Question about restarting clam growth

[rhitee93]

I have a maxima that has been in my tank for a year and a half. Up until a few weeks ago, it was consistently putting on new shell growth, and has probably doubled in volume. Unlike my derasas which always have a fresh white line, this maxima seemed to grow more in spurts with a new scute appearing every 4 weeks or so.

A few weeks ago it appeared to be in a funk, and it took me a while to figure out that something in my tank was nipping at it. I assumed it was my CBB since it was the only new addition so I put that fish in isolation, but the clam was still only partially extending and had stopped growing.

I now have the clam in an isolation box and it looks much better. It is under the same lighting it has always been in and I'm hoping it will start growing again, but have no idea how long that may take. It probably took me 6-8 weeks to figure out what was going on so I suspect the clam has some recovering to do. Has anyone had a similar situation? Did you get the clam growing again?

 

[minus9]

Pests and fish stressing them out can cause them to stall, so hopefully it will start to recover and grow soon. Clams also go through growth stages where they grow faster, then slow down, then eventually faster again. This cycle can be reversed in some species and individual clams, but we don't know when this is going to happen in their life cycle. Butterflies and certain genus of angels love clams, so keep that in mind when introducing new fish with established clams or if considering adding a clam with these fish present.
Just keep parameters stable and provide the right conditions to give it the best chance of recovery. I would also provide a piece of rock or something it can attach to so it doesn't attach to the box.