New clam owner with a question (pics included)
 

Hi all, I've spent some time reading as much as I could before purchasing my 1st clam, but now I need some help.
I've had him for 2 weeks, and he has been holding his mantle like this for most of the time. He responds very quickly to light, and I don't see anything picking at him. Is this pinched mantle? Should I be concerned?

He hasn't moved from where I placed him in the tank, so I was guessing he liked it there. (he is attached)

Water prams
1.025
0 Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate
410 Calcium
10 DKH
8.2 PH

Any thoughts?
[IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/Mishg/Clam_2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/Mishg/Clam.jpg[/IMG]

i have had one for over a year that always looks like this. never had any problems with him.

try adding 1L of carbon(in a reactor, canister filter) per 100g tank size. if you run any iron based PO4 removers run all the effluent through carbon as well. if you know how to do a FWD give the clam a 20min dip also. please report back and let us know whats going on

Thanks for the replies.

I didn't want to do a FWD and cause stress if it wasn't necessary (this being a new clam to my system). I have not been using carbon or phosban (if that's what you mean by PO4 remover), but I have in the past. I don't use a canister filter, but I use media trays with the media in bags. I'm guessing this would produce similar resaults.

I'm glad to hear that someone elses clam looks like this, and is doing well. I will keep an eye on him, and post if there are any changes.

If anyone else has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Thanks

what kind of flow does he receive in that location?

He doesn't get direct flow, but I was concerned about that also. I have a power head on a wavemaker system that bounces off two sides of the tank before it would strike him. He wiggled himself forward to where I thought he might be affected by that powerhead. I will have to check at lunch to be sure.

i would at least run the carbon as apposed to doing nothing

I think carbon is always a good idea. It can remove a lot of nasty stuff anyway. Use it once every few weeks for a day or two.

I will add carbon tonight.

As for flow, I checked at lunch, and I felt little to no flow on the clam. So I'm guessing that is not the cause.

as long as his mantle isnt flapping , there shouldnt be a problem with flow

Nope, his mantle is not flapping.

have you checked the clam at night to see if you see any pyramid snails on the shell or in the sand bed?

I haven't seen any snails, I checked the first night he was put in the tank. But I will check again tonight. I have put the carbon in and, I haven't seen a change. I will probably do a FWD this weekend. Just to be sure. I'm really bummed about this.
I'll keep everybody up to date, Thanks.

how much carbon are you running and how are you running it?

also (if i haven't already asked) what do you add to the tank? please list everything

It looks like it is getting irritated by something. Get a toothbrush and scrub around the shell to remove the possibility of any predators and rinse it in a container of your saltwater...not your tank. Also, check if there are any fish or crabs bothering it.

Just a quick update:

I added carbon to my sump (a tidepool) I tried this for about 6 days, saw no improvement so I decided it was time to try a FWD. I dipped for 15-20min. I also scrubed the cam shell. After the dip I examined the water, and I found nothing.

3 days after the dip, he appears to be better. He is extending his mantle, and has reattached to the rock. I will post a pic later today to show the improvement.

I hope I don't have to do this again, and I hope he really is better.
Anybody that says saltwater tanks are relaxing, never had one. : D

Just a quick update:

I added carbon to my sump (a tidepool) I tried this for about 6 days, saw no improvement so I decided it was time to try a FWD. I dipped for 15-20min. I also scrubed the cam shell. After the dip I examined the water, and I found nothing.

3 days after the dip, he appears to be better. He is extending his mantle, and has reattached to the rock. I will post a pic later today to show the improvement.

I hope I don't have to do this again, and I hope he really is better.
Anybody that says saltwater tanks are relaxing, never had one. ;)

It might not have enough light. What kind of lighting do you have and where do you place it?

samvan

I've got pics. I know it's pretty soon after the FWD to be celebrating, but he really looks better. Maybe gaping some, it's a crocea, so I'm still not sure how big his opening should be.

[IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/Mishg/Clam3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/Mishg/Clam4.jpg[/IMG]

as for the lighting, I have T5. He's in the top 1/3 of the tank, so I feel that he is getting good light. Also, the FWD really made a difference, I don't think there would be a change like this if it was lack of light. or would it?

not a light issue

Glad that you feek FWD works but its mantles still look hyper-extended so it still could be light intensity. I have 4 Croceas and they look like that during the first half hour of 80 W light but as soon as 250W MH is on they look great. How old is your T5 bulbs?

samvan

Hi, my T5's are about 1 year old, I will be replacing them soon. Can you show me examples of how the mantle should look, compared to a hyper extended mantle?

1 year old! Time to replace the bulb
Look in this link for good mantle extension examples
[url]http://www.clamsdirect.com/store/home.php?cat=3[/url]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7310754#post7310754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Snprhed [/i]
[B]not a light issue [/B][/QUOTE]

i think this needs repeating

this is not a lighting issue

I think that the bulbs do need to be changed, however I still don't think its the prob