Bad News Guys! I need help

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 07:58 PM

Well,
For one reason or another my clams have been closed and not extending as much as normal. Well when I came in today they seemed to be open better than they had been all week. The bad news is they both have holes in their tissue between the intake siphon and the exhalant. There seems to be no damage to the mantle and no bleaching spots, but I am afraid that the fact they have remained more closed than normal may have led to tissue necrosis. What can I do? Is it just a matter of time until death? They are both about four inches and have been healthy up to this point.

I hate to lose these guys but I do not know what to do!!!
David

Casey · 10-15-2003, 08:06 PM

David can you get a pic? Remind me of your lighting? How long have you had them? Do you feed? Have you checked for snails?

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 08:30 PM

Two 175 MH The one directly above the clams is a 13K AB. Clams are 18" from lights. Also have two NO actinic tubes.

I have had the clams for about three months now and they have always been extending and responsive up until this past week. I thought that my wrasse was the problem, but he has not been near them since I saw him pick at them that first day.

I have not checked for snails in the complete darkness but have looked pretty close right before the lights go out. I will check tonight.

I noticed what I thought to be a cut on the largest clam about a week ago, but it had not done anything until turning into a hole today.

As far as feeding, I have been adding some home grown phyto that I get from the LFS, to the tank, about once a week. My brother got me some golden pearls ranging from 40 to 100 microns. What is the best size of that to feed?

I will get a pick up tonight.

Thanks as always Casey,
David West

Casey · 10-15-2003, 08:34 PM

David I dont feed the pearls but I would imagine the smallest you can get would be good.pick up the clams and look on the bottom for small cone shaped snails look closely they are hard to see,check for crabs at night also I still dont trust the wrasse something is bothering them,have you tested the water? How is everything else doing in the tank?Is it just the clams that are not opening?

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 08:43 PM

Tank parameters are good, and I have started using RODI water over the last two weeks. Everything is looking exceptional, with just some temperamental zoos closing and opening at will. I did get a lawnmower blenny and while he swims around them I have not seem them perch on them. He does not spend alot of time around them either.

Should I check for the snails with the lights on?

How do I check for crabs?

Other than the LMB there has been nothing else added, could I have had pyramid snails all along and not known it?

Would you reccomend a freshwater on iodine dip?

I know one thing at a time, but I am trying to think of what I can.

Thanks,
David

Casey · 10-15-2003, 08:48 PM

Yes look for the snails in the light and at night I found them during the middle of the day all over the bottom of my clams.yes you could have had the snails all along,crabs look for at night just look for anything messing with them,my LMB sits on my clams sometimes and they wont open up I am concerned about the rip and tear in the clams that in itself sounds like a predator or wrasse or something, I would not dip them as of yet to stressful on them I want to know if you find any snails.

Joel · 10-15-2003, 09:30 PM

David,
I believe the snails Casey is talking about are really tiny ones that you would use tweezers to pull off. I walked in a lfs a few weeks ago and saw an employee with a clam in one hand and tweezers in the other. Upon asking what he was doing he showed me the tiny snails he was pulling off the clams.

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 09:30 PM

Casey,
Here is a picture of the body of the larger of the clam. The tissue looks bleached but it is just the angle of the picture.

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 09:31 PM

I know what to look for since Casey posted the pics of some not too long ago.

Thanks,
D

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 09:34 PM

And the light spots are the clams markings, not snails!
Here is a more full shot.

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 09:38 PM

Here is the worst. This is about as far as it has been opening. A little more at times, and it has been really sensitive to movement and vibration.

I tried to get a better shot, but you can see the hole in the middle.

David

Guys, thanks so much for you time and thoughts!

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 10:10 PM

Out of tank1

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 10:12 PM

Same clam different view

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 10:16 PM

Newerclam

WestPat · 10-15-2003, 10:18 PM

Newerclam side