New clam owner with a question (pics included)

Mish · #1 04/25/2006, 04:27 PM

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?

justin-branam · #2 04/25/2006, 05:48 PM

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

mbbuna · #3 04/25/2006, 07:38 PM

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

Mish · #4 04/26/2006, 07:33 AM

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

Snprhed · #5 04/26/2006, 08:21 AM

what kind of flow does he receive in that location?

Mish · #6 04/26/2006, 09:59 AM

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.

mbbuna · #7 04/26/2006, 10:17 AM

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

Snprhed · #8 04/26/2006, 10:23 AM

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.

Mish · #9 04/26/2006, 01:34 PM

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.

hairymushroom · #10 04/26/2006, 02:29 PM

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

Mish · #11 04/26/2006, 03:02 PM

Nope, his mantle is not flapping.

onegreenray · #12 04/27/2006, 09:37 PM

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

Mish · #13 04/28/2006, 09:24 AM

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.

mbbuna · #14 04/28/2006, 10:52 PM

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

Fridmani · #15 04/29/2006, 11:34 AM

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.

Mish · #16 05/05/2006, 09:06 AM

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

Mish · #17 05/05/2006, 09:08 AM

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.

samvanrf · #18 05/05/2006, 11:05 AM

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

samvan

Mish · #19 05/05/2006, 02:48 PM

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.

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?

Snprhed · #20 05/05/2006, 02:54 PM

not a light issue

samvanrf · #21 05/05/2006, 07:10 PM

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

Mish · #22 05/07/2006, 04:47 PM

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?

samvanrf · #23 05/07/2006, 06:53 PM

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

mbbuna · #24 05/07/2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snprhed
not a light issue

i think this needs repeating

this is not a lighting issue

Snprhed · #25 05/08/2006, 09:11 AM

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