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 Clams--HELP!!!

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BeasileyBub

BeasileyBub


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Join date : 2013-02-22
Location : Corvallis, OR

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PostSubject: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed Apr 10, 2013 2:22 am

I'm not how immediate the outreach will be. But, so far with my perusing I've found that a lot of the discussions have had useful information.
I digress, I have a little clam I bought 3 days ago-this last Saturday-I placed it in sand with a rock underneath. The next day it had tipped over and I moved it back into place, gently. Either it was knocked over or it was searching for a better footing and I should have moved it. Because now it has become less responsive to movements or looking over the tank.

There are a couple of things. When I did move him to the top of a rock, at the bottom of my tank, there was an aptasia that had approached him and looked as if it would be going in. This is before he starting looking crappy. When I moved him I gently picked the aptasia off and placed my clam back in the water. Reading posts later maybe I should have "burped" the clam before I placed it back in my tank? My concern is that because his footing has not been properly established that I don't want to damaged his chances further by moving him again.

Also, as they act as a filter would it be advantageous for me to maybe turn off my filters for a couple of hours and feed it phytoplankton to help improve his chances. In addition to maybe adjusting his location by adding supports of some kind to act as a wedge so a proper footing can be established?

HELP!!! I'd like to figure it out before it is too late!!!! I can also maybe update this later by taking a picture. He doesn't seem to have any foreign objects in him, nothing attached that shouldn't be, all water levels are fine. I know the mention of aptasia one would think these things aren't true. But my tank was moved over the summer and had a bit of a blow up period and has been fine for a while now. Every now and again a few crop up out of nowhere.
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badxgillen

badxgillen


Posts : 2139
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Join date : 2011-07-14
Location : Corvallis Oregon

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PostSubject: Re: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed Apr 10, 2013 1:04 pm

First off what kind of clam is it?Croceas and maximas are pretty good about getting alot of there nutrition from zooxanthelae,not that I am saying that the clam wont benefit from supplemental filter feeding, I just doubt that that is the issue with the specimen provided your light is sufficeint.One of the biggest things as you may already know is the initial health of the clam.Make sure there are no problems with the bottom side as if there are any tears or damage from moving the byssis threads that can bring a clam down pretty fast.Is it still responsive from shadows over head?this is another thing to check prior to purchases and is a good indication of health.I have removed my clams from the water on several occasions and hav yet to have a problem from that,I also keep my corceas on a small piece of rock wich is in the sunstrate so I see no problem with that.Also I have had many types of corals brush up against my clams with no ill effects so I am not too sure about the aptasia either.One more thing is what are your inhabitants? Many fishes and some inverts love the mantle of a expensive tridacnid clam...I know my butterfly ,dwarf angels,and a few wrasses really put a the kaibosh on the clams.
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BeasileyBub

BeasileyBub


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Join date : 2013-02-22
Location : Corvallis, OR

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PostSubject: Re: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed Apr 10, 2013 2:24 pm

It is a super blue maxima. Initially it was very response when you approached it or disturbed the light traveling to it. It's become less so now. It is slightly open. The foot does look a little flimsy now I think. I sort of wedged it onto a rock and I believe it looks a tad better. It's still open and not responsive to light but it's little filter tube is extended more today than before.
I have attached a photo. He seems to not be able to really close. Otherwise he has no gapping and he looks good color wise and all other than his shell being open. I did put my finger in there and he closed a bit but not all the way.
I have some crabs and snails, they have all left him alone. In terms of fish I have two engineering goby, foxface lo, matted filefish, and a midas blenny. All have appeared to have left him alone.
In terms of the byssis threads is there any recovery from that? or treatments/precautionary measures I can do if that is the case? I'm not sure entirely what it should look like. He definitely has threads on there. I'm also not sure how quickly these can recover or if a mild attachment to a surface will help the clam come back.
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badxgillen

badxgillen


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Location : Corvallis Oregon

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PostSubject: Re: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed Apr 10, 2013 2:41 pm

To my knowledge aside from having proper perameters and a KH of 7+ and calcium 400+ there is not much you can do to assist in the healing of byssis threads it just takes time.I have spoken to many reefers and they ,as well as myself,feel that amino acids and lipids in small amounts are always beneficial for healing tissues but under proper conditions is not manditory.Byssis threads will regenerate its the tissue that they are excreted from that is of worry.I would let it be for now just as you had it before and simply monitor it.With clams there is never a quik fix but I got my fingers crossed for you and I will snag up my croceas here in a little bit and snap a pic of there bottom hinge just for a comparison.once again I wouldnt move your guy until you feel that there is some intervention needed.
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BeasileyBub

BeasileyBub


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Join date : 2013-02-22
Location : Corvallis, OR

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PostSubject: Thanks!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed Apr 10, 2013 3:59 pm

Thanks for your advice. I feel like that is definitely the best course of action. I just hope the little guy doesn't die. He looks a little better today since I wedged him/gently placed him in a rock where he will hopefully stay secure. So far he seems to be creeping every so slightly out of his shell and his mantle is less extended. I appreciate all your advice!
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badxgillen

badxgillen


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Join date : 2011-07-14
Location : Corvallis Oregon

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PostSubject: Re: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed Apr 10, 2013 7:52 pm

No problem as I know how scary things can get some times.I worry about my inverts more than my fish Rolling Eyes
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Tinsle

Tinsle


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Join date : 2012-04-29
Location : Corvallis

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PostSubject: Re: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed May 08, 2013 1:39 am

Did everything turn out alright? I hear you about worrying about my corals and fish.I almost lose sleep sometimes.
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BeasileyBub

BeasileyBub


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Join date : 2013-02-22
Location : Corvallis, OR

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PostSubject: Re: Clams--HELP!!!   Clams--HELP!!! EmptyWed May 08, 2013 2:42 am

It totally died. I think a fish i had was picking it at it and it never recouped. I was so sad.
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