I blame Casey! :) heh heh

Jeremy1973 · 07-29-2003, 06:58 PM

Well, after seeing Casey buying EVERY clam on the market, I figured I should buy one before they are all gone.

He was at the LFS, and I think he is dying. Part of it was the lack of lighting they had him under, part I think was just the tank condition..full of algae and such. It's fellow clam died 2 days before, and I couldn't stand to see this little guy die. So, they gave him to me on a discount. about 50% off. He still seems responsive, and every other day I am squirting DT's straight in to his mouth. Think he will pull through? I have had him since Sunday. How does he look right now to all you clam experts?

Jeremy1973 · 07-29-2003, 06:59 PM

and with out the flash on the camera...

Mrs Smith · 07-29-2003, 07:14 PM

Hm... gaping a smidge - but it might be due to acclimation. Squamosas do that sometimes...

Jeremy, if anyone can save it, you can. Just keep feeding it. It's awfully hard to tell sometimes, as a big clam can exhaust its energy reserves, hang on a couple of months, and disintigrate over a weekend. This one looks like a little guy, so it's hard to guess. Since it's still extending, I'd say it has a chance.

Good luck,
Danielle

07-29-2003, 07:16 PM

i can tell its fighting...but like mrs smith said if anyone can its you.

big t · 07-29-2003, 08:05 PM

I hope it makes it, will be a nice fat happy clam on day

MontanaRocknReefer · 07-29-2003, 08:13 PM

Jeremey I would take it out of the tank during feeding time and place in a bowl of your tank saltwater and put the green water in the bowl as well and about twenty minutes the green water should be gone and should be a good indicator if it is feeding ok!
Then replace back to your tank! Just a thought!

Casey · 07-29-2003, 09:43 PM

darn I get blamed for everything

DennisW · 07-29-2003, 10:09 PM

Ya...Im with Montana....I dont think squirting food directly into the clam is good.

Dennis

Reefer Addict · 07-29-2003, 10:14 PM

I'd also give it's shell a good scrubdown if possible... it appears that it has some form of cyano growing all over it (the bubbles give it away).

What size is it? I didn't see you mention that.
Good luck. Clams are my favorite reef organism.

Jeremy1973 · 07-30-2003, 12:30 AM

He is only about 2" from tip to tip. The taking him out to feed is a good idea. Will it stress him to be moved around that much?

Reefer Addict · 07-30-2003, 01:33 AM

I usually pick up my 1.5" maxima and put it in a glass measuring cup under the tank water. I then take the measuring cup out of the tank, set it on the counter, and drop in some Kent Phytoplex til the water turns a little green. Wait til the water clears up (maybe 20 mins to an hour) and then return it to the tank (I usually just put the water right back in so that the other filter feeders get what the clam missed).
I don't think it will stress it that much as long as you keep the temperature in whatever you're feeding it in close to tank temp... I'll sometimes drop in an icecube (small icemaker variety) to bring down the temperature in the cup if it starts getting too warm.
It usually opens back up fairly quickly and starts soaking up the rays once put back in the tank.
HTH.

SouthernReefer · 07-30-2003, 02:42 AM

jermey, from what i was told at a reef club meeting, orient the clam so the mantle face up towards the light, and not on its side when in the tank. its ok to keep them on their sides when out of the water, but when re-emersing your clam, just remember to burp the air bubbles out. i hope it survives! good luck, maximas are so awesome to look at!
good luck!

MontanaRocknReefer · 07-30-2003, 06:12 AM

Yeah Jereremy when you put the clam back in the tank turn it upside down and gently sway it back and forth a couple of times to release any bubbles like stated! Casey feeds his clams this way I think a couple times a week and has no problems! Casey where are you?

aliendomain · 07-30-2003, 09:01 AM

Jeremy,
Try to keep that clam upright so it can get as much light to the mantel as possible. I have some small ones that tend to tip over on the side, I get around this by putting some small pieces of rock around it to keep it from tipping.
AlienDomain

Jeremy1973 · 07-30-2003, 09:38 AM

Yeah, I have straighten him up, and shortly afterwards, he is on his side again. I figured that was his way of saying.."to much light right now" I will place a rock near him to support him.