Holes in clam mantle

tangerine3486

Active Member
Large holes have formed in the clam mantle in the past 24 hours. Parameters are stable as far as i can test for but this is not a glaring parameter problem.

Initial guess could be a worm or hermit crab. Clam is ~3 inches. Any help is needed. Those are two holes behind the gaping inlet siphon, not to mention the lower part where it does not even reach the shell... :(

4SXvIohR_eBXOaXT9M66lx0gdIP351BK7K-LD8u4Aiqvl2UZaiqvXGnT5raEmNunBCRTk_5VYjo1d6I4uK1mMHeY25J9NUaZp03jEN8FKtgLD4rxWryb5cqOhUUfKQk-aBKD1Xg1CXaoS7N3R9jVe0QFdS_ADQypUZO-APDzFOBZmrpVFvxiYngnPe628LFVQmafkBzFpfQgcIrSVJDGiSbXuWj2hWbwJu97zqWURThNxFon4T7oO_nd5txm5xEnlKTl3rRwwDI3kGRtLPwrF5qmymT3Mu_gxpjlq90_OlSFytGmsBdzXwKlqruvm1AJMIi-eZ78Lcivm2VnQJfETO1rCjOTegTTGyL1EUBDJ0hsp0Inmk4jrgppQd4SDP1QOXwFXZCyoE4trOCFGFYrMaqGj1mutpqaTKbkPEwMHmleaWoVTcHUDLIFpWAvmuoayxyflnEEDRtAVAoQux7Loze9xK6hfXYQTZH2Ql4fdabGvkLbDkw41mMr25vqAxdKZvrwMAL6XsM5MqM7RzBiRQesIkiVw_GiydetYkzULW66kFfsfIHmBQfdD6JcG5d3zuyJQIl-8Qw-qaPWF6N8BTJkawKvNg9cDK0B21I43g=w740-h1314-no
 

DaveK

Well-Known Member
Usually when this occurs with a clam, it's in serious trouble. You can check out the tank for any livestock that might be going after you clam. Sometime clams do make fantastic recoveries, but this is kind of rare. Do keep an eye on it and remove it quickly if it dies.
 

Oxylebius

Well-Known Member
The polychaete Oenone fulgida eats snails and clams. They are known for drilling holes in mantles of clam and then eating the flesh. You will need to look for these at night, lights off, use a red headlight, move slowly as they are rapid fast.

Likewise, look for pyramid snails at the base of the clam. A majority of the snails that feed on clams and oysters belong to the family Pyramidellidae. Pyramidellidae snails feed mostly at night. During the day they stay out of direct sunlight. They extend their proboscis and, using their needle-like stylus, poke a hole into the mantle of the clam. They then suck out the fluid of the mantle.

http://animal-world.com/Aquarium-Coral-Reefs/Tridacnid-Clams-Ailments
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3/aafeature1
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php

I would make sure you don't have these in your tank before you get another clam. Sorry to hear of the loss of this past one.
 

spiraling

Well-Known Member
No i see some of the DIY traps on the web. Trying that tomorrow.
I have battled with these worms. The DIY trap works, but I was only able to get some of them. They drilled a hole in my elegance and killed it, One sure way to know you have them is if you have dead snails covered in slime.
 
Top