New clam owner here, few questions.

[WDKegge]

Hey everyone, I picked up my first clam yesterday from a LFS.

I did all the checks I had read about, passed over the clam with my hand and it had a quick instant reaction to light. I noticed it wasn't SUPER open in the store, about half the clams were and I know they had just gotten them a few days ago, I just attested this to stress or acclimation?

Here is the clam that I brought home after 24 hours.

When I got him he wasn't attached to anything so I set him in a container on a rock that is cup shaped so that it doesn't tip.

He obviously isn't opening up the best, but still reacts to light quickly. Is this just a normal part of acclimation to a new tank, or at what point should I be worried?

 

[reef lover]

How did u acclimate him and how long? Was he exposed to air during transfer? Did u check for pyramidal snails?
The rock should b enough to keep him upright the dish is probably unnecessary.

 

[WDKegge]

How did u acclimate him and how long? Was he exposed to air during transfer? Did u check for pyramidal snails?
The rock should b enough to keep him upright the dish is probably unnecessary.

Drip acclimated him over 2 hours, checked for snails, and burped him when we went in the tank (he was never out in the air to me knowledge.

 

[reef lover]

Was the bag refloated to warm up during acclimation?
Sounds like u did everything right. Try removing him from the dish and see if that perks him up....

 

[adam@army]

Mine was like that for 2 days, then on 3rd day it opened up more. Hope everything is fine with your clam. Actually it kinda looks like mine

 

[WDKegge]

Just thought I would post an update pic with the clam, I have had it about a month now and it's looking great compare to the first picture I posted, just thought I would share.

Everyone that looks at the tank seems to think it's "fake" until I pass my hand over the tank and they see it close up. Gives people something interesting to look at while all my sps grows out haha.

 

[Empress]

Drip acclimated him over 2 hours, checked for snails, and burped him when we went in the tank (he was never out in the air to me knowledge.

How do you burp a clam?

 

[Empress]

Hello? Does anybody know how to burp a clam?

 

[reef lover]

Only needs if exposed to air...to do it u place clam with inhalent slit higher than the exhalent siphon. The opposite of usual orientation. The clam will open and close until the bubble is released. Then u can put him back to normal orientation.

 

[Empress]

Only needs if exposed to air...to do it u place clam with inhalent slit higher than the exhalent siphon. The opposite of usual orientation. The clam will open and close until the bubble is released. Then u can put him back to normal orientation.

This is really good to know. I did expose it to the air for a second when I took it out of the bag. I know I'm stoopid. I never even thought about it. How would I even know if it needs burping?

 

[reef lover]

This is really good to know. I did expose it to the air for a second when I took it out of the bag. I know I'm stoopid. I never even thought about it. How would I even know if it needs burping?

The clam will not act right it'll snap shut repeatively and won't extend its mantle.

 

[bsagea]

Beautiful clam but caution if this was wild caught. Tahitians and such have a very poor survival rate in the aquarium. Cultured clams seem to do much better but those coming from the Tahiti wild just don't seem to last long. I would also make sure it has room to fully expand in that plastic container. That's not a normal home for a clam. If you have some small rock rubble or calc reactor media I would fill the bottom of that container if you plan on keeping him in there.