Ultra blue maxima not opening all the way?

[M0oN]

Got a good deal on an ultra blue two days ago - mantle is fine, still opens to the point of seeing his flesh with good healthy coloration, but he has yet to open up completely to where I can see him feeding ect.

I've got him about 20" below 150 watts of 15k HQI...anything I should be doing to try and help him out?

No tank mates harassing him outside of a very young red scooter blenny perching from time to time and some turbo snails crawling across him.

Water flow is moderate at best with a vortech on pulse mode.

Salinity is a tick high at .026

 

[M0oN]

Erm he's already mounted himself pretty firmly to where he's at as well, so I think I'm stuck leaving him there unless some one has some tips on removing a foot without shredding it. All other clams from the same vendor are in good health.

 

[a4twenty]

posting a pic would be best.

i'm not sure what you expect to see when the clam is feeding..... clams get their nutrition in the form of sugars directly from the zooxanthellae hosted in their mantle. even if they are extracting some food during respiration, there really isn't anyway to tell whether the clam is breathing, feeding or doing anything at all.

it can take some time for a clam to fully open, shipping is very stressful for them and they need time to feel safe again. also all clams don't open the same amount, this varies from species to species as well as by individual clam.

he can be moved, even if attached but i would rush things at this point. try to post a pic and let him get acclimated to his new system.

HTH

 

[M0oN]

Thanks, I'll post a picture this afternoon when my halides come up. What I meant by not feeding was that I don't see his mouth or tube, but he's only a week old from being shipped so I suppose that's normal.

 

[M0oN]

Sorry for the poor quality - old camera

 

[a4twenty]

mantle extension looks fine to me, why do you have him covered?? are there fish picking at him???

 

[M0oN]

Fish aren't picking at him, but a scooter kept perching on him - temporary with spot feeding until he gets settled in

 

[BlastoEric1589]

skip spot feeding. they prefer to filter feed. more light intesity might coax him out just a little more, but he seems prettyy healthy to me too

 

[SPSpirate]

looks fine for the extension of a maxima..healthy looking! what is your def of full extension..

 

[M0oN]

Erm, prior to putting the glass over him he was not fully extending - you could just see mantle, but not the mouth or other organs of the actual clam. I don't know if this is just somthing they periodically do to expell wastes or what?

Anyway, it could be that he's just settling in as he's only been in the tank two days - there is also a Vortech MP20 on the other side of the tank in pulse mode, so perhaps he's not enjoying the wave action?

 

[a4twenty]

if he isn't extending when uncovered but does when covered, then you probably have a problem with a fish. it may just be the scooter sitting on him or another fish, either way it will be stressful for the clam.

once you uncover him , let us know how it goes


oh yeah, sweet looking clam

 

[Mentat]

Re: Ultra blue maxima not opening all the way?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14784582#post14784582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by M0oN
...but he has yet to open up completely to where I can see him feeding ect.... No tank mates harassing him outside of a very young red scooter blenny perching from time to time and some turbo snails crawling across him....

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14788803#post14788803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by M0oN
Fish aren't picking at him, but a scooter kept perching on him - temporary with spot feeding until he gets settled in

Appears your "spot feeding" is attracting unnecessary attention and stressing the clam. It is not needed, clams feed off symbiotic algae living within itself and stuff they need and get from water. Recommend visit the flagged posts at section's top and read the posts and links on clam's physiology and care. Think your clam will be healthier and thank you for that.

 

[M0oN]

Well, when I say spot feeding - I'm really just squirting a small amount of cyclopeeze into the container to make sure it gets in there - as well as my daily dosing for the entire tank.

I'll read up more on the posts, though - I think I was just over reacting on a new inhabitant as I'm prone to doing.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll stay updated

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14791871#post14791871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by M0oN
Well, when I say spot feeding - I'm really just squirting a small amount of cyclopeeze into the container to make sure it gets in there - as well as my daily dosing for the entire tank.

cyclopeeze products are usually zooplankton which is to large to be utilized by a clam, if you're going to supplement for clams phytoplankton is the right size.

 

[M0oN]

I was not aware of that - bad information at the LFS as usual. Thanks for the tips guys - I'll pick up some DT bio, I'm sure everything in the tank would appreciate it.