Dead Clam

[Sdoutreefer]

About a week ago I bought a beautiful 1.5" maxima from my LFS, and this morning, it had died. Before I took the little guy home, I visited my LFS 3 times to check up on the clam before I took him home. It was very reactive and healthy and taking daily feedings of Phyto. Two days ago I found it on its side in the morning, and ever since then it just didn't look right. It was still very reactive but its shell seemed to be splitting. I fed it yesterday and it seemed to like the food (it was closed for a while), and after opening, it was not reactive at all and I knew it was going to die shortly after.

I have kept small clams in the past, and still have a couple of them that are very big now. Does anyone know what could have happened? Or is this a risk you take with small clams? IMO, i think a hermit did something to it, or my devil peppermint shrimp that has killed a sea hare in the past..

 

[skinz78]

Small Maxima's are susceptible to stress and daily feedings are not needed IMHO. When doing so I'm sure you are causing more harm than good and stressing the clam by movement. Sorry for your loss, I've had problems with Peppermint shrimp pestering them to death too.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Thank you. It is a bummer he died. He was absolutely beautiful. I agree, feeding him daily was probably not the best idea, but he "looked" hungry. Maybe because it was stressed out.