Can clams die while closed?

[Shigshwa]

We all know that clams that are hanging wide open and deflated are dead or moribund, but what about while closed? I know that the clam must use its muscles to close, but I have a curious situation.

I changed my lighting to Orphek a couple of days ago. Everything was loving the new lights, but my Maxima might not have taken to the change well, or something must have stressed it, because some disease has taken hold on it. It's the same as what I experienced before, where the inhalent siphon is being eaten away, somehow. I know that my tank has no bristleworms, and the only worms that I have seen are these long white worms that appear in the rock every now and then, but I have never seen one doing anything to the clam.

I then start noticing PM on the clam, and decided upon performing the standard FW dip. It was still a strongly reacting clam, so it closed quite strongly. Clams typically open within a half day for me, but this clam has stayed closed for a whole day now. What's alarming though, is that I noticed that a little bit of the mantle was poking out of the shell, and nassarius snails were crawling on top to eat some portions!

Could the snails be eating the infected tissue away? I would think that the clam would automatically retract the mantle if it were eaten, but it did not. I tried poking the mantle for a response, but no response, or a weak response at best.

Do I just wait it out? I must have performed the dip rather thoroughly if the clam is this ticked off.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Waiting it out is probably all you can do at this point. If you can, I would keep the nassarius snails off of it and remove as much stress as possible from the situation.

 

[Shigshwa]

Thanks. Inspecting the mantle today, it looks like the snails didn't eat any flesh, they might have been interested in the slime coat or the smell of dead pathogens. The clam is still closed, but at the very least has cracked open just a little. I'll take it as a sign that it still has a decent amount of fight in it left, I hope.

 

[Shigshwa]

It's finally started to open up. It's remarkably limp though, my wrasses are pecking at the mantle every now and then and it's as though it doesn't even care. If it's still alive, I bet it's saying "Ouch, that dip really hurt!"

 

[DSC reef]

Keep a close eye on it, looks like it's beginning to gape. Hope it pulls through.

 

[Shigshwa]

Keep a close eye on it, looks like it's beginning to gape. Hope it pulls through.

I spoke much too soon, I may have killed it with a bad dip. There is no sign of life on it whatsoever. I can only think of an inaccurate pH adjustment as the cause. I'll have to be very careful next time as to not make this mistake again. I should have left it alone!

I think I'll be holding off on Maximas until at least ReefStock comes by. I sure as hell won't be skipping or rushing acclimation steps the next time I try again.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I spoke much too soon, I may have killed it with a bad dip. There is no sign of life on it whatsoever. I can only think of an inaccurate pH adjustment as the cause. I'll have to be very careful next time as to not make this mistake again. I should have left it alone!

I think I'll be holding off on Maximas until at least ReefStock comes by. I sure as hell won't be skipping or rushing acclimation steps the next time I try again.

Well that’s a big bummer. Sorry it didn’t work.

May I ask, where did you hear of Fw dip for PMD, and also for prophylactic treatment?

 

[jpcrash1]

Sorry, I have had bad luck with clams also [emoji22]

 

[Shigshwa]

Well that’s a big bummer. Sorry it didn’t work.

May I ask, where did you hear of Fw dip for PMD, and also for prophylactic treatment?

I picked it up by reading about various threads about clam gaping. I read in depth about it through Google to understand the process. I normally do the process with RODI with a pinch of Sodium Carbonate added for pH. I measure the pH with a cheap Hanna meter. I guess it malfunctioned on me or something. It really only takes a tiny amount to raise the pH to 8.3, so there is not much room for error. All of my clams that I've dipped thus far have at least survived the dip, so I was shocked to see that this healthy clam died from the dip.

I don't know why all of the Maximas I've tried have been so fragile, I could be lazy with my other clams with acclimation and placement and they bounced back in days.

 

[DSC reef]

Freshwater dips have helped and worked but its a fine line for sure. I dont trust it enough as a prophylactic approach and always wait until I know for sure its my last choice. T. Maxima is a sensitive clam IME.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thank gents.
Clearly I have maxima success on my mind (don’t tell the Mrs)

A fwiw, most of the legit PMD work ive seen has been to run fairly aggressive activated carbon on the tank.

 

[John3]

In my experience the moment nassirus snails are on something it’s pretty much a goner.

 

[Shigshwa]

Thank gents.
Clearly I have maxima success on my mind (don’t tell the Mrs)

A fwiw, most of the legit PMD work ive seen has been to run fairly aggressive activated carbon on the tank.

What a conundrum, I'm currently dosing Fluconazole, otherwise this would have been my go to method to try first, lol...