Is my clam gaping?

Flipturn88 · 07/20/2004, 08:49 PM

I've had this guy for a few days now. He is a hippo clam, and he opens up nicely during the day and responds well to shadows. I know that hippos do not extend their mantle beyond their shell, but I was wondering if the incurrent syphon is gaping and if he looks normal. Here is a pic:

Thanks,
Kayla

Strandedthinker · 07/20/2004, 08:55 PM

How quick are his reactions?

Flipturn88 · 07/20/2004, 09:08 PM

Almost immeditatley. I've read that new clams often gape, and the larger ones (gigas and derasa) often do as well. I have had it for a few days (I think 4).

Strandedthinker · 07/20/2004, 09:23 PM

Quick reactions is usually a sign of good health. I would do some searches on google for clam gaping.

Flipturn88 · 07/20/2004, 09:34 PM

Alright, thanks. I have looked through here @ RC and it's not uncommon for the bigger of the T. clams...hippos get to be 18."

CTN1983 · 07/20/2004, 11:27 PM

I don't think its really gaping, looks like a healthy clam to me.

Barry N. · 07/21/2004, 03:47 AM

Shows a little sign of gapping but not much so I wouldn't worry too much at this time.

Flipturn88 · 07/21/2004, 06:26 AM

Thanks for the help! He looks even better this morning, so I think he'll be fine. This is my first clam, so I was a bit worried

.

Thanks again,
Kayla

zonco · 07/23/2004, 05:12 PM

is this a (Hippopus hippopus) clam if so I have seen a few and would say that they always seem to be wide when they are open or gaping! but not as in gapping the bad way.

Flipturn88 · 07/23/2004, 05:16 PM

Thanks! This is a Hippopus hippopus...I have had many people tell me that gaping like this from this species isn't uncommon. Thanks for the reassurance--he is looking good

.

Project Reef · 07/24/2004, 04:48 PM

Looks healthy, don't sweat it. These are very hardy clams.

Reefmaniac1 · 07/26/2004, 01:25 AM

Gaping has nothing to do with the inhalent (the opening in the pic) or the exhalent valves. In fact, if the inhalent is that wide, it's a good thing, since he is trying to feed.

Gaping is when the mantle pulls away from the shell, and you can see between the matle and the shell.

From what I can tell in the pic, that is a healthy clam! Enjoy!

Flipturn88 · 07/26/2004, 05:56 AM

Good. This was all music to my ears. Thanks again!

Kayla

majesticangelfish · 07/26/2004, 07:07 AM

Looks healthy, and sweet to!

, my clam did the exact same thing for about 2days.

Josh

Reefmaniac1 · 07/27/2004, 01:59 AM

Glad to be able to ease your fears.

Might I make a suggestion though? Find a good book on clams and read up. Reefing is like playing any sport: You aren't going to be any good at all if you don't know the rules.

Flipturn88 · 07/27/2004, 06:12 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. I have read a lot of books on clams, but none stated that hippos gape. They mentioned other larger, deep-water clams to gape (such as T. gigas), so I was unsure when I saw my clam react in this way.

Thanks again for the help!

07/20/2004, 08:49 PM	#1
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Is my clam gaping? I've had this guy for a few days now. He is a hippo clam, and he opens up nicely during the day and responds well to shadows. I know that hippos do not extend their mantle beyond their shell, but I was wondering if the incurrent syphon is gaping and if he looks normal. Here is a pic: Thanks, Kayla __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

07/20/2004, 09:08 PM	#3
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Almost immeditatley. I've read that new clams often gape, and the larger ones (gigas and derasa) often do as well. I have had it for a few days (I think 4). __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

07/20/2004, 09:34 PM	#5
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Alright, thanks. I have looked through here @ RC and it's not uncommon for the bigger of the T. clams...hippos get to be 18." __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

07/21/2004, 06:26 AM	#8
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Thanks for the help! He looks even better this morning, so I think he'll be fine. This is my first clam, so I was a bit worried . Thanks again, Kayla __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

07/23/2004, 05:16 PM	#10
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Thanks! This is a Hippopus hippopus...I have had many people tell me that gaping like this from this species isn't uncommon. Thanks for the reassurance--he is looking good . __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

07/20/2004, 08:55 PM	#2
Strandedthinker Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 848	How quick are his reactions?

07/20/2004, 09:23 PM	#4
Strandedthinker Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 848	Quick reactions is usually a sign of good health. I would do some searches on google for clam gaping.

07/20/2004, 11:27 PM	#6
CTN1983 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 65	I don't think its really gaping, looks like a healthy clam to me.

07/21/2004, 03:47 AM	#7
Barry N. Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 475	Shows a little sign of gapping but not much so I wouldn't worry too much at this time.

07/23/2004, 05:12 PM	#9
zonco Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pewaukee, WI Posts: 426	is this a (Hippopus hippopus) clam if so I have seen a few and would say that they always seem to be wide when they are open or gaping! but not as in gapping the bad way.

07/24/2004, 04:48 PM	#11
Project Reef **** R.C. Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,844	Looks healthy, don't sweat it. These are very hardy clams. __________________ - Ali

07/26/2004, 01:25 AM	#12
Reefmaniac1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 2,580	Gaping has nothing to do with the inhalent (the opening in the pic) or the exhalent valves. In fact, if the inhalent is that wide, it's a good thing, since he is trying to feed. Gaping is when the mantle pulls away from the shell, and you can see between the matle and the shell. From what I can tell in the pic, that is a healthy clam! Enjoy! __________________ "Stupidity is not necessarily punishable by violence. Although, there are days when I wish it were." - Solomon Short Current Tank Info: None due to disaster...and moving.

07/26/2004, 05:56 AM	#13
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Good. This was all music to my ears. Thanks again! Kayla __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

07/26/2004, 07:07 AM	#14
majesticangelfish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 1,920	Looks healthy, and sweet to!, my clam did the exact same thing for about 2days. Josh __________________ "Natural does not imply ideal; only acceptable or tolerable." Current Tank Info: Bonsai ZEOvit 115g BK200 Profilux, Balling method (TEC NGIII) T5: D&D 2xActinic+ Pure Ac.; Korallen Zucht: 2x FP 2xCL(dimmbar), Iwaki+Penductors. Rimless ZEO 100g, two 500g inwall dual sided starfire

07/27/2004, 01:59 AM	#15
Reefmaniac1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 2,580	Glad to be able to ease your fears. Might I make a suggestion though? Find a good book on clams and read up. Reefing is like playing any sport: You aren't going to be any good at all if you don't know the rules. __________________ "Stupidity is not necessarily punishable by violence. Although, there are days when I wish it were." - Solomon Short Current Tank Info: None due to disaster...and moving.

07/27/2004, 06:12 AM	#16
Flipturn88 Damsel in Finesse Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,578	Thanks for the suggestion. I have read a lot of books on clams, but none stated that hippos gape. They mentioned other larger, deep-water clams to gape (such as T. gigas), so I was unsure when I saw my clam react in this way. Thanks again for the help! __________________ . .:( Kayla ):. . Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.