Crocea Clam looks bad...

on3ofak1nd · 06/11/2007, 07:13 AM

I have a beautiful crocea which I've had for almost a year now...

Two days ago while I was at work my overflow started to back up... this caused the water level in my sump to slowly drop and as a result it triggered my auto top-off system to pump freshwater into the sump when it wasn't needed. I caught it and corrected the problem however it swung the salinity down to 1.022! This happened rather rapidly.

Nothing seemed to be affected except my crocea, immediately afterward I noticed the clam was almost completely retracted and there seemed to be a bit of tissue degradation I could see on one side. I assumed it had gotten stressed and therefore was reacting negatively. I decided not to bring the salinity back to normal at that time and instead I'd let evaporation do that for me as I knew it would only take a day or two...

With that being said I'm a bit confused now as I have just read that Pinched Mantle is often treated with a FW dip!? If this is so how could a .003 change in salinity stress my clam to the point that it won't open for 2 days?

Additionally.. last night the clam was opened maybe 1/4 of its normal extension however once the lights went out I was watching and my skunk cleaner shrimp hopped on top of him and started picking away at the tissue area which I stated looked slightly deteriorated. At first I was quite disturbed as I thought he was EATING my clam... I started to cut a 2 liter bottle up to make a "force field" cover to place over the clam in an effort to keep the shrimp away and hopefully allow the clam to heal on its own. But as I was just about done making it the shrimp ceased its actions and went off somewhere else. Is it possible the shrimp was just picking the dead tissue away just as it would with a fish? I wasn't aware that shrimp will clean clams too..?

I looked at the clam this morning before heading to work... the lights were off of course but it appeared to still be intact and didn't look much different than last night... still retracted of course.

Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks

Snowsrfr · 06/11/2007, 07:59 AM

How long have you had the clam? What other residents do you have in the tank besides the cleaner shrimp? What kind of lighting is the clam under, and where is it placed in the tank? Ie. on the sand, on the rocks, etc. What are you water parameters? Ie. Ca, Alk, etc.?

on3ofak1nd · 06/11/2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snowsrfr
How long have you had the clam? What other residents do you have in the tank besides the cleaner shrimp? What kind of lighting is the clam under, and where is it placed in the tank? Ie. on the sand, on the rocks, etc. What are you water parameters? Ie. Ca, Alk, etc.?

I've had it almost a year...

Other residents are a yellow tang, a six-line wrasse, varies hermits and snails, a few emerald crabs...

But all of these have been in the tank for the same duration as the clam or longer...

I have 2 x 250w 10k MH and 260W of actinic suppliment.

The clam is on the sand and has been that way for the entire time I've had it...

Cal: 420
Alk: 3.0
PH: 8.2
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
SG: 1.023 (allowing this to rise to 1.025 through evap)

sammyfish · 06/11/2007, 09:43 AM

I don't think that drop in salinity would hurt it any. It is possible the shrimp was cleaning away the dead tissue. I'm sorry I can't suggest any course of action other than to keep an eye on it.

If it does start to go down hill, you want to remove it quickly as a dead clam can foul your tank in no time.

Good Luck

Snowsrfr · 06/11/2007, 09:58 AM

Have you pulled him out of the sand and checked the bottom to make sure there aren't any snails (I believe it's the pyramid snail that's the one to look for) attacking the clam from the bottom?

on3ofak1nd · 06/11/2007, 02:13 PM

Well I went home on my lunch break and I didn't see my shrimp bothering him today... his mantle was still not fully extended but it might be a little better than before. I didn't have long to observe.
Im pretty sure its not pyramid snails I've inspected it day and night without any trace...
Don't they come towards the mantle at night? I havn't picked it up to inspect it as it actually has suctioned to the glass under the sand... (I don't run a DSB) just a light covering for asthetics. I don't want to stress him further by pulling him off the glass...

06/11/2007, 07:13 AM	#1
on3ofak1nd Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Corning, NY Posts: 278	Crocea Clam looks bad... I have a beautiful crocea which I've had for almost a year now... Two days ago while I was at work my overflow started to back up... this caused the water level in my sump to slowly drop and as a result it triggered my auto top-off system to pump freshwater into the sump when it wasn't needed. I caught it and corrected the problem however it swung the salinity down to 1.022! This happened rather rapidly. Nothing seemed to be affected except my crocea, immediately afterward I noticed the clam was almost completely retracted and there seemed to be a bit of tissue degradation I could see on one side. I assumed it had gotten stressed and therefore was reacting negatively. I decided not to bring the salinity back to normal at that time and instead I'd let evaporation do that for me as I knew it would only take a day or two... With that being said I'm a bit confused now as I have just read that Pinched Mantle is often treated with a FW dip!? If this is so how could a .003 change in salinity stress my clam to the point that it won't open for 2 days? Additionally.. last night the clam was opened maybe 1/4 of its normal extension however once the lights went out I was watching and my skunk cleaner shrimp hopped on top of him and started picking away at the tissue area which I stated looked slightly deteriorated. At first I was quite disturbed as I thought he was EATING my clam... I started to cut a 2 liter bottle up to make a "force field" cover to place over the clam in an effort to keep the shrimp away and hopefully allow the clam to heal on its own. But as I was just about done making it the shrimp ceased its actions and went off somewhere else. Is it possible the shrimp was just picking the dead tissue away just as it would with a fish? I wasn't aware that shrimp will clean clams too..? I looked at the clam this morning before heading to work... the lights were off of course but it appeared to still be intact and didn't look much different than last night... still retracted of course. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks

06/11/2007, 07:59 AM	#2
Snowsrfr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 801 Posts: 412	How long have you had the clam? What other residents do you have in the tank besides the cleaner shrimp? What kind of lighting is the clam under, and where is it placed in the tank? Ie. on the sand, on the rocks, etc. What are you water parameters? Ie. Ca, Alk, etc.? __________________ 60 Gallon Cube

06/11/2007, 09:43 AM	#4
sammyfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the back, with the ladies Posts: 77	I don't think that drop in salinity would hurt it any. It is possible the shrimp was cleaning away the dead tissue. I'm sorry I can't suggest any course of action other than to keep an eye on it. If it does start to go down hill, you want to remove it quickly as a dead clam can foul your tank in no time. Good Luck __________________ The night time is the right time Don’t sweat the petty stuff, pet the sweaty stuff

06/11/2007, 09:58 AM	#5
Snowsrfr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 801 Posts: 412	Have you pulled him out of the sand and checked the bottom to make sure there aren't any snails (I believe it's the pyramid snail that's the one to look for) attacking the clam from the bottom? __________________ 60 Gallon Cube

06/11/2007, 02:13 PM	#6
on3ofak1nd Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Corning, NY Posts: 278	Well I went home on my lunch break and I didn't see my shrimp bothering him today... his mantle was still not fully extended but it might be a little better than before. I didn't have long to observe. Im pretty sure its not pyramid snails I've inspected it day and night without any trace... Don't they come towards the mantle at night? I havn't picked it up to inspect it as it actually has suctioned to the glass under the sand... (I don't run a DSB) just a light covering for asthetics. I don't want to stress him further by pulling him off the glass... __________________ ~Wesley