Is this normal clam behavior?

[ItouchedThebutt]

Noticed my clam opening like this after the lights went out. Usually it’s full open and very reactive. Can’t find much info on behavior or signs to watch forz

 

[OrionN]

That clam looks bad. If this is not transient only then it is dying.

 

[OrionN]

That is classic for what we call gaping. The incurrent syphon is large AND the mantle retract/shrink.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

Okay, so this isn’t normal like sleeping behavior? I never see it like this during the day. What are some indicators to causing this behavior? Tbh I’m going to be shunned for this bout I don’t have alk, mag, or cal testers since I don’t have much coral and do weekly 5 gallon water changes on a 40 system. I planned on ordering them here one at a time through the next few pay checks. But salinity stays at 1.026 temp stays at 77 nitrate was 0 last I test and phosphate was .03 I have been feeding reef roids twice a week to try and up the phosphate have not tested since a week ago.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

That clam looks bad. If this is not transient only then it is dying.

What do you mean by transient?

 

[Doctorgori]

I think @OrionN is being tactful, If you want the uncut version the prognosis is very bleak IME

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

I just want some info into what it is man. If it’s dying then we’re here already, I just would like to know what it means or signifies and what’s going on in the tank to solve. I got it at aquashella from clam mania against my better judgement but the guy seemed so confident it was so easy to take care of that I got it. But I’m here now, so if it’s gaping what is that and what does that mean? Your not gonna hurt my feelings.

 

[rhitee93]

Can you post a picture of what it looks like when the lights are on?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What kind of lights do you have and what intensity? They need very high lighting.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

I have a single AI prime over my Red Sea reefer 170 about 10”-12” high. Run the brs recommended spectrum with the blue spectrum maxing around 100%. Clam is almost center of the light halfway in the water colum height. I’ll take some better photos when I’m off work but I have some the kinda have it photo bombed in the back from the same day I noticed this behavior. In one photo I can see it’s gaping but the mantle looks open.like I said not the best photos but I wasn’t intending to get a picture with these ones.

 

[OrionN]

In the original picture, the Crocea exhibits what we call gaping. It this just transient, resolved after a short time, then it is not something that is too worrisome. However if it stays like that then it won't live

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you know the par it was at? I don't know if AI Prime can provide enough light for crocea, personally I would not try. Maybe try renting a par meter

 

[exnisstech]

How long have you had the clam? I was light starving them before I invested in a par meter. They would do well for a few weeks to a few months then poof gone. I have the same tank and own the light but it is not in use. I don't think that light that high will give you enough par for a clam but I can't say for sure without par readings. I never tested mine. I keep my clams in 300+ par. Some people keep them in less but I've not had luck.

 

[OrionN]

What I see from these previous pictures is that the clam is not growing, which is a bad sign. Healthy clams must put down new shells, and this one does not. If we exam the soft tissue, most likely finding would be decrease mass in comparison to the healthy growing clam of the same shell size.

 

[Doctorgori]

I just want some info into what it is man. If it’s dying then we’re here already, I just would like to know what it means or signifies and what’s going on in the tank to solve. I got it at aquashella from clam mania against my better judgement but the guy seemed so confident it was so easy to take care of that I got it. But I’m here now, so if it’s gaping what is that and what does that mean? Your not gonna hurt my feelings.

I think if you are asking about what can be done, in my experience; not much at this point. Just my sample but when I see a clam in that state; death is imminent. Could be hope, but honestly I doubt it.
I’m guessing since I’m hesitant to be the bearer of bad news, others might feel similarly.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

That clam starved to death from not enough light, the gaping was caused because it was under distress, when it’s gaping that much and the mantle is retracted that much it’s far to gone, i would definitely recommend doing some research on clam care if you decide to get another one and start out with a Derasa clam that doesn’t require as much light as a Crocea clam or Maxima that require more light

 

[Outlaw Corals]

How long have you had the clam? I was light starving them before I invested in a par meter. They would do well for a few weeks to a few months then poof gone. I have the same tank and own the light but it is not in use. I don't think that light that high will give you enough par for a clam but I can't say for sure without par readings. I never tested mine. I keep my clams in 300+ par. Some people keep them in less but I've not had luck.

It depends what kind of clam it is, the vendors selling people these clams should be asking people about their lighting before selling people clams that require more light like the Maximas and Derasa’s

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

That’s the thing in the day the mantle is wide out, weather the mouth is open that wide or not. But I didn’t think he was starving I’ve light just because the guy at aquashella said they will reach the mantle up and out. He didn’t look like he was reaching to me. He did shift his angle to be full faced directly at the light that’s about it. I’ll inspect it when I get off work, but I thought he always looked happy until I looked after the lights went off. After lights out do they usually close up or stay open when nothing is there to asorb?

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

It depends what kind of clam it is, the vendors selling people these clams should be asking people about their lighting before selling people clams that require more light like the Maximas and Derasa’s

pretty sure it was the guy from the brs interview from clam mania. Had me real convinced with my set up the clam would be a good fit.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

What I see from these previous pictures is that the clam is not growing, which is a bad sign. Healthy clams must put down new shells, and this one does not. If we exam the soft tissue, most likely finding would be decrease mass in comparison to the healthy growing clam of the same shell size.

So these pictures don’t show it well but it still has bright white new calcifying shell. Been in the tank since awuashella Dallas so about two weeks. If it doesn’t make then I’ll hold off and do actual research. But from what I’ve looked clams can do fine at about 150 par and for my mixed reef that should be what I’m pushing according to the bra investigates. Granted I don’t have a par meter yet. Like I said. Impulse against my better judgment. Hard not to when someone says it’s super easy about something you’ve always wanted. But I’ll monitor it and send updated photos. The guy seemed real healthy. Always reactive, positions himself where he wants to be and always open during the day. I will say this morning I noticed something similar to a feather duster growing what would seem like inside the shell and not the out side. Hard to tell.