Clam health

[Fishfinder]

I just recently got 2 clams. 1 derasa and 1 maxima. I've had them for about 3 days. Derasa is in the sand and the maxima is up about halfway in the rocks. They are both fully open and settled in. They seem happy. But how do I know they are healthy? What should I be looking for?

 

[kenniole]

Mouth gaping, pinched mantle, losing color in the middle, slanted or falling over, and brown stringy stuff coming out of the valve that lasts more than a couple of days of being in a new tank..

 

[Fishfinder]

Ok none of those issues yet. They are slanted but they positioned themselves that way

 

[kenniole]

what type of lighting do you have btw?

 

[DSC reef]

A wide mouth on a clam is perfectly normal, especially when feeding through it's incurrent siphon. I'd suggest looking up pinched mantle, pyramid snails, to see what sick clams look like. James fatheree has great articles on true gaping, and different diseases they can have and what to look for. Clams can decline rapidly so knowing what to look for is important. I'm including a picture of the clam in our current tank with a wide open mouth which is fine and not to be confused with gaping.

 

[Fishfinder]

I'm running reef breeder LED's.

 

[Fishfinder]

A wide mouth on a clam is perfectly normal, especially when feeding through it's incurrent siphon. I'd suggest looking up pinched mantle, pyramid snails, to see what sick clams look like. James fatheree has great articles on true gaping, and different diseases they can have and what to look for. Clams can decline rapidly so knowing what to look for is important. I'm including a picture of the clam in our current tank with a wide open mouth which is fine and not to be confused with gaping.

Thanks for the info. I haven't seen any pinched mantle or snails

 

[Fishfinder]

I let the clams position themselves. They are not positioned what I would call upcurrent. Should I move them?

 

[DSC reef]

They will move or position themselves if unhappy to the position they want. I'd let them settle in. I don't intervine until one has fallen or tipped over.

 

[Fishfinder]

Also I don't see any white growth around the mantle. Is this common for new clams?

 

[DSC reef]

White growth indicates shell growth which inturn means the clam is healthy and growing. I wouldn't worry to much now. I've lost clams that had exceptionally quick shell growth and the blue squamosa I pictured still doesn't have the typical new white shell but it's doing great. It will happen in time given steady chemistry and good light.

 

[Fishfinder]

@DSC reef you're a lifesaver. Thanks for the help. Not sure if you remember but you solved my LPS problem as well a couple weeks ago.

 

[DSC reef]

I really appreciate that @Fishfinder. I'm glad I could help you. When you can make sure you post some pics of the clams. Theres a nice thread where we all post the pics at. Clams are one of my favorite animals in this hobby.

 

[fredjr]

Hi, Can someone tell me if my new derasa clam is sick? only had men a few days.

 

[needbiggertanks]

The pictures look good to me unless im missing something specific?

 

[DSC reef]

Looks pretty good. Can't tell if the clam has some bleaching spots or it's just the lighting though.

 

[fredjr]

The pictures look good to me unless im missing something specific?

Not looking to good today :-(

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Test for ammonia and what kind of lights do you have.

Not looking to good today :-(

 

[fredjr]

Test for ammonia and what kind of lights do you have.

All my water tests are good and the lights are Hydra 26

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

All my water tests are good and the lights are Hydra 26

What intensity is the hydra at and the color settings. How far over the Tank is is?

If you have a par meter it would help a bit. 100 min for 8 to ten hours of good spectrum seems to be the lowest I've heard of.