Need help with my Clams

MikeZ300 · 01-08-2008, 12:34 AM

The two clams that I have will not open all the way. Anybody have an suggestions? I don't want them to die.

ninjataco777 · 01-08-2008, 12:35 AM

waht lighting do you have? what type of clam is it?

framerguy · 01-08-2008, 12:40 AM

When posting help questions like this it's imperitive to give all the info you can, everything you know about water parameters (not just "my water is good"), lighting, flow, how long the tank is established, how long you've had the animal, and how long they have been displaying symptoms. Clams demand very intense lighting and use a lot of calcium. Look at those two things first.

MikeZ300 · 01-08-2008, 12:46 AM

Sorry, kind of new to the hobbie. I have LED 400 soloris, I have good flow but not directly on it. My Calcium is 450. Not sure what kind it is. I posted a pic of it.

Thanks

ninjataco777 · 01-08-2008, 12:48 AM

what size is your tank?

framerguy · 01-08-2008, 12:56 AM

No Problem. Welcome to RS! and the greatest hobby ever. Your clam looks like a maxima but I am not positive. When you wave your hand over the clam does it retract quickly? It should. You have an excellent light fixture. How do you have the lighting set? (kelvin rating, duration, intensity, etc.) Have you noticed any thing picking on it/at it? Clams are prone to certain parasites. Have you noticed any small snails the size of a grain of rice around the edge of the mantle? Lets start with those questions first.

MikeZ300 · 01-08-2008, 01:08 AM

Thanks for your help. My lights are on for about 10 to 12 hours. I don't notice anyone picking on it, but it's possible i guess. I don't see any pirimid Snails on it. It does move if I wave my hand over it or if a fish swims by it. In the store it was wide open. unless it takes time to open up. It's been in my tank for a few days now.

MikeZ300 · 01-08-2008, 01:09 AM

It's a 300 gal. the intesity is 100 %

framerguy · 01-08-2008, 01:13 AM

If Jack has set your lights up then they are set right. As long as they are responding to stimuli and noone is picking on them, I think they are just acclimating. You could try feeding a phytoplankton based food to stimulate them to open.

Techno-Vicki · 01-08-2008, 01:30 AM

Hi Mike, Vicki here. It is a crocea (we didn't have any Maximas FS). One of the first things to consider is watch your fish. Are any of them nipping at the mantle. Frequently, this is the problem with a clam with the mantle closed. Is one of the clams leaning sideways? If it is, you should consider moving it or proping a rock to get it upright.

MikeZ300 · 01-08-2008, 01:43 AM

Hi vicki,

I thought it was a crocea, I haven't really seen any fish picking on it. But it's possible. If they are will they ever stop or should I take the clam out. Also, I think i'm going the fix my shelf rock so that it is completly flat maybe that will help
thanks
Mike

chris&barb · 01-08-2008, 08:31 AM

can you please list all fish and please list results from every test kit you have including Sg and Temp.

how did you acclimate the clam to your tank?

just an FYI for anyone wondering how to ID clams Clams Direct :: View topic - Tridacnid clam ID made easy

and water chemistry for clams Clams Direct :: View topic - Water chemistry guidelines

Witfull · 01-08-2008, 08:37 AM

what lighting was it under before you got it? solaris lighting is different from halides.

also when you put it into the tank after acclimation,,,,did you roll it to make sure there was no air trapped inside it?

Techno-Vicki · 01-08-2008, 10:29 AM

Mike, yes, it looks like the one needs to attach to something, otherwise it is very difficult to open and close. Wit was on to something with the lights. Jack had it under less light. If you have them near the top, you might consider moving them down for a while into the sand bed to aclimate to the light. When I kept mine low, I usually put something under them (rock, clam shell) so that the foot could attach and keep pests away, or move them to a more central part of the rockwork. If they are in the middle of the tank, you should be fine. The only trouble I had with corals and aclimation to the light were green ricordias. All other invertebrates did fine. One last thing, don't 'keep' moving the clams. They are sensitive and given too much movement can become stressed and might die.

mps9506 · 01-08-2008, 10:43 AM

Does it look like pinched mantle to anyone else?

01-08-2008, 12:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
MikeZ300 Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Need help with my Clams The two clams that I have will not open all the way. Anybody have an suggestions? I don't want them to die.

01-08-2008, 12:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
ninjataco777 Scopas Tang Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south jersey Posts: 478 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams waht lighting do you have? what type of clam is it? __________________ "Take the warning labels off and let the problem solve itself" RS Nano Club My 29 Gallon Oceanic Biocube Reef Chronicle http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...c-biocube.html ANTI-WALDO ANTI-BIO-BALL ANTI-CARRIBEAN BRISTLEWORM

01-08-2008, 12:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Need help with my Clams When posting help questions like this it's imperitive to give all the info you can, everything you know about water parameters (not just "my water is good"), lighting, flow, how long the tank is established, how long you've had the animal, and how long they have been displaying symptoms. Clams demand very intense lighting and use a lot of calcium. Look at those two things first. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

01-08-2008, 12:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
MikeZ300 Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams Sorry, kind of new to the hobbie. I have LED 400 soloris, I have good flow but not directly on it. My Calcium is 450. Not sure what kind it is. I posted a pic of it. Thanks

01-08-2008, 12:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
ninjataco777 Scopas Tang Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south jersey Posts: 478 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams what size is your tank? __________________ "Take the warning labels off and let the problem solve itself" RS Nano Club My 29 Gallon Oceanic Biocube Reef Chronicle http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...c-biocube.html ANTI-WALDO ANTI-BIO-BALL ANTI-CARRIBEAN BRISTLEWORM

01-08-2008, 12:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Need help with my Clams No Problem. Welcome to RS! and the greatest hobby ever. Your clam looks like a maxima but I am not positive. When you wave your hand over the clam does it retract quickly? It should. You have an excellent light fixture. How do you have the lighting set? (kelvin rating, duration, intensity, etc.) Have you noticed any thing picking on it/at it? Clams are prone to certain parasites. Have you noticed any small snails the size of a grain of rice around the edge of the mantle? Lets start with those questions first. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

01-08-2008, 01:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
MikeZ300 Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams Thanks for your help. My lights are on for about 10 to 12 hours. I don't notice anyone picking on it, but it's possible i guess. I don't see any pirimid Snails on it. It does move if I wave my hand over it or if a fish swims by it. In the store it was wide open. unless it takes time to open up. It's been in my tank for a few days now.

01-08-2008, 01:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
MikeZ300 Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams It's a 300 gal. the intesity is 100 %

01-08-2008, 01:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Need help with my Clams If Jack has set your lights up then they are set right. As long as they are responding to stimuli and noone is picking on them, I think they are just acclimating. You could try feeding a phytoplankton based food to stimulate them to open. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

01-08-2008, 01:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
Techno-Vicki Dancing Mandarins Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sanger, CA (on Kings River) Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Need help with my Clams Hi Mike, Vicki here. It is a crocea (we didn't have any Maximas FS). One of the first things to consider is watch your fish. Are any of them nipping at the mantle. Frequently, this is the problem with a clam with the mantle closed. Is one of the clams leaning sideways? If it is, you should consider moving it or proping a rock to get it upright. __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

01-08-2008, 01:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
MikeZ300 Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams Hi vicki, I thought it was a crocea, I haven't really seen any fish picking on it. But it's possible. If they are will they ever stop or should I take the clam out. Also, I think i'm going the fix my shelf rock so that it is completly flat maybe that will help thanks Mike

01-08-2008, 08:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
chris&barb Midas Blenny Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 115 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Need help with my Clams can you please list all fish and please list results from every test kit you have including Sg and Temp. how did you acclimate the clam to your tank? just an FYI for anyone wondering how to ID clams Clams Direct :: View topic - Tridacnid clam ID made easy and water chemistry for clams Clams Direct :: View topic - Water chemistry guidelines

01-08-2008, 10:29 AM	#14 (permalink)
Techno-Vicki Dancing Mandarins Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sanger, CA (on Kings River) Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Need help with my Clams Mike, yes, it looks like the one needs to attach to something, otherwise it is very difficult to open and close. Wit was on to something with the lights. Jack had it under less light. If you have them near the top, you might consider moving them down for a while into the sand bed to aclimate to the light. When I kept mine low, I usually put something under them (rock, clam shell) so that the foot could attach and keep pests away, or move them to a more central part of the rockwork. If they are in the middle of the tank, you should be fine. The only trouble I had with corals and aclimation to the light were green ricordias. All other invertebrates did fine. One last thing, don't 'keep' moving the clams. They are sensitive and given too much movement can become stressed and might die. __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

01-08-2008, 10:43 AM	#15 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Need help with my Clams Does it look like pinched mantle to anyone else? __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

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