Dead clam

[rostato]

Ok. I need a list of reasons why a maxima clam that has been in my tank for 5 days died.

I acclimated it properly, I have another clam in the tank doing fine, and I have kept numerous clams before with little problems. (I had a croacia die, but it was clearly my fault...)

It was small, but it showed quick reflexes when I waved my hand over it.

The only thing that was odd about this clam was that it would open and close rapidly everyonce in a while...I know clams do this, but this one did it much more often, and seemed a little more sensitive to any changes in light than most clams I have seen.

It looked in perfect health until I found it dead this morning (that was a disgusting mess) I hope it didn't kill my ATL red city milli that was close by...:sad:

The mantle was attached to my rock work (good sign), in fact after removing the dead clam part of the mantle stayed attached to the rocks, and quickly became food for my cleaners and peppermints.

Maybe just stressed out from shipping to Blue Planet, and then my house?

Unlucky?

I had not tried to feed it any phyto plankton yet because I wanted to let it settle in for a week before I bothered it with food.

$70 for a clam that died within a week sucks!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Small clams have an enormous mortality rate. Plain and simple. It doesnt take much too push them over the edge. How small was it?

 

[rostato]

Maybe 2.75-3.5 inches. I kept a small maxima in my 90G about a year ago for a while, and had success. I guess I didn't think too much about mortality rates.

you can see it above, and to the right of my candy canes

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[rostato]

Now that I look at it, the mantle extension was not all that great either...hmmm Maybe I shoulk have been more concerned.

 

[mapleredta]

You had me scared. Thought it was that other one at first.

 

[rostato]

NO the dersa is perfectly happy...

 

[mapleredta]

rostato;469157 wrote: NO the dersa is perfectly happy...

werd.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

2" and over arent small in my mind. I assumed you were talking a 1" clam. What type of lighting did they have it in where you got it from?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Also, think abotu teh fact that Caulastrea is an LPS, and can and does make sweepers. A possibility.

 

[rostato]

Yeah, the candy canes were far enough apart from the clam to not be able to damage it.

I think the clams are under a 400W halide at Blue planet. I have a 250W on mine.

It really is mind boggling to me. It seemed fine. :confused2:

 

[rostato]

I just went and measured the shell. I was way off it was only 2 inches...

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Tiny clams, by nature, are far mor fragile than large clams. I have a LOT of experience with clams, and I still wont buy one under 2". JMHO. With any clams, I woudl STRONGLY suggest light acclimating, and making sure there are no corals, etc neary to bother them.

 

[coolsurf]

Strange...250w should be just fine. Dersa's can live under a flashlight. any signs of parasitic creatures that might have been attacking him?

 

[rostato]

coolsurf;469201 wrote: Strange...250w should be just fine. Dersa's can live under a flashlight. any signs of parasitic creatures that might have been attacking him?

It's possible, but by the time I found it it was nothing but a blob of goo. Really disgusting. I am getting ready to do an emergency water change because there is clam goo all over all my rock work and some corals. I have been blasting them with a turckey baster trying to get them cleaned off. It's looking better, but I am doing a WC for safety...

 

[coolsurf]

Good call. Above all, sorry about the loss.

 

[rostato]

jmaneyapanda;469200 wrote: Tiny clams, by nature, are far mor fragile than large clams. I have a LOT of experience with clams, and I still wont buy one under 2". JMHO. With any clams, I woudl STRONGLY suggest light acclimating, and making sure there are no corals, etc neary to bother them.

Well, lesson learned. Thanks!

I guess it is possible that my candy canes could have attacked it. They were about an 2 inches away from it. If that happend, I will be mad, but at night when they are extended they were not even close to touching the clam.

 

[rostato]

coolsurf;469205 wrote: Good call. Above all, sorry about the loss.

Yeah, I hate loosing any specimen anymore. I used to chalk it up to inexperience, but not I feel I shouldn;t be killing anything ,and when I do I get mad at myself. I am here to enjoy the reef, and it's in habitants, not kill it.

 

[coolsurf]

rostato;469207 wrote: Yeah, I hate loosing any specimen anymore. I used to chalk it up to inexperience, but not I feel I shouldn;t be killing anything ,and when I do I get mad at myself. I am here to enjoy the reef, and it's in habitants, not kill it.

+1....ditto on everything you stated. Unfortunately, some things are left without answers and the losses still occur. I, like you, feel bad everytime a loss does happen.