Clam gaping...

[Caveat emptor.]

Two weeks or so ago I got a gold maxima clam that never quite opened up all the way. It came with a small piece of apatasia growing on the inside??! which appears to have died. It is now gaping. A Fatherree article posted a picture that almost exactly portrays the clam with the note that "gaping is a sure sign of an impending death."

This is the article... It's the gold maxima in the 2nd pic down.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3/aafeature1

Impending death aside, how is he able to tell by mantle coloration that it has been unhealthy for an extended period of time? The clam I have is exactly that color, which is why I ask. Just curious, for future clam buys.

All params fine & placement is med/high under T5, so no worries there.

 

[scytale]

Actually, he's talking about the shell colorartion in the 2nd picture.
That the greenish color on the edge of the shell indicates that the mantle hasn't been fully extended--or that the shell hasn't grown, for quite a while.)

But that's a great article, thanks for linking it!

 

[Caveat emptor.]

Oops. That is what I meant to say, considering the arrow is pointing right at it... lol. Thanks for the info. Next time white scutes and new growth only!