Tridacna on the Halfshell

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Hello this is my first post on this forum. A friend directed me here and I'm hoping that someone can help. I have three Tridacna clams in my reef tank and have an "emergency" situation with the oldest. It's a derasa that I've had for five or six years. Four days ago the tissue on one side detached from the shell overnight. The other side is still attached and the clam is still alive. I'm familiar with gaping and this is not whats going on. I discovered that the return pump from the sump was leaking a small amount of stray voltage and I suspect thats what caused the "detachment". All other organisms in the tank (including the other small tridacnas) show no signs of stress. I wish my digital camera wasn't broken so I could post a photo.

Is electrocution a reasonable hypothesis? Can I do something to help the clam "reattach"? Will the clam reattach? Can a clam grow a "whole" new half shell? Is it doomed (please say no!)?

Thank you for your help,
Tom

 

[critterkeeper]

"All other organisms in the tank (including the other small tridacnas) show no signs of stress."

I'd say that's your answer right there. If it was electrocution, why would only one clam show symptoms?

You really need to get some pics, as I can't really understand what you're describing.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I, too, acnt help but think that if you had an environmental critical problem, all would show stress, not just one. Could mechanical injury have happened?

 

[Tom@HaslettMI]

If it was electrocution, why would only one clam show symptoms?

I did fisheries research in inland lakes this summer and we did a fair bit of electrofishing. The effects of electrofishing are more intense on larger organisms (the clam is by far has the largest biomass in the tank).

I can't really understand what you're describing.

Picture this if you will...nearly complete detachment of mantle from shell on one side. So you can look in between the shell and the mantle. The shell is bright white and smooth and the mantle is white-ish with some bumps. You can almost see the hinge of the shell but the mantle blocks your view...hope this helps.

 

[Tom@HaslettMI]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8136517#post8136517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
Could mechanical injury have happened?

Its possible, but there was nothing new added to the tank and no rocks or corals had fallen.

I suppose a snail may have tried to cross the opening and freaked the clam out. The clam then tries to close up and in essence pinches the snail between its shells....continues to try to close and ends up tearing itself off of its own shell....may be?

 

[jay24k]

I honestly don't think there is much you could do but wait and see. Perhaps Barry at clamsdirect.com might know. Could always ask him. He is pretty knowledgable on clams.

 

[a4twenty]

need a picture for sure, where's mbbuna? he is a great source of info

i guess you didn't have a GFCI, they're really cheap :rollface:

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I still dont think it is stray voltage. Electrofishing puts massive voltage into the water. Stray voltage is a minute fraction of that. Dont get me wrong, still blow up that pump thats leaking current as revenge- let me guess, was it a rio? But i think you have an issue with this one clam rather than environmental. alas, i am but speculating.

 

[Tom@HaslettMI]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8139259#post8139259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by a4twenty
i guess you didn't have a GFCI, they're really cheap :rollface:

I do have a GFCI!

need a picture for sure

I'm working on getting the digital camera fixed.

blow up that pump thats leaking current as revenge- let me guess, was it a rio?

Not a Rio...an Eheim 1250. But I can't hold a grudge the pump ran flawlessly for close to 15 years!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

why not- grudges rule! No matter what pump you run, spend the $12 and get a grounding probe. flawless pump can crap out anyday (like you now know).

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8140653#post8140653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tom@HaslettMI
I do have a GFCI!

i think you need a new one then ( or check that it is wired correctly). that is exactly what the GFCI is supposed to protect you from.

 

[musty baby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8139259#post8139259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by a4twenty
need a picture for sure

I don't think he could have explained it any more clearly

 

[musty baby]

...nor does he need to...

 

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Well the end has come for the clam. It was starting to look worse and worse so I decided to pull it, put it out of its misery as well as insure that the whole tank didn't go down the tubes from a rotting clam. Thank you for all of the help.

a4twenty...the GFCI works fine, I do test it on occasion so I know it works. I'm no electrician but I believe the it is a GROUND fault interupter. Which will only stop an electrical charge from going from the tank to the ground (you know through the unassuming aquarist), so I don't think that it will stop current within the system. I could be wrong about that though.