Author Topic: sick clam (Read 11256 times)

quicksilver · « **on:** April 17, 2008, 11:59:10 »

I need some adive i have a big Crocea Clam about 6+ inches open and even bigger with mantel spread out. last couple of days its been retracting can any one in the beavercreek area help me maybe come over take a look i will post a picture be a shame to lose him i am scared he will not make it.

mdcoblentz · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2008, 13:27:51 »

i would do a big water change and a possible a freshwater dip. I had two die on me in about a 2 week span. I had both of them for over a year... don't know what happened. Look for pyramid snails around the base and mantle at night. Make sure that's not the problem. Clams are kinda tough to diagnose. good luck!!!!

quicksilver · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2008, 13:44:16 »

i have 4 other clams in the tank at the moment and they are just fine he is my big one and i watch all the time i have not seen snails on him so far. I really would want some one to help me on a fresh water dip i have heard that it is hard and might kill the clam. If any one is willing i will give them a frogspawn frag

I am really scared he will not make it help help help.

quicksilver · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2008, 13:45:04 »

I added new carbon and did 30 gallons of water changes over 2 days i could do more if thats the recomendation.

slandis3 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2008, 15:08:36 »

go to http://www.clamsdirect.com/ check out there forum . There is alot of info there on clams

quicksilver · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2008, 18:10:49 »

hi picture of my clam

quicksilver · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2008, 18:11:21 »

picture of crocea

slandis3 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2008, 19:10:49 »

I have never been able to keep crocea's. i have 2 maximas and a giguas but bnoth of my crocea's died. Not sure why but i think they are one of the harder to keep clams.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2008, 19:54:13 »

I'm sure you have already checked but look for aiptasia.

quicksilver · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2008, 20:22:48 »

there is some pests in the tank but none near him.

you can see right throw his intake siphon to the rock not good.

slandis3 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2008, 20:30:30 »

Check for prymid snails on the bottom of him as well as the rocks next to him.. Also check your idodion ( sp?) levels.

quicksilver · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:02:37 »

I dont add idodion and already checked for prymid snails there are none. what do you mean SP levels?

quicksilver · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:04:11 »

If any one is in the local area I will give you a nice frag if you help save him and find out whats wrong. Plz I like him so much.

verper · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:04:24 »

(sp?) = spelling error?

Also, if you are seeing rock from inside the mouth of the clam, its all over. When clams go, they go fast. Sorry.

quicksilver · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:33:37 »

actually he is moving good, and i have seen rock for about 2 days now and he opes and closes still. I think there is time. I need some one to help me find out whats going on I have a nice acropora i baught from just coral hand picked it my self at his house you can have it if you find out whats going on.

slandis3 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:33:42 »

(sp)= not sure if the previous word was spelled correctly. And yes Verper is right if you can see through it it would be best to remove the calm from the tank. I have heard sometimes when one clam goes it cam effect the rest. When ours started to go i pulled it out and put it in a small qt. It was gone the next moring.

Joel · « **Reply #16 on:** April 18, 2008, 07:16:52 »

In addition to advise already offered, I think that information about your aquarium & your routine could be helpful in diagnosis. For example, what are your water parameters? What supplements are you using and how often? Water changes, how much and how often, CA reactor? Calkwasser? - et cetera.

Aside from water parameter issues, Lighting can be a major issue with Crocea clams. They are the most reliant of light of all the tridacna's as they are indigenous to very shallow water. If this clam has been put into the same circumstances (placement, feeding, light type, et cetera) as the other species you currently have, it isn't going to do well long term. Compare this to putting and Acro and a mushroom side by side in an aquarium and expecting they both to do well under the same conditions. Neither will die right away but one will eventually because of their radically different requirements. Many (myself included) believe that Crocea will only do well under metal halides. I've done best with them placed up high in the rock close to 175 or 250 watt M/H with a 10K-20K lamp. Others have reported that even 400 watt are the way to go.

Feeding Crocea can be tough as well, they feed only on the finest (smallest) of particle foods which can be a problem with some of the regularly sold filter foods. Home made whisked yeast or live phyto plankton are what some try feeding corcea.

A lot more information could help with trouble shooting this question.

Joel

quicksilver · « **Reply #17 on:** April 18, 2008, 07:44:02 »

I have 2 150w MH and 2 130W accent lights and the tank he came from had the same I just replaced them last night so now they are new. Calcium tested last night was 400 and added more I add Kent marine buy hand as needed. ALK was high around 10 and Ph is usually around 8.4 temp- is 82 Nitrates 0 Nitrites 0 Salinity 1.024 keep the information comming there is still time he opens up still so i am not moving him until he is dead no way.

slandis3 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 18, 2008, 08:02:41 »

The reason i would move him now is if this turns into pinch mantle i have been told if a clam gets it and dies from it it can spread to other clam in the tank.

quicksilver · « **Reply #19 on:** April 18, 2008, 11:36:48 »

he is attached to a large pice of rock removeing him might kill him. I have seen many pictures of pinched mantel not sure if this is what is wrong but I think its something alts maybe my water if any one has a test kit I will pay them if they come over and fix this.

quicksilver · « **Reply #20 on:** April 19, 2008, 09:06:50 »

i guess he is going to die dont know what to do he is still alvie if any one cares

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19, 2008, 09:13:44 »

Sorry, but I don't think there's anyone that is an expert with clams on this forum. We're all hoping for the best, but you really should probably check out Reef Central or another forum with more clam experts.

Good luck!

Joel · « **Reply #22 on:** April 19, 2008, 09:56:03 »

Have you tried out any of the advise offered to see if it makes any change? (feeding, better exposure to light, et cetera)

ohioreef · « **Reply #23 on:** April 19, 2008, 11:48:50 »

Have you posted your question over at www.clamsdirect.com as suggested in an earlier post?

quicksilver · « **Reply #24 on:** April 19, 2008, 15:36:04 »

yah i did everything ex. remove him from the tank

quicksilver · « **Reply #25 on:** April 19, 2008, 15:36:45 »

NO i called barry he runs clams direct. nice guy.

ohioreef · « **Reply #26 on:** April 19, 2008, 18:47:00 »

Quote from: quicksilver on April 19, 2008, 15:36:45

NO i called barry he runs clams direct. nice guy.

Cool, was he able to offer you any assistance?

quicksilver · « **Reply #27 on:** April 20, 2008, 12:06:34 »

He is still hanging around i think its my water quality like he thought just dont know what i am doing wrong have not killed him yet.

all my corals grow so fast strange.

quicksilver · « **Reply #28 on:** April 23, 2008, 07:42:59 »

I woke up this morning and my clam was almost dead my cleaner shrimp was in heaven

still dont know why. I thought he was making a come back I guess you never know with clams. I did add a derasa clam and he is doing well almost a half inch of shell in 2 weeks that's not so bad love my little derasa clam I just wanted to say thanks for every one that tryed to help me save him.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #29 on:** April 23, 2008, 13:59:14 »

Sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, very little is known about life in the ocean. It's also important to keep in mind that everything has a lifespan, so the clam may not have been sick in the first place. Keep up with water quality maintenance, and be sure that this death does not cause any spikes.

Good luck and sorry for your loss.
Nikki

quicksilver · « **Reply #30 on:** April 23, 2008, 14:11:56 »

I am buying every test kit possible i will get to the bottom his death will not be in vain. You guys are great with adivice don't know what i would do with out you.

quicksilver · « **Reply #31 on:** April 23, 2008, 20:09:37 »

i banished my cleaner shrimp to my sump i think he is killing the clam. Good news he still alive and kicking trying to make come back I think.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #32 on:** April 23, 2008, 22:35:09 »

I don't claim to know much, but chances are, the cleaner shrimp was just trying to help (aka, do his job.) They're excellent at removing dead tissue, parasites, and other pests. Just because it looked like it was eating your clam doesn't mean it was killing it. It could've just been removing dead tissue.

Glad to hear the clam is still alive.

quicksilver · « **Reply #33 on:** April 25, 2008, 18:21:23 »

actually I was kind of suprised i caught him

i know you are right just when a clam is sick it will just be 2 much some times.

reefman · « **Reply #34 on:** April 26, 2008, 00:08:08 »

I have always seen that if a cleaner shrimp or fish start eating on the clam then it is about to die. Sometimes shrimp may pick at the clams, but most times I have seen it the clam is on the way out.

NORTHDIXIEREEF · « **Reply #35 on:** April 29, 2008, 06:17:23 »

IF HE HAS BEEN SICK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE HE IS STILL EATING, THEY CAN BE VERY PICKY. I WOULD TRY SOME DT'S PHYTOPLANKTON AND OR OYSTER EGGS. NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS A CURE, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES I HAVE SAVED THEM BY TARGETING FEEDING THEM WITH DT'S, SMALL AMOUNTS 4 OR 5 TIMES A DAY AND PLENTY OF WATER CHANGES, MAKING SURE THAT TEMP,PH AND SALINITY ARE THE SAME {LIKE DEAD ON}

GOOD LUCK, I FEEL FOR YOU

quicksilver · « **Reply #36 on:** April 29, 2008, 06:52:50 »

I am doing about 5 gallon water changes a day and i am feeding phytoplankton but not oyster eggs dont even know where to find them. The clams do great for like 2 or 3 weeks and then start to pull in like they are sick or something time and time again at this point i think its my water or something that i am adding. My light is fine and i am usually dead on the salinity. Still got to find your store i hear good things.

UD Flyer · « **Reply #37 on:** April 29, 2008, 07:53:17 »

I know absolutely nothing about clams, but something that no one has yet to ask is; what kind of water are you using, or where are you getting it from?

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #38 on:** April 29, 2008, 08:26:32 »

Um, quicksilver, I may be stating the obvious, but I wouldn't buy any more clams until you figure out the issue with your tank. I noticed you were trying to find a gigas on another thread.

Could you please give us ALL tank specs? Tank size, lighting, salt, chemistry, anything you dose, water quality, etc. If you've done this and I've missed it, I apologize.

quicksilver · « **Reply #39 on:** April 29, 2008, 14:12:35 »

I am using Soften water Huag water filteration system in my house. Good news i Hired some one to take care of my fish tank to do water changes and to test the water and feed my clams be cause i keep killing them.

quicksilver · « **Reply #40 on:** April 29, 2008, 14:19:41 »

Tank size is 75 gallon with 10 gallon sump light is curent usa 2 X 150W 14K MH and 2 X 130 Accent lights salt is red sea reef salt for soften water. I use Kent marine Magnisum & Calcium some times Purple up, I also add coral vite once a week. and once every 2 weeks Escential elements. Not sure on water quality i think it is good but my fish make it look messey. Nitrates 0 Nitrites 0 calcium was at 400 last i looked and alk, was 12 salinity was 1.024. Hope that might shine some light O yah i also feed photoplankton once a day for corals and clams.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #41 on:** April 29, 2008, 16:27:26 »

First off, I wouldn't use water that wasn't RO/DI water. A water softener and home filtration system generally won't take out everything. It's very likely that there's some chlorine left in the water you're using...and that could be killing the clams.

A 75g tank is not big enough to house a Gigas clam, if you were looking to buy one of those still.

I also wouldn't dose chemicals unless you can test for them.

slandis3 · « **Reply #42 on:** April 29, 2008, 17:44:37 »

Quote from: Reef'd Up on April 29, 2008, 16:27:26

A 75g tank is not big enough to house a Gigas clam, if you were looking to buy one of those still.

I have a gigas that went from 5" to almost 10" in a year. At the rate hes growing he will out grow my 240 Within the next year or so. They are a fast growing clam.I also agree if your not using ro water You could be getting some problems there.

quicksilver · « **Reply #43 on:** April 29, 2008, 18:14:32 »

I have a 90 gallon just for the gigas and will do a 180 in a year.

quicksilver · « **Reply #44 on:** April 29, 2008, 18:20:52 »

I know. My haug water system is the best on the market was a little over $3000 dollars it pretty much removes everything its a good system the rep said it will remove 100% of chlorine. And I know gigas get big i am going bigger just want and excuse to go bigger. I really think its me just adding the wrong amounts all the time. I been adding stuff like crazy cause it seems like my corals like it they grow almost in front of you eyes.

slandis3 · « **Reply #45 on:** April 29, 2008, 18:47:17 »

I would take a sample of water and get the tds tested. I'm curious of what it is.

ohioreef · « **Reply #46 on:** April 29, 2008, 18:58:04 »

I can guarantee that your Hague system is not giving you 0 TDS water which is what you really need for a healthy system.

quicksilver · « **Reply #47 on:** April 29, 2008, 19:30:02 »

Like i said i have a guy comming in on friday and he will test everything and work on the tank for me. I will keep you updated on what he finds.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #48 on:** April 29, 2008, 20:26:30 »

Home filtration systems generally DO NOT go to 0 TDS because of the taste of the water. Pure water isn't quite as yummy tasting as it sounds. Even bottled water is about 300 TDS (Figi water says on the bottle what theirs is). No matter how good your home filtration system is, it's not suitable for aquarium use (more than likely.)

Please let us know what he finds. In all sincere politeness, please do not obtain animals that you cannot keep thriving. If you've had a problem with clams in the past, claim to not know anything about clams, and do not have a large enough system for a Gigas clam, then please wait until you are ready.

Purchasing animals that require specialized care and not providing that care can ultimately lead to trying to find a new home for it...it would probably go to someone that also did not know how to care for it...and it will eventually die. When masses of people follow this pattern, more harvesting of these animals will occur...and then the local pet store will be saying that anyone could keep them in a 29 gallon nano.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. This wasn't directed entirely toward you, but for anyone considering large or specialized animals with the intent of "upgrading". Everyone hopes for it, but rarely does it happen...instead, life happens.

Speaking of having someone come look at your system...every month we need someone to host a club meeting. If you were to host, you'd have lots of knowledgable people able to get a first hand look at your system. It's a lot easier for unfamiliar eyes to spot the problem!

quicksilver · « **Reply #49 on:** April 29, 2008, 20:43:02 »

I would love to host but my soon to be wife is not to happy on how much a reef tank cost I will ask. but anyways I will be a little embarrassed on what my system looks like compared to what you guys have set up. I am getting married May 24 so affter that would be fine but she wants to know how many will be comming and it will be some time in june or july. It Will be nice to have ideas on my New 90 but i am not sure if I should go ahead and build it or go strait to 180 like I want.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #50 on:** April 29, 2008, 20:56:59 »

No need to be embarrassed. We all started at one point or another...and most of us made the same mistakes! That's what a reef club is for.

Congrats on getting married! I understand how hectic that can be. I wasn't trying to nominate you for hosting, but thought it could be helpful.

quicksilver · « **Reply #51 on:** April 30, 2008, 07:04:21 »

It really makes since to have me host it when you say everyong can help me I just have to wait a month or so wedding stuf comes first. On top of it wedding is draining all my money.

I will keep you posted.

slandis3 · « **Reply #52 on:** April 30, 2008, 10:42:34 »

Hey who did you hire to maintain your tank?

Joel · « **Reply #53 on:** May 02, 2008, 11:53:54 »

What's the latest with your clam & aquarium. What was determined by the person who came to check out your system & water?

quicksilver · « **Reply #54 on:** May 02, 2008, 12:44:10 »

The phosphates were high dont know how they got high I dont feed much. But we did find my linka Star fish dead in the back of my live rock but i can't reach it to get it out. Also Alk was high I am going to go buy a Reverse Osmosis system and a Phosphate reactor to correct the promblem. I have another group comming in Sat. to actully help in fixing the problem. Reef maintenance experts from Cincinnati should Do the job just fine.

JoeAyers · « **Reply #55 on:** May 02, 2008, 17:57:48 »

Quote from: quicksilver on May 02, 2008, 12:44:10

I have another group comming in Sat. to actully help in fixing the problem. Reef maintenance experts from Cincinnati should Do the job just fine.

I'm from Cincinnati. Who are these experts and what are they going to do?

quicksilver · « **Reply #56 on:** May 02, 2008, 22:12:55 »

I will post all information when they get here. Not so sure what the deal is I think they are going to test everything and what not and tell me my options.

Joel · « **Reply #57 on:** May 02, 2008, 22:48:15 »

How about a solid answer to the question...who is it that you have hired to do this?

ohioreef · « **Reply #58 on:** May 03, 2008, 07:51:01 »

Why is it such a big deal who he has hired? Maybe he would prefer to not say. Let him post the numbers and proceed from there.

slandis3 · « **Reply #59 on:** May 03, 2008, 08:28:18 »

not a big deal. just courious if there is someplace new in cicny that we havent been to yet.

quicksilver · « **Reply #60 on:** May 03, 2008, 09:35:30 »

its Cincinnati Aquarium Design. http://cincyaquariumdesign.com/ I did not tell you cause i could not think of it off the top of my head and did not want to be wrong on top of it i was at work and was not allowed to be surfing the net.

ohioreef · « **Reply #61 on:** May 04, 2008, 07:32:42 »

Did you find anything out?

quicksilver · « **Reply #62 on:** May 04, 2008, 09:01:14 »

Just that the phosphates and alk. where high my clams are wide open like nothing wrong. I put in a phosphate reactor and adujsted my feeding and dosing.

ohioreef · « **Reply #63 on:** May 04, 2008, 11:57:25 »

Well, nothing water changes wont remedy. The PO4 reactor will help out. Should help with algae issues as well, if you have any.

Just curious, how are you supplementing your alkalinity?

quicksilver · « **Reply #64 on:** May 04, 2008, 20:06:46 »

Thanks for the help.

JoeAyers · « **Reply #65 on:** May 04, 2008, 21:45:53 »

Quote from: ohioreef on May 03, 2008, 07:51:01

Why is it such a big deal who he has hired? Maybe he would prefer to not say. Let him post the numbers and proceed from there.

You have to realize there is nothing in Cincinnati. I was hoping that maybe there was a new store/company in the area. We drive 1+ hr anytime we want anything reef related to Joel's or Scott's.

slandis3 · « **Reply #66 on:** May 04, 2008, 21:58:54 »

Quote from: JoeAyers on May 04, 2008, 21:45:53

You have to realize there is nothing in Cincinnati. I was hoping that maybe there was a new store/company in the area. We drive 1+ hr anytime we want anything reef related to Joel's or Scott's.

You know what that means.. you need to move closer. reef tanks come before work anyday.

quicksilver · « **Reply #67 on:** May 05, 2008, 07:45:41 »

I think my new 175 Will be alot of work maybe to much but i am up for the challenge. With the help of you guys how can some one fail.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: sick clam (Read 11256 times)

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