Zooxanthellae strands

[David MC Lee]

My Derasa puts out Zooxanthellae strands once in a while and wanted to know why the clam does it. Is this a sign if something wrong?

 

[a4twenty]

if the clams only does it from time to time, it's likely excess ( zoox. is multiplying ) and a sign things are going good. it's when the clam dumps a lot fast that there is usually a problem.

if your clams colour is good and you only see it occasionally, then you have nothing to worry about.

HTH

 

[David MC Lee]

I did some lighting changes this past week and I thought the clam looked a little bleached. Its hard to tell the clam has always looked a little bleached. I've had the clam for 3-4 years and it has added 7-8" of shell. Last week I noticed down near the bottom of the clam there was a patch of what looked like real bleaching. I new the 250W bulb above that end was old so I changed it and also switched to a 400W. I raised my light rack up about 18" and over the next 4 days lower it back down. I can post some pics.

 

[David MC Lee]

Here is a pic of the bleaching spot I noticed a week ago.
<img src=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u316/ocean_front_view/noticed1weekagoDSCN3041.jpg>

Here is the entire clam pic from today.
<img src=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u316/ocean_front_view/entireclam.jpg>

Here is a pic from 2 1/2 years ago
<img src=http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u316/ocean_front_view/2halfyearsago.jpg>

 

[a4twenty]

that's different.........bleaching of that flat part of mantle is often caused by light shock. i would guess you didn't acclimate him slowly enough. i would raise the light again and allow longer for the clam to get used to the new stronger light.

double check all your water parameters and keep a very close eye on his colour over the coming days / weeks and post back if things worsen.

 

[David MC Lee]

thanks. I had also noticed the Zooxanthellae strands today and had not seen it in a long time. I raised the rack up early today and will keep it up for a while.

 

[OrionN]

I think, but not 100% sure, that your clam is bleaching a little. Did you change your light? Did you move the clam to a different place in your aquarium? Check the bulb make sure that it is not cracked. Was there a heat spike recently? How are the rest of the corals and clams in your tank? Did you change water the last few days? If you did, did you change salt brand, or have a new container of salt of the same brand?
I find that stress to your clam can cause minor bleach to total bleaching. You just need to determine what it was and try not to do it again.