet store in the bay area would be affected. I wouldn't even buy anything from anywhere for awhile if you want to play it really safe. As for me, I'm just staying clear of clams for awhile.
