3 for 3 dead clams...What am I doing wrong?

[Dr4gula.f32]

Clam 1, a Maxima came from a LFS. It was open really far and looked great. I accidentally dosed too much baking soda, he closed up and never opened again. I found my hermits eating him.

Clam 2, a Deresa from Petco was not fully open in the store and didn't fully open for me. 3 weeks later hes dead.

Clam 3, another Maxima from the same store as Clam 1. It was open and looking great. Put it in my tank, and it never opened more than a quarter inch. Dead within 3 weeks.

I dont have a phosphate test kit, but all my other levels, checked with Red Sea kits, are all normal. My corals are all growing, splitting, and fish are doing well. I have corraline algae growing.

Where do I start to fix this problem? I really want a nice clam in the tank.

 

[Jekyl]

Need a list of all current parameters and lights being used.

 

[MrGisonni]

Lighting and nutrient levels? Potential predators?

 

[Sean Clark]

Acclimation may be an issue. Lots of stores run low salinity for a few reasons. Clams can be very sensitive.

 

[knockout]

If you can find an honest answer about the death rate of clams in the hobby, I strongly believe you will find the reason there, I think is VERY high

 

[twentyleagues]

I know this is an older thread. I would say that half the battle with clams is finding health ones to begin with. Not knocking Petco as a whole but I wouldn't buy live stock from most of their stores. I know a select few have good knowledgeable people. For them to die so quickly id guess they were not healthy to begin with.

My first clam was a crocea had that for 7-8 years was sold when I got out. I tried a very small maxima less then 2" wasnt able to keep it longer then a year unfortunately. I'm guessing not enough nutrients for such a small clam to survive. My last clam was a durasa about 7-8" when I got him from a fellow reefer who was getting out. Very healthy had it for around 3 years before I got out. Of coarse parameters play a large roll but from what I've seen they like a little n and p in the water, occasional adds of phyto doesn't hurt either especially when very small or in ultra low nutrient tanks like mine was back then.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Ever find out what was wrong with them?

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

About 3 weeks ago I picked up a 4.5 inch Derasa clam from Petco. This one has been doing really well. Open all the way, every day. It has a nice fresh white stripe from new growth. Fingers crossed on this one.

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

Today I picked up a 2 inch Maxima from Petco. Hopefully this one stays alive like the Derasa

The maxima was open as I took this photo but the pre-flash caused him to close up a bunch. It's mantle hangs over the edge of the shell a lot

 

[Rmckoy]

Clam 1, a Maxima came from a LFS. It was open really far and looked great. I accidentally dosed too much baking soda, he closed up and never opened again. I found my hermits eating him.

Clam 2, a Deresa from Petco was not fully open in the store and didn't fully open for me. 3 weeks later hes dead.

Clam 3, another Maxima from the same store as Clam 1. It was open and looking great. Put it in my tank, and it never opened more than a quarter inch. Dead within 3 weeks.

I dont have a phosphate test kit, but all my other levels, checked with Red Sea kits, are all normal. My corals are all growing, splitting, and fish are doing well. I have corraline algae growing.

Where do I start to fix this problem? I really want a nice clam in the tank.

A few things come to mind .
1) acclimation
2) lighting and parameters
3) when you bought them
Were they in the sand bed and when you placed them in your tank were they placed on the sand ?
And if attached to something was their foot attached , how were they removed ?

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

Both of the clams pictured above were in the sand in Petcos frag tank. The derasa is in the sand in my tank bc that's where they go. I put the Maxima on the rock bc that's where it goes. The light is an AI Hydra 32 running I think Saxby. They are on for about 12 hours a day and it even gets a bit of direct sunlight for a little bit during the day. Nuisance algae is almost non existent except for my snail that looks like it has long flowing locks

 

[OrionN]

There are a numbers of clam diseases out there. QT clams if you have clams in your tank, especially nice and expensive ones.
The 5 clams below are my 2 CroceaI had for several years, 2 Noae I had for 4 months and 1 Derasa (from Petco) I had for 6 weeks. All are growing well.
healthy, good light and good water are all you need to keep them growing.

Now that I got the Dino taken car off, I got to retake some of these pictures. These are some of the older pictures.

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

My derasa and squamosa are currently doing really well. I'm going to go back and try and get a Maxima soon. I like there colors the most.

 

[OrionN]

picture today

 

[TopClamSkoo]

Acclimation may be an issue. Lots of stores run low salinity for a few reasons. Clams can be very sensitive.

that's sooo annoying!
Before I got my rodi unit, I got water from a store that was closer to where I lived than the one I prefer to go to. I tested the salinty and I found out it was 1.021!!!

ARE YOU CRAZY MAN!!??!!???