Clam mantle is shriveled

[jordanrb]

I've had this clam for a year now. Was fully opened and healthy the day I got it. Its never moved from this spot and always seemed good. A few days ago I noticed a part of the mantle was shriveled up and the rest is fully opened. At first I thought something just bothered the area but it never opened back up.

Is there anything I should look for as a potential issue? Parameters have not changed.

 

[Uncle99]

Mine would look like that if something nip the outside edge.

There appears to be one vermitid snail on the other clam, best nip that off.

 

[jordanrb]

Mine would look like that if something nip the outside edge.

Thats what I was thinking but I can see the mantle and there isnt any noticeable damage to it.

If it was slight damage could it heal from this?

 

[Uncle99]

Thats what I was thinking but I can see the mantle and there isnt any noticeable damage to it.

If it was slight damage could it heal from this?

That’s a toss, if only once, maybe, but many times, it’s nipped again.

Bites are generally fatal. If it reacts to shade, then that’s good.

 

[jordanrb]

That’s a toss, if only once, maybe, but many times, it’s nipped again.

Bites are generally fatal. If it reacts to shade, then that’s good.

It retracts when I wave my hand over the light.

 

[minus9]

That clam is starving to death, there's no growth at all on the shell. It's hard to tell, but looks like a maxima, which needed to up top in high light. The lighting in that area is fine for the derasa, but based on the corals in the pic, it simply didn't have enough light. Clams can live a long time in these conditions, but they are slowly starving to death.

 

[Uncle99]

It retracts when I wave my hand over the light.

Maybe not a nip then.
That be good news!
see if he fully extends again

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The other clam has new shell growth you can see the white growth. The maxima has no shell growth, biofilm has grown over the top shell so it has not been growing for some time.

 

[minus9]

Also, the center of the mantle looks bleached, another sign of starvation. It will still react to light changes until it can’t. If you have any hopes in keeping it going, you need to move it up higher, but it doesn’t look good to me.

 

[jordanrb]

That clam is starving to death, there's no growth at all on the shell. It's hard to tell, but looks like a maxima, which needed to up top in high light. The lighting in that area is fine for the derasa, but based on the corals in the pic, it simply didn't have enough light. Clams can live a long time in these conditions, but they are slowly starving to death.

Its in 200 par. Would you still recommend putting it higher?

And you are saying even if I put it higher it still may not bounce back?

 

[jordanrb]

The other clam has new shell growth you can see the white growth. The maxima has no shell growth, biofilm has grown over the top shell so it has not been growing for some time.

Ok yes I did not really pay attention to it. It is always very open and covering the shell tips.

It gets enough plankton so its definitely not starving. Might just be the lighting. I will try to move it higher

 

[minus9]

Its in 200 par. Would you still recommend putting it higher?

And you are saying even if I put it higher it still may not bounce back?

Yes, 200 micro moles is not enough for a maxima. Remember, each clam has its own requirements as far as lighting. Two maximas may require two different intensities. At minimum, maxima should be kept in no less than 300 micro moles for at least 8hrs. No matter what, shell growth is the first thing to look for, if you’re not seeing any new growth, the clam isn’t getting enough light (there may be other contributing factors too).
And yes, it may be the case that it’s too far gone, but regardless, put it higher and give it a shot. It’s starving, period, and the only thing that will help is more lighting and possibly some extra nitrogen to feed on. If you haven’t done so, buy Jane Fatherree’s book on clams. It’s a white paperback on amazon.
200 micro moles is the minimum for derasa (there may be some that can go lower), so maxima requires much more.

 

[James CNM]

Check for pyramid snails, the are usually white cone shape. Vermatid can also be annoying, Remove the clam, Give the shell a good scrub and scrape off anything that you don't want on there. Don't panic. A clam will survive hours in freshwater while you do maintenance...ie clearing it from pests. RO water, create the same alkalinity using bicarb adjust same temp as display to minimise shock

 

[James CNM]

if it reacts to shade, then that’s good.

Plus 1

 

[jordanrb]

Check for pyramid snails, the are usually white cone shape. Vermatid can also be annoying, Remove the clam, Give the shell a good scrub and scrape off anything that you don't want on there. Don't panic. A clam will survive hours in freshwater while you do maintenance...ie clearing it from pests. RO water, create the same alkalinity using bicarb adjust same temp as display to minimise shock

I checked it over and cant see anything on it. A few others here are saying its dying due to lighting. No visible shell growth