Worried about new Derasa

[Nikita1981]

Hi all,

I picked up a nice Derasa at a convention 2 weeks ago. It is responsive, and attached to the little hammock I put him in. But something looks off.

It will still not fully extend its mantle. It barely covers the outside of the shell. There is no change, every day it's like this, not better, not worse. What to do? Does not seem like the way it should be. Parameters are

No3 5
Po4 0.08
Ca 440
Kh 7.3
Mg 1450.

Any advise?

 

[DSC reef]

I wouldn't worry about mantle extension, looks to be acclimating to the tank.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

I agree with above, give it some time. Very pretty derasa

 

[jda]

Clams only will extend what they need to gather light. Most healthy clams might not extend all of the way, and this is good. Full mantle extension when stretching the mouth wide open can be bad and is called gaping. The only sure way to tell if it is happy is if it puts on new shell growth, so be on the lookout for that - I do see a line of recent growth (the whiter part of the shell). Otherwise, it looks great to me.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Young derasas especially do not extend mantle much. At least in my experience. Once over 6" or more, it will come out a bit more. Never like a crocea, maxima or squammie. Just not that type of extension.

 

[Nikita1981]

Thanks guys, I feel much better now. It's my first clam after 12 years of reefing and it makes me kind of nervous :rolleyes:.