Giant Clam problems!

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 11:38 AM

I have had a giant clam in my tank for about 2 months now and it has been doing great until about 2 weeks ago. Typically the shell would be mostly closed with the beautiful colorfull body pertruding from inside. It was quick to flinch when a fish came close or I would stick something in the tank. Now, the shell is very open, and the body doesnt come out as much. The color is still there, but I think something is wrong. Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Is there a problem? Water parameters have been consistent over the entire time period. What could this be?

RedEyeElf · 02/03/2007, 11:54 AM

how old is the tank?
I'm gonna guess and say 4 or 5 months old?

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 11:57 AM

-redeye,

You are correct, its about 6 months old. One fact I forgot to incorporate is that I recently got a spinning powerhead that disperses the water in a 360 degree motion. Before I was just using a straight shot.

RedEyeElf · 02/03/2007, 12:00 PM

is it blowing on the clam?
what parameters are you testing?
how big is clam? where is he placed? what type?

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 12:05 PM

It is not blowing directly at him at all. And it never was with the other powerhead. Parameters are: salinity 1.026, Ph 7.8, Amonia 0. I supplement that tank every day with calcium for my other softies. The clam is roughly the size of a womans fist; the species I am not certain of, but the colors are a deep purple, blue and hints of gold.

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 12:07 PM

also, he is placed on the sandbed of the tank. I assumed that he might have needed more light, so I temporarily moved it higher up on the LR. The same effect was produced so I moved him back a few days ago.

d4a2n0k · 02/03/2007, 12:25 PM

Can you get a picture of it so we can tell which kind of clam you have? There is a big difference is husbandry between clams.

dcombs44 · 02/03/2007, 01:34 PM

Shell structure is much more vital to clam id than color, and the species also determines how much light is needed. Clams do not like abundant direct flow, so be sure that your clam isn't being blasted by your powerhead.

Craig Lambert · 02/03/2007, 01:43 PM

Sounds like a crocea clam. (which should be placed in the rockwork). They will bore into the rock and attach. Your clam is gaping. It is doing this do to being stressed. Water parameters for clams should include fairly high Alkalinity (9-10 dKH), calcium above 400 ppm., and pH of 8.1 or higher. They like stable parameters ie minimal temp, and pH swings. They also like a lot of light. What is your lighting?

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 05:50 PM

I dont have a camera now, but I can show you a link. This looks just like it!!!

http://www.marinefiends.com/tanks/ta...105tankpic.jpg

DSMpunk · 02/03/2007, 06:15 PM

Its probably a crocea or possibly a maxima. Either way they need a lot of light.

What do you have for lighting?

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 06:34 PM

I have dual 100W coral life lighting. Is that sufficient? Why all the sudden has clam 'freaked out?"

Craig Lambert · 02/03/2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by E&Js
I have dual 100W coral life lighting. Is that sufficient? Why all the sudden has clam 'freaked out?"

I'm not familiar with any 100W bulbs. Does your setup have 2 96Watt PC bulbs?

d4a2n0k · 02/03/2007, 07:41 PM

If thats what your clam looks like (Crocea) then you have one of the most light demanding clams. I can only assume you dont have enough lighting because theres no such thing as 100 watt bulbs for aquariums and Im guessing youd probably know what lights you had if you invested in a setup enough to keep this type of clam. These clams require either a quality T-5 light setup with individual parabolic reflectors or metal halide lights. This particular clam also likes to be kept on your rocks, not in the sand like other types of clams.

Like most creatures, they can live in sub-par conditions for a while but if you dont give whats required, it will eventually die.

lpkirby · 02/03/2007, 07:50 PM

IMO Not enough light at all if you have it on the sandbed with 96w? Get better light or at least get him up higher (best would be more light).
just my .02

E&Js · 02/03/2007, 08:29 PM

correct, the 96 watt is what i have; I rounded up . I initially put him in the rock also, and moved him once I purchased a xenia I put next to it. It thrived in the sand until recently though. I think it was just a matter of time until the minimal light must have affected it like you said. I am going to look into an ideal light. Any suggestions/prices?

Chad Vossen · 02/03/2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by E&Js
correct, the 96 watt is what i have; I rounded up . I initially put him in the rock also, and moved him once I purchased a xenia I put next to it. It thrived in the sand until recently though. I think it was just a matter of time until the minimal light must have affected it like you said. I am going to look into an ideal light. Any suggestions/prices?

suggestions: T5 with individual reflectors, retro kits will save you money if you think you can do the wireing yourself and want to make a hood.

metal halide is the next option and i think most people will recommend 250 watts and up.

it sounds like you have a softy dominated reef, so if you upgrade your lights, do it slowly because it will burn your softys if suddenly they are getting blasted by intense lighting.

xxxbadfishxxx · 02/03/2007, 09:40 PM

like everyone else said, not enough lighting, clam may seen happy at first but will eventually die if not enough lighting. I would place him as high as you can until you can get new lighting, T5's or MH.

02/03/2007, 11:38 AM	#1
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	Giant Clam problems! I have had a giant clam in my tank for about 2 months now and it has been doing great until about 2 weeks ago. Typically the shell would be mostly closed with the beautiful colorfull body pertruding from inside. It was quick to flinch when a fish came close or I would stick something in the tank. Now, the shell is very open, and the body doesnt come out as much. The color is still there, but I think something is wrong. Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Is there a problem? Water parameters have been consistent over the entire time period. What could this be?

02/03/2007, 01:34 PM	#8
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	Shell structure is much more vital to clam id than color, and the species also determines how much light is needed. Clams do not like abundant direct flow, so be sure that your clam isn't being blasted by your powerhead. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

02/03/2007, 01:43 PM	#9
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Sounds like a crocea clam. (which should be placed in the rockwork). They will bore into the rock and attach. Your clam is gaping. It is doing this do to being stressed. Water parameters for clams should include fairly high Alkalinity (9-10 dKH), calcium above 400 ppm., and pH of 8.1 or higher. They like stable parameters ie minimal temp, and pH swings. They also like a lot of light. What is your lighting? __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

02/03/2007, 06:15 PM	#11
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	Its probably a crocea or possibly a maxima. Either way they need a lot of light. What do you have for lighting? __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

02/03/2007, 11:54 AM	#2
RedEyeElf Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 462	how old is the tank? I'm gonna guess and say 4 or 5 months old?

02/03/2007, 11:57 AM	#3
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	-redeye, You are correct, its about 6 months old. One fact I forgot to incorporate is that I recently got a spinning powerhead that disperses the water in a 360 degree motion. Before I was just using a straight shot.

02/03/2007, 12:00 PM	#4
RedEyeElf Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 462	is it blowing on the clam? what parameters are you testing? how big is clam? where is he placed? what type?

02/03/2007, 12:05 PM	#5
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	It is not blowing directly at him at all. And it never was with the other powerhead. Parameters are: salinity 1.026, Ph 7.8, Amonia 0. I supplement that tank every day with calcium for my other softies. The clam is roughly the size of a womans fist; the species I am not certain of, but the colors are a deep purple, blue and hints of gold.

02/03/2007, 12:07 PM	#6
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	also, he is placed on the sandbed of the tank. I assumed that he might have needed more light, so I temporarily moved it higher up on the LR. The same effect was produced so I moved him back a few days ago.

02/03/2007, 12:25 PM	#7
d4a2n0k Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,485	Can you get a picture of it so we can tell which kind of clam you have? There is a big difference is husbandry between clams.

02/03/2007, 05:50 PM	#10
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	I dont have a camera now, but I can show you a link. This looks just like it!!! http://www.marinefiends.com/tanks/ta...105tankpic.jpg

02/03/2007, 06:34 PM	#12
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	I have dual 100W coral life lighting. Is that sufficient? Why all the sudden has clam 'freaked out?"

02/03/2007, 07:41 PM	#14
d4a2n0k Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,485	If thats what your clam looks like (Crocea) then you have one of the most light demanding clams. I can only assume you dont have enough lighting because theres no such thing as 100 watt bulbs for aquariums and Im guessing youd probably know what lights you had if you invested in a setup enough to keep this type of clam. These clams require either a quality T-5 light setup with individual parabolic reflectors or metal halide lights. This particular clam also likes to be kept on your rocks, not in the sand like other types of clams. Like most creatures, they can live in sub-par conditions for a while but if you dont give whats required, it will eventually die.

02/03/2007, 07:50 PM	#15
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	IMO Not enough light at all if you have it on the sandbed with 96w? Get better light or at least get him up higher (best would be more light). just my .02

02/03/2007, 08:29 PM	#16
E&Js Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 95	correct, the 96 watt is what i have; I rounded up . I initially put him in the rock also, and moved him once I purchased a xenia I put next to it. It thrived in the sand until recently though. I think it was just a matter of time until the minimal light must have affected it like you said. I am going to look into an ideal light. Any suggestions/prices?

02/03/2007, 09:40 PM	#18
xxxbadfishxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 1,585	like everyone else said, not enough lighting, clam may seen happy at first but will eventually die if not enough lighting. I would place him as high as you can until you can get new lighting, T5's or MH.