Weird looking mantle on my derassa W/ PICS

[Wiskey]

I have had this clam about a year now, it has more than doubled in size since I bought it and seemed to be doing really well until 2 weeks ago.

Suddenly the mantle started looking like the pictures I have posted, It has not gotten better, or worse in the 2 weeks. Please tell me what this is, and how to fix it. Is this "Pinched Mantle?" If so I have heard some people reccomend a fresh water dip, then other people said it did not work and you need to use an iodine dip, which is correct?

P.S. Don't mind the fish in the picture, he ALWAYS does that.

Tank specs, (all salifert)
Ph 8.2
Phospate-undetectable
Nitrate 2.5-5 PPM
Mag 1100
CA 410
KH 9DKH

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[mbbuna]

first check for pyram snails,have you added any other clams lately? Iodine dipes havent worked for anyone,FWD's only hold PM off,but i dont think that is what it is.what fish do you have,please list all.

 

[Wiskey]

In this tank I only have a churub (sp?) angel, and a bicolor blenny.

I added my last clam 9 months ago. (the gigas)

I don't know what a "pyram snails" is, if I am not mistaken it is a very small snail, and the only snailes I can find in this tank are the ones I added. (I looked really close)

I have certh snails, 1 asteria snail, 1 turbo snail, and one blue leg hermit.

I am sorry for the vaige reply, but clams are not my forte.

Thanks for the reply,
Whiskey

 

[mbbuna]

that's ok Wiskey
Pyrams are small snails like you said, they come out at night and feed on the clams mantle.you have to look for them about an hour after lights out. they will be around the byssal opening and up along the top part of the shell just under the mantle. if you find them remove the clam in a dish of tank water and remove them with a tooth brush.
the bi colored blenny that you have is known to nip at clams so keep an eye on him.even thou you may have had it for a while and have never see it nip it could start at any time.
also pygmy angel's are also known to nip clams keep a close eye on him, this is most likely the culprit

 

[Wiskey]

Ok, lights have been off for 1 hour 45 min, I just took a flashlight and looked at this clam really close, I found no snailes. I did see a VERY small white/clear worm near the irratition, BUT it may have been mucas of some kind. I know brissle worms can cause problems, but is there any kind of small white/clear worm that causes problems?

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

PS, that is great, the only 2 fish I have and they nip clams!!! I wish my book would have told me that! The book warned me about the angel and LPS but not clams.

Thanks for the info, I will keep a close eye on them,
Whiskey

 

[mbbuna]

I don't know what the worm could be but if it near the effected part remove it.
if your fish aren't nipping then they may never start,it all depends on the fish,just keep an eye on them.

 

[Wiskey]

I tried to grab the worm with tweesers but it was way too small, I am not even sure it was a worm and not some kind of mucas. It went floating away in the water when I touched it, and it did not appear to be swiming, I could not catch it in the water.

Any other ideas?? You said this did not look like pinched mantle, does it look like a bristle worm? damaged/torn mantle? Is there any thing I can do to try and rule out some possibilites? or should I simply wait this out?

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

I want to add that there is slime comming from the "mouth?" part of the clam, and right next to that where the mantle is pulled in. It is not always there and a fast swimming fish could blow it away, but I do see it come back after a while. I see this most often at night, also at night the mantle does not touch the shell, the whole mantle is pulled in (of course) but in this one spot there is a very small gap between the two where the rest of the clam the mantle is resting on the shell.

I can't get a pic of this because when I turn the lights (to take the pic) the clam opens quickly.

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[mbbuna]

for right now i would just wait. keep a close eye on it.it could be that one of the fish took a swipe at it and it tender.