Hey All,
I just wanted to report some anecdotal experience on treating clams that have pyramid snails and/or pinched mantle or some other clam killer.
Within the last few months, i purchased 10 maxima clams. All were doing great. I had them in a fishless tank that was part quarantine part frag tank.
I'm not sure when exactly problems began.
But clams began do poorly and die, one at a time only. SPS, LPS, all corals and inverts thrived (under combo of leds and kessils). I was feeding phytoplankton much of the time. I found a couple pyramid snails and fresh water dips definitely seemed to help as well. Clams continued to die despite me searching nightly for pyramid snails and me finding no more of them.
The experience could best be described as this post i found from 2011 in another forum:
"Hey. Everyone here knows I love clams. At one point I had 6 for about a year. 2months ago, 4 just died. 2 survived. I took out the last dying clam, and the 2 survived. From what I heard, whatever killed te first one, goes to the next an so on. Sometimes there really is no way to find out why they died. Clams are just strange. IMO there was a little critter that was attacking them, and he was still on the dying clam when I took it out. Good luck as hope u solve your problem."
I agree some "critter" was attacking my clams one at a time.
After loosing a few clams over several weeks, i decided to remove the latest sick clam and place him in my hangon refugium.
Thinking pyramid snails hate light, and probably other clam eating critters might too, ***i gave him 24/7 light*** I had nothing to lose as my other quarantine tanks are full with fish being treated before entering a 200 gallon display.
In addition to 24/7 light, i place the clam on the over flow of the refugium so that water constantly flowed over him (and then to the skimmer). ***The ledge he sits on has holes in it***. Below the holes, if anyone is familar with CPR refugiums, is the main refugium.
Looks like this:
Long of the short of it is that after about two or three weeks of 24/7 light, i've set the refugium light to a 12 hour on and off cycle.
Bottom line is that the clam is doing much better! He's opening up more and is more reactive to movement.
**no more clams in tbe main display are getting sick too** which
This is just anecdotal but i lost like 5 clsms, one at a time, in a row. Without removing the clams from the system, this appears to have stopped my loses in their tracks, and perhaps helped treat the latest victim.
***Perhaps the pyramid snails or other critter doesnt like the light and then drops through the holes in the refugium ledge, like a trap of sorts***, and gives the clam sone some relief from attack??
Just thought i'd share.
Overall its been a depressing experience. But maybe a little hope now?
Something others coyld could try if they dont have good options.
I just wanted to report some anecdotal experience on treating clams that have pyramid snails and/or pinched mantle or some other clam killer.
Within the last few months, i purchased 10 maxima clams. All were doing great. I had them in a fishless tank that was part quarantine part frag tank.
I'm not sure when exactly problems began.
But clams began do poorly and die, one at a time only. SPS, LPS, all corals and inverts thrived (under combo of leds and kessils). I was feeding phytoplankton much of the time. I found a couple pyramid snails and fresh water dips definitely seemed to help as well. Clams continued to die despite me searching nightly for pyramid snails and me finding no more of them.
The experience could best be described as this post i found from 2011 in another forum:
"Hey. Everyone here knows I love clams. At one point I had 6 for about a year. 2months ago, 4 just died. 2 survived. I took out the last dying clam, and the 2 survived. From what I heard, whatever killed te first one, goes to the next an so on. Sometimes there really is no way to find out why they died. Clams are just strange. IMO there was a little critter that was attacking them, and he was still on the dying clam when I took it out. Good luck as hope u solve your problem."
I agree some "critter" was attacking my clams one at a time.
After loosing a few clams over several weeks, i decided to remove the latest sick clam and place him in my hangon refugium.
Thinking pyramid snails hate light, and probably other clam eating critters might too, ***i gave him 24/7 light*** I had nothing to lose as my other quarantine tanks are full with fish being treated before entering a 200 gallon display.
In addition to 24/7 light, i place the clam on the over flow of the refugium so that water constantly flowed over him (and then to the skimmer). ***The ledge he sits on has holes in it***. Below the holes, if anyone is familar with CPR refugiums, is the main refugium.
Looks like this:
Long of the short of it is that after about two or three weeks of 24/7 light, i've set the refugium light to a 12 hour on and off cycle.
Bottom line is that the clam is doing much better! He's opening up more and is more reactive to movement.
**no more clams in tbe main display are getting sick too** which
This is just anecdotal but i lost like 5 clsms, one at a time, in a row. Without removing the clams from the system, this appears to have stopped my loses in their tracks, and perhaps helped treat the latest victim.
***Perhaps the pyramid snails or other critter doesnt like the light and then drops through the holes in the refugium ledge, like a trap of sorts***, and gives the clam sone some relief from attack??
Just thought i'd share.
Overall its been a depressing experience. But maybe a little hope now?
Something others coyld could try if they dont have good options.
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