Help! My new Maxima!!!

[puntific]

OK,

I bought a maxima yesterday. This is my first clam. It looked great yesterday. It looks like it is in trouble today. Here's the story:

I placed him at a 45 degree angle at the bottom of my tank. Half on the sand and half on a rock. There was a space under him that was not touching anything but I thought most of his foot was in something.

The first to come check him out were the peppermint shrimp. That was fine as he has some aptasia growing on his side. Later the cleaner shrimp stopped by. This didn't worry me either. He remained open and didn't seem to mind their attention.

This am I got up and turned on the lights. I found my emerald crabs (about 3) on him and one inside, picking away at the mantle. The clam was not reacting much to the crabs. I did see the clam close once and expel water. After a bit I became worried. The mantle was detached somewhat and appeared to be shrinking in. I stuck in my hand and removed the clam. It didn't move at all as I grabbed him. I placed him in my refugium under 1 - 65w SmartLamp bulb (50% daylight and 50% actinic), about 2 inches from the surface. The lights there will be going out in about an hour so if this is too close to the light then it shouldn't be too bad right away.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice for me, I would really appreciate it. If anyone from Portland could come by and take I look, I would love you forever. Well, maybe. Anyway, all comments are welcome.

Scott W.
503-281-7030

[mojoreef]

Hey scott sorry to here about your woes. I know that whatever i put in my tank the crads, snails and shrimp check it out and and go after what ever new goods came in on the coral or clam. I havnt heard of emeralds hurting clams before (unless they are large, quarter size nd up)and then probibly not. him expelling water is normal my clams do it all the time (to clean thier surface and knock off the snails and crabs that get to close. One thing you might check is his foot. If you turn him over and take a good look at his foot, sometimes thier are little parasite snails that will drill into his flesh. They are tiny buit you should be able to see them. If he has I would take him back to the store you bought him as you dont know what damage they might have caused. But you know it could be just as simple as he needs some time to adjust to your tank, I know mine took about a week before they started to expand naturally. I would check for the snails and if none put him back and let him settle in for awhile. Keep an eye on the crabs but I dought they are the prob.

Hope it helped.

Mike

[DennisW]

Scott,

I REALLY wish that I had saw your post sooner!!!! I would have stopped by and tried to reassure you! I would assume that you have the clam back in the main tank by now. If not then you should do that. I can tell you from experience that a clam (depending on it's size) would not tolerate an emerald crab picking at it. It would mealy use its jet propulsion to BLAST the crab off it (and usually across the tank!). I would also think the clam would just....close up.

I regards to the placement of the clam. I would place the clam on the substrate. Not half on a rock, half on the substrate. If its a maxima, then I would slowly move it up towards the light in the tank. Depending of course on what lighting conditions it came from.

Other than that....I would just let it be. It will get accustomed to your tank soon. I know that mine seem to fend off all the "critters" pretty well. Its kinda funny to watch it shoot snails or hermits across the tank!!!

HTH
Dennis

[puntific]

Well, the room the tank is in is smelling like clam. That can't be a good sign. I have left the clam in the refugium, which is getting a lot of light and decent current. However, I am not encouraged. The smell and the lack of movement can't be good. Dennis, I watched the emeralds and shrimp on the clam for about 20 minutes and only saw the clam close once. That was yesterday. No movement today. As I said. I am leaving for the weekend.

Unless someone votes otherwise, I am going to put the clam back into the main tank before I leave. That way either the clam will recover or will be eaten more quickly and not allowed to rot.

Opinions?

Scott

[puntific]

ps. As I am still looking for reasons for why the clam has had a rough time, I want to ask what the best way of aclimating a clam is.

Scott

[Wrasseman]

Your best bet acclimating most new additions is a to pour off a portion fo the bag water (depending on how much you have to begin with and how long the creature has been bagged approx 40-60%). Then drip water from the aquarium into the bag (or place the creature and water into bucket). On simple drip is small diameter tubing with a loose knot. You want to replace the water you removed over 1-2 hrs. Basically, you are attempting to match temp, salinity, etc over period of time.
This is a method I have used in the past. Hope the clam pulls thru.
Craig

[vulkum]

scott at worse case if the clam is dying and it doesn't make it.if you decide to get another one make sure it has quick responses at the LFS by passing your hand over it and see how fast it closes. if its very slow to not at all i would pass on the clam. mine react anytime a fish passes over them. good luck
aaron

[Alice]

Scott;

I hope all is well on your return but it doesn't sound good Hopefully you've some new salt water pre-mixed and ready to go in case you need to do a water change.

Best of luck with the clam.

Alice