Help my maxima!!!

[dbman]

Hi guys I been away from the board for awhile but now that I need help I'm running back here as fast as I can!


I've got a Maxima about 4" long which was in my LFS's display reef for at least 2 years; I purchased it in December and it has been in great health, has grown noticeably, and generally been a good tank resident.

Last night I was looking in the tank and I noticed its incurrent orifice was "gaping" ; I could see right into it and normaly it is just a tight slit. I noticed some caulerpa stalks were touching its mantle and removed them, but I can't imagine that being enough to irritate the clam.

It's sitting right under a 400W 10k halide, about 8-10" below the surface of the water, so it has plenty of light, has been firmly attached to this rock for its entire lifetime, and I am at a complete loss what could be bothering it.

ANYONE have any ideas what I can do to help my prized clam???

TIA

[cyberchef]

Keep an eye on it. I've seen plenty of them open up wide for whatever reason, normal behaviour as far as I know. I'm sure there are others on the board that will know better if it is a problem and will correct me... Are there any tears in the mantle or any other signs of something wrong?

[dbman]

Originally posted by cyberchef
Keep an eye on it. I've seen plenty of them open up wide for whatever reason, normal behaviour as far as I know. I'm sure there are others on the board that will know better if it is a problem and will correct me... Are there any tears in the mantle or any other signs of something wrong?

OK I'll try not to panic - this is my most prized tank resident and I don't want to see it hurting! It's never "gaped" like this in the 4 months I've had it so it scared me a little!

[cyberchef]

I have a squamosa, derasa and a maxima and I've seen all 3 do it at least once in the past few months.

[mikeMersot]

Are you feeding the clam phytoplankton? If not it may be that it is trying to filter more water, just a guess. If you dont feed it I would consider reading this article by Dr. Ronald L. Shimek
http://www.dtplankton.com/new_page_1.htm