Just got 9" maxima clam

doodguy · Jan 7, 2018

Any tips for success? I have it up at top of tank. It opens about 2 inches, mantle looks lke it wants to come out, but not extending fully like I see in some pictures on the internet.

Anything I should know/watch for?

At night there is a stringy substance above the clam, like cob webs or something. Its not a lot, but you can see it is there.

Thanks in advance!

DSC reef · Jan 7, 2018

Can you post pics of the clam and give some tank/lighting info please. Depending on the lighting it might to acclimate lower in the tank temporarily.

doodguy · Jan 7, 2018

Here's a pic. I have only had it 3 days, so could still be adjusting?

Water Dog · Jan 7, 2018

Does it keep it’s mantle fully extended most of the time? Or it it usually retracted like in your picture? Hopefully it’s the former and not the latter...

Water Dog · Jan 7, 2018

Oops, just reread the OP. If it’s been retracted like that for 3 days, that may be a sign that it’s already a goner. :(

doodguy · Jan 7, 2018

Anything I can/should do? It seems to have opened more since I got it. I'd hate to lose it; paid $120 for it :(

DSC reef · Jan 7, 2018

I'd check for pyramid snails on and underneath the clam. Try moving it lower in the tank. It looks to be retracted pretty badly, similar to gaping. Hope it pulls through.

Water Dog · Jan 7, 2018

Leave it alone. Moving around will only make it worse (stress) if it’s at all salvageable. At any point, have you ever seen it fully extended and reactive to light, even at the LFS? A healthy clam should have full mantle extension and react if you cast a shadow with your hand over it.

doodguy · Jan 7, 2018

Water Dog said:
Leave it alone. Moving around will only make it worse (stress) if it’s at all salvageable. At any point, have you ever seen it fully extended and reactive to light, even at the LFS? A healthy clam should have full mantle extension and react if you cast a shadow with your hand over it.

No :( The guy I bought it from (I buy a lot of fish from him) had it in a bag when I picked it up :(

Water Dog · Jan 8, 2018

If you want, move it lower like DSC said. Do not disturb whatever it was attached to, you don’t want to do any damage to (rip out) it’s byssal threads as that’s fatal to healthy clams. Sorry I don’t have better news for you, but clams like in your picture are in my experience, already gone. :( I hope I’m wrong.

DSC reef · Jan 8, 2018

doodguy said:
No :( The guy I bought it from (I buy a lot of fish from him) had it in a bag when I picked it up :(

Next time before purchasing a clam make sure you can do a visible inspection. Check for pyramids, make sure it responds to shadows by waving your hand over the clam and check for good mantle extension. Also, look up James fatheree. He wrote some great articles about how to choose a clam and looking for signs of unhealthy specimens.

DSC reef · Jan 8, 2018

Water Dog said:
If you want, move it lower like DSC said. Do not disturb whatever it was attached to, you don’t want to do any damage to (rip out) it’s byssal threads as that’s fatal to healthy clams. Sorry I don’t have better news for you, but clams like in your picture are in my experience, already gone. :( I hope I’m wrong.

I agree, plus not knowing the condition and already being bagged up is not a good sign.

Shigshwa · Jan 8, 2018

If it doesn't react swiftly to your hands around it, or to shadows, then the clam's condition may not be in your favor. I agree with either letting it be or moving it once and just watching it over the next few days.

doodguy · Jan 8, 2018

The clam does react if my hand goes near it or the fish go too close it closes right up. Is that agood sign at least?

WayneY · Jan 8, 2018

Not sure what fish you have but make sure none of them are picking at the mantle when it trys to open. I had a blue hippo tang once that would bite little chunks out of my clams. Good luck

MaccaPopEye · Jan 8, 2018

If it hasn't attached to anything yet then I would move it lower down, either onto a flat surface or the sandbed so it can attach it's foot to something easily. All my maximas are on the sandbed of a 2' deep tank with only black box LEDs above it and are thriving.

If it has attached to the rock it's on then I would leave it be, I think it is best to lower it down in the tank, but only if you don't have to detach it.