Maxima clam mantle torn, is it normal?

Macdaddynick1 · Apr 28, 2020

kamakazian said:
Yeah, definitely a goner. Should i let it melt in the tank or pull it out? I'm wondering if there's any way to figure out the cause of death, too. It really didn't seem to do well from the week after I put it in my tank. I know they don't do well with water fluctuations, but are there any other common reasons for death? I'm gonna check it for pyramid snails, though I still don't see any. Thanks for your support everyone

Take it out ASAP, and wear a mask, cuz they stink, also bring a trash can or. Zip loc bag near your tank. The cause of death was probably the fact that it was pinched mantle disease. You should do some research on that. Your clams mantle wasn’t torn it was pulling it back in reaction for protozoan. It is usually possible to cure with some freshwater dips that have adjusted ph. You can put clams into fresh water for quite a long time 15-20 minutes.

Edit: I agree with the post above, what caused the PMD is hard to tell.

OrionN · Apr 28, 2020

That clam was not healthy for quite a while, no new shell growth. Algae even grow right to the edge of the shells.

It did not die due to PMD. Kill way too fast for PMD. When I was fighting with PMD before come up with the cure which is FWD, a 4-5 inch Maxima can last 6 months with it.
The bundle of fiber you observed here is the basal (or byssus) thread bundle that the clam let go. This is normal. Sometime when the clam got stress, and wants to move, it will let go of the basal fiber bundle and move. It will secrete another bundle once it reaches a good area where it wants to stay.
There seem to be a lot of aptasia in the tank. The clams may not do well for a long time but to many people looks normal, even better than normal (except no growth). Normally this happen when the clam is lacking in light. They hyper-extended their mantles to collect more light. Not having enough energy, the clam was using all it's reserve to say alive. Once the reserve run out they just died overnight. That is why many people find clams to be "healthy" then died suddenly. If there are aptasia on the shell of the clam, it can sting the clam cause the retraction of the mantle. This could be the last straw that broke the camel back and kill the clam.

Is this aptasia (2) that I see there? Hard to tell, but if this is aptasia, it can be what cause the retraction of the mantle.

When you buy clam and can see it before you buy, always look for growth. If there is no growth, do not buy it. If you buy an expensive clam online, ask the seller to take a picture of the shell so you can see growth. If they refuse to show you this picture, seriously consider not buying it.

Better luck next time.
Here ia an example of the shell of a healthy growing clam. Please dont pay any attention to the injure on the mantle, rather look at the white shell under the mantle.