Why is my maxima clam's incurrent siphon is so open? *PIC*

[BigStun]

I have had this 5" maxima clam for over a year and its incurrent siphon is very open. My tank's parameters are nearly perfect and haven't had any problems. I also have a derasa that is doing perfectly fine. Is something wrong with my maxima or do some just do this?

One thing I thought I might add is that I do not dose phyto, I have a 180 gallon tank with a high bioload with regular feeding...the water whould be full of nutrients.

Here is a pic of the maxima

And here is a pic of the derasa

 

[acroconut]

Looks like your clam is gaping. How long has it been doing this? Have you moved the clam recently? Is it directly downwind of where you may have dosed B-Ionic or other additives? Nothing in your tank picking or pearching on it? Have you checked for Pyramid snails? Changed the water flow in the tank? Just a few things to check. I have to do regular inspections of my clams for pyramid snails. They will sometimes gape for 5 or 10 minutes after I place them back in the tank. After that amount of time the inhalant returns to normal. Also you could try posting your problem over on the Clams Direct emergency forum. Clams are Barry's specialty.

 

[Gatorfan]

Your clam's a Crocea, not a Maxima. Some degree of gaping seems to be normal for them. Has it been like that since you got it, does it seem healthy otherwise(reacts to motion, growth)?

 

[BigStun]

it seems like the crocea (thanks for clearing that up) has been doing this ever since I could remember. He reacts to motion and has been growing slowly. I am pretty sure there are no pyramid snails...

 

[Reefmaniac1]

Croceas tend to gape lots more than other species. I wouldn't worry about it too much though, unless the mantle starts receding from the shell...then it's in trouble. Do you feed it any? If not, try feeding it a couple times a week with something like DT's Live Phytoplankton.

 

[BigStun]

I have not been feeding, but plan on raising cultures of phyto in the near future.

 

[mbbuna]

move it closer to the lights croceas live up in the rockwork and it will get more light there also

 

[ExoticWonders]

just my 2 cents in on this one. everybody else has pretty much covered every thing else. but how big is the clam. anything under 4 inches should be either bowl/bell or spot fed. in that size of a tank you may want to consider feeding it even if it is over 4 inches.

 

[ExoticWonders]

sorry about that....opened mouth and started typing to fast. that is what i get for checking forums at work. LOL

none of my crocea's tend to gape for more than a couple of hours, which is how i tell if they need fed. i usually feed every other day and have 4 different crocea's ranging from 2" to 6". I would try to spot feed with a turkey baster and see if it stops gapping.

 

[Barry N.]

Some degree of gaping seems to be normal for them.

I agree. If a Tridacna crocea gaps a little I don't get concerned but if a Tridacna maxima gaps then I get concerned.