Zenya and clam freaks

[namscam]

I don't know about that. It's only getting worse. I acclimated by dripping roughly 25% new water to 75% old water over a four hour period and then let it sit at that ratio overnight. I continued the drip the next day while I was at work. Should have been plenty slow.

Did you let it sit in the bag inside of the tank over night???
If so it probably didnt have enough oxygen. When i got my clam since I was in a hurry to be at work, i only accumilated it for 20 minutes, not even using the drip method but just poured a cup of tank water every 3 min. and til today its still fine and and didnt even have any stress at all.(no gaping)

 

[hwynboy]

Not to be disrespectful to those of you who are new here...but this is Greg Hiller we are talking about. He is a staff member here and has more knowledge of SW tanks than I can hope to learn. And if I remember right he has been doing this for well over 12 years or so. I am sure he did not float the bag overnight. Im sure he took every precaution to get this clam to live. It's sad I think Ninong hit it on the head...the larger the clam the less it likes to be moved...the more stressed it will become.

 

[zenya]

Not to be disrespectful to those of you who are new here...but this is Greg Hiller we are talking about. He is a staff member here and has more knowledge of SW tanks than I can hope to learn. And if I remember right he has been doing this for well over 12 years or so. I am sure he did not float the bag overnight. Im sure he took every precaution to get this clam to live. It's sad I think Ninong hit it on the head...the larger the clam the less it likes to be moved...the more stressed it will become.

Well, first things first. Gregt is Greg Taylor and not Greg Hiller but regardless of that, I have absolutely no doubts that Greg Taylor has enough knowledge how to acclimate clam or fish or corals.
Shipping large clams is very difficult for the very reason that Ninong had stated. I thought that I might get lucky with this clam since it is only going to Florida. I'm ready to kick myself in the head real hard if I could do it

 

[Project Reef]

IME, big clams are not the best shippers. Most of the time they don't come in looking too great, but will recover within a few days. Sadly the gigas in the picture is too far gone to save, Greg. Sadly agan, removing it and taking a hit on it is probably the best thing you can do.

For some reason, IME, clams in generally respond better with FASTER acclimation. 20-30 minutes of "one cup in/one cup out" every couple minutes produces the best results. I am not a big fan of drip acclimation for acropora, clams, zooanthids or favia. However, I find slow drip acclimation an excellent way to acclimate blasstos, fungia, anemones, fish and the majority of the standard LPS corals.

 

[hwynboy]

Well, first things first. Gregt is Greg Taylor and not Greg Hiller

lol oops...I know that. I was thinking of Greg Hiller while typing...lol. Sorry Greg Taylor being from the islands I know you can forgive a kanaka. My fingers type too fast.

 

[nite99]

I also only take around 30 to 45 mins. to acclimate all clams and most corals and have not lost one yet due the process. I cut a hole in the bag about 1" above the critter and 1 cup of water about every 10 mins. and then put them in the tank. It has worked well for me.

 

[gregt]

Thank you all for your input. I want to address some of the things that were said here.

First off, I think we should encourage people to discuss mistakes that have been made even if it is "Greg Hiller" we're talking about. For two reasons. First, even he can make a mistake or not think of something. And second, others reading it can learn from it even if the person in the specific situation already knows. When I'm having a problem, I always appreciate any thoughts people have on a subject. (Ok, so that was kind of three reasons)

That said, let me provide some more details.

I normally do not do such a long acclimation. However, I don't think such a thing will cause a problem.

The acclimation was so long mostly because I intended to quarantine the clam for several days. I have clams in my tank already and I didn't want to jeopardize them.

My biggest mistake, IMO was putting this clam in my tank. That act violated the whole point of the quarantine and in hindsight was a stupid thing to do. When I saw it going downhill I reacted rather than thinking it through (and posting here for others thoughts).

For those that were concerned about the long acclimation and O2, an airstone was used due to the fact that I knew the clam would be in Q for a few days.

Again in hindsight I think shipping stress was the cause. The package was well packed, properly marked and the appropriate pleas for gentle handling and "this side up" were present, however it still was leaking when it arrived. The type of packaging used had to have been badly abused for the exterior packaging to get wet.

All the signs from the first time I saw the clam were bad. I just didn't want them to be true so I ignored them. I think this is a mistake we probably make more times than we want to admit.

I hope this situation can be a learning experience for somebody. I haven't lost something in a very long time. It never gets easy. Sorry it had to be your clam zenya.

 

[wakesetter]

Where did the gigas come from? I have been looking for them for a while.

 

[gregt]

I don't believe these clams really belong in the hobby. They get far too big for most any hobbyist tank. I only was taking this one because it was already in a hobbyist's tank and I could provide room for it for a few years. I also have connections with the local public aquarium and was already working on finding it a permanent home.

 

[zenya]

Hi Greg,

With all being said.., I agree with you. I shouldn't have shipped that clam and no one is more sorry then I at this moment. I had it for almost two years and this clam was very dear to me. However, like you so correctly stated, this particular species don't really belong in the small systems and my "dream tank" never really materialized and so, the victim was that particular unlucky clam that I stupidly bought for "assumed" larger tank that were supposedly coming real soon.
If it was in the 4-5 inches size I think it would've made it with no problems...

I have not lost a thing in a long time as well,Greg,I understand how you feel perfectly

 

[wakesetter]

I want them for 2 400 gallon tanks. I think they will do well in there for a long time

 

[gregt]

And what will you do with them when they outgrow the tank?

 

[wakesetter]

clam chowder.

How does a clam out grow a 4x4x3 tank?

 

[gregt]

clam chowder.

Ha ha. Funny joke. Nice timing too with the events of the thread. I'm so amused.

I guess it won't outgrow the tank if there's not much else in there. That's a lot of real estate for just one clam though. To each his own.

Just don't forget that you'll need a hole big enough to get him in and out of if you ever need to move him. And if you have rockwork, you may have to remove all the rocks to get him in and out.

These are some of the things I considered when I decided to take this clam from zenya. After thinking about them I determined that eventually I would need a bigger or more dedicated home for him, which is why I started talking to my contacts at the public aquarium.

 

[namscam]

clam chowder.

How does a clam out grow a 4x4x3 tank?

T. Gigas can easily out grow your tank.. they can grow to be 50"- 75". so in the long term your tank will not be big enough

 

[nite99]

Doesn't much sound to me like he cares, or hasn't done enough research to know how big they can get. Shame

 

[wakesetter]

good god you guys are negative and self righteous.
Namscam--No they don't get 50-75 inches. That is over 6 feet. I think you have been watching too many sci fi movies. I bet you think they eat divers too.

Greg, sorry about the joke. That wasn't meant to sting you, just a little humor.

Nite99--your right I haven't done any research on them. They are just really nice looking so I think I will buy 10 of them. I don't care how they do as long as they last a few weeks like my goniopora and orange spotted filefish. Those are big words coming from someone with 1 year of experience. You shouldn't assume stuff it tends to make an *** out of you. I have over 15 years experience and have installed more aquariums than you have probably seen. How many people who don't have any idea what they are doing are going around installing 400 gallon tanks? My number one concern with reefs is the animals. That is why I don't sell stuff that doesn't have a good chance of survival and I am trying to sell nothing but propogated corals to my customers. Go preach to someone else.

I am sorry to hear about the clam that died. That sucks. I was just wondering where you found it initialy because they have been very hard to come by in the industry for the last 3-4 years. Before that they were plentiful.

 

[gregt]

I am sorry to hear about the clam that died. That sucks. I was just wondering where you found it initialy because they have been very hard to come by in the industry for the last 3-4 years. Before that they were plentiful.

The industry does something right every once and awhile.

I sincerely hope that they aren't bringing any more in.

 

[Project Reef]

Very rarely do Gigas come in Greg. I see maybe like 2 or 3 every few months. I agree that is a very good thing!

 

[nite99]

wakesetter, I wasn't attempting to preach, I was jst stating that if you haven't done any kind of research on animals you intend to keep, you should. While I have only had a tank for a year, I did 3 years of research before starting it I am by no means an expert, but I have checked things out. Iknow people with alot of years experience in alot of things, but they are by no means experts in what they do. Had you bothered to check, you would know why the Gigas aren't offered the way they were at one time. Not preaching, but the joke I feel was timed wrong.