Clam doing very badly.

Wiskey · 11-27-2006, 01:47 PM

As some of you know I bought a 1.5 inch beautiful blue Maxima clam, and I wanted to update you on it's condition, but it's not good

It took very badly to the Q period under PC lights, a small clam like this doesn't have very much of an energy reserve. By the time Q was over it had de-tached from the small rock I had bought it on and retracted all it's byassal threads. I hated to put this clam in Q but getting Monti eating nudies in my display was simply not an option.

I moved the clam into my display just before going on Vacation, when I came back a week later it had "pinched mantle" something fierce, when open the mantle does not go past the shell.

It has also bleached a bit even though I started it on the bottom of the tank.

I did a fresh water dip on it last night, hopefully it helps the pinched mantle, but I think this clam is extremely stressed out.

I don't hold high hopes

but I won't stop trying.
Whiskey

Wiskey · 11-27-2006, 01:53 PM

Here is the thread about when I first got it, it has a pic and a discription of the Q tank setup.

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87488

The clam seemed to do ok for about 5 days in Q but then went sharply down-hill.

Whiskey

dobejazz · 11-27-2006, 02:07 PM

Sorry to hear that Wiskey. But if he has a chance you are the one to give it to him.

Kathi · 11-27-2006, 10:29 PM

I am sorry to hear that. He is a true beauty.

jenajet · 11-27-2006, 10:41 PM

Sorry to hear that. Hope you can nurse him back to health.

Wiskey · 11-28-2006, 10:23 AM

Thanks Kelli, Kathi, and Jenna.

Last night, after the dip the day before, he looked a little better, the whole mantle came to at least the top of the shell, and the back half looked good accually.

I had half a mind to fresh water dip it again, but then I also got the overwelming urge to leave it alone. I think that this is related to too little light, and stress, so I didn't think putting it in freshwater would reduce stress.

I will look at it tonight, if it looks the same or better I will continue to leave it be, if it is worse, then into the dip it goes.

Whiskey

Nyles · 11-28-2006, 11:14 AM

Hope your moving that clam up higher. Keep us posted. After you FWD I would move it up and leave it be. Maybe even give it a shot of some fresh Phyto even if your not going to be doing it normally, maybe just a couple times to get it recovered from QT.

Wiskey · 11-28-2006, 11:20 AM

It's about 15 inches under water, directally under a 250W XM10K MH right now. I don't want to move it up any further because I don't want to shock or stress it further. It is getting about the same light as my other Maxima is, and that one is growing quickly, though you never can tell, but it's getting more light than it would at the top of an average 20K MH lit tank, over 18,000 LUX.

Whiskey

Twitterbait · 11-28-2006, 11:32 AM

how is it looking today?

Wiskey · 11-28-2006, 11:42 AM

I don't know, lights don't come on until 12:00 and I will be at work until 6 or 7 anyway. I have some things to do tonight, but I hope to have time to update you all tonight, if not I will do it tomorrow morning.

Whiskey

Wiskey · 11-29-2006, 01:57 PM

Update for today, he looks allot better than he did when I got back from vacation! The mantle around the inhalent syphon side is still pinched about half way in, about like it was the day before, maybe a little better but there is no way to tell for sure. He does appear to be putting out a biassal thread or two as well, which is a big change for the better.

I am going to continue to do nothing because I still feel that putting it in fresh water will stress the clam, and I think most of this problem is related to stress.

Whiskey

Nyles · 11-29-2006, 02:02 PM

how about a pic

Oh and its Byssal.... not to be technical or anything just FYI.

Wiskey · 11-29-2006, 02:36 PM

Sorry, my spelling is terrible.

I am working on building myself a new computer at home right now, and I'm afraid the old one (Bertha) is no longer operational and I can't find my copy of Photoshop for the new one to re-size the pic. I'm Pic-Less

Whiskey

Kathi · 11-30-2006, 10:46 PM

How is the poor little guy doing?

Wiskey · 12-01-2006, 01:04 AM

Actually, I think he is doing a little better, I am beginning to have some hope.

The mantle appears to be less pinched, in fact it's a little bit hard to tell there is a problem today.

I am going to continue to leave it alone, and look very closely for any changes, I really hope he was just settling in.

Thanks for the interest!
Whiskey