Hey Whiskey!

Viv · 09-15-2006, 06:00 PM

Sorry for the delay...working nites ****s, takes a day to recover, anyway you had asked if I was sure of the clam type. Guess not! But here's those pics you wanted of clam shell/siphon....My little green clam has died. I'm really not sure why and I'm hoping its not "pinched mantle" disease. Anyway I included pics of that too in case it would help anything you are doing...so here's the pics...

Viv · 09-15-2006, 06:02 PM

here's some more.....

Viv · 09-15-2006, 06:04 PM

By the way, if you know of any way to help save this clam (if its not already a gonner) I'd really love to hear...or for that matter if you know of a reason it could have happened I'd appreciate that tooo, as other clams in the tank are not currently affected.

Wiskey · 09-15-2006, 07:05 PM

I'll be able to look at this a bit better when I get home, but I do think the big one in the first pics is a Squmosa not a Maxima.

What kind of light do you have, for how many hours per day? For some reason those clams look to me like there not getting enough light.

Do you have any pics of the mantle of the one that's not doing from well? Also do you have better (clearer) pics of it from right now?

Whiskey

Edit:
I'm home now, I still think the first is squmosa. The Maxima tends to be much longer than tall, where the squmosa tends to be more symetrical (reason for the shell pic)

They both have scoots, however squmosa tends to have them spaced further apart.

There are a few other things, but those are the major 2.

Viv · 09-16-2006, 05:58 AM

No better pics than those (they were taken moments before posting). I don't think that clam has a chance anymore. It has completely pulled the mantle away from the shell and is all the way down inside the shell. About 7 hours of the day the tank is lit with CF, 4 96w - two white , two actinic. For about an hour (high noon) 3 4oow MH come on. The other clams in the tank appear to be fine and show good mantle extension. I had a tremendous amount of pyramid snails on that squamosa in QT, and have since pulled a few more off (?hatching eggs?) That squamosa is on the other side of a 6ft. tank and doesn't seem to have problems, but I guess those little suckers could have made it over. I did a freshwater dip in hopes of saving it - but it has just pulled completely inside so that the inside of the shell can be seen (like it has shrivelled up). It figures too as this was the one I really liked the best.

Fly Guy · 09-16-2006, 12:12 PM

Nothing to add here, just tagging along and just now beginning to really get into clams myself.....

Sorry to hear of your loss and troubles Viv

Wiskey · 09-16-2006, 02:07 PM

Viv, you have a big tank right? I think I remember that, what size is it?

The one that is doing poorly looks like a Maxima, but it could be something else, I can't be sure (really it's just a guess) because the pictures are blurry.

The Maxima is a high light clam, and I don't think just running the MH 1 hour per day is going to be enough for it.

The squmosa is a lower light clam, that could be one reason why it is doing well while the other is not.

Those snails could reek havoc, look for them at night (they are nocturnal) also scrub the scoots, and around the byassal opening for eggs. Those snails poke into the mantle and suck the juices directly from the clam's mantle during the night and will kill the clam if not eradicated. I would definitely remove any clam with them to QT and pay special attention to the others in the tank at night to make sure you don't have any on those.

HTH,
Whiskey

Viv · 09-17-2006, 06:29 AM

I had that clam high up under the lights, and cut down on the lighting due to heat a burning. The poor thing is dead, other are ok and haven't seen any more snails, it was just a possibility since I pulled off so many during QT. Not off this clam, but the big brown ?squamosa? Since it was dead I opened it- no worms, no snails, so maybe it was the light factor...I never saw a change in the mantles coloring which probably would have gotten lighter if not enough light, correct? I'm thinking some kind of bacteria got it-slimy mess inside, and very foul smelling. I added new carbon to the sump and placed a bag inside the tank behind the rock, just to be safe. Water changes also. You know, it was fine until I started taking pics of it-you don't think the flash from a camera could have done this, do you? Kinda at a loss as to why it happen as nothing else seems to be suffering at all.

Wiskey · 09-19-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

maybe it was the light factor...I never saw a change in the mantles coloring which probably would have gotten lighter if not enough light, correct?

There is an exception to every rule, but generally speaking if the light is not enough the mantle will get a very dark brown, this is why I did, and still do, suspect light. I think you should seriously think about turning those MH up to at least a 5 hour on time, you don't have very much actinic compared to most that are successful with the reduced MH photo-period.

I take pictures with the flash all the time and I have never had any problems with my clams from it, but you do get a better picture if you turn the flash off.

Whiskey