New Clam Issues

[Holygral]

I got my first clam (species still up for debate) 2 weeks ago. It still has not open up. It opens a little (1/4 in) but as soon as a fish goes by it closes back up only to open a little bit a minute later.I am worried about it not getting enough food due to his size and not having full mantle extensions to absorb food. Parameters :

General picts and neighbor picts,

Salinity 1.026
Temp 79-83
Alk 9.0 DKH
Calcium 500
Mag 1470
PH 8
75 gal with 2x250 MH
21 in deep
Lights 7 in from water surface

 

[Reeferdude]

Still not opening! That's not a good sign. It appears your water parameters are within proper ranges and I remember the other thread. I think we've pretty much concluded (by popular opinion) it's a Crocea but why it hasn't opened yet, HMMM What about flow, there isn't a strong stream pointing at it's intake (or whatever it's called) is there? If so, I'd move it so it's not blowing on it...

 

[DonW]

Its a Crocea and its not thrilled with life. First i'd take it out and look for pest like pyramid snails then Id move it up higher in the tank.

Don

 

[TWallace]

Has a fish been pecking at it? I noticed a bicolor angel in your pics and I've heard they're notorious coral/clam nippers.

Also, I don't know why you think the species is still up for debate, everyone in your other thread told you it's a crocea, and it obviously is. The only species it could be mistaken for is a maxima, and the lack of scutes on the shell rules that out.

Your lights and parameters all look fine to me. Have you checked the clam for parasitic snails, especially underneath it?

 

[Holygral]

After reading my last thread it does seem like the majority and I agree on
Crocea. Since it is on the bottom of the tank and checking by putting my hand in, I do not think that flow is an issue. I will check for parisites, although when I purchased it, it was wide open and never opened up in my tank. As previousy stated by others in first post as I also think, that the quick reaction to the light being broken by fish is a sign that it is still healthy. The Bi Color has been in there for a year and a half and to the best of my knowledge he does not bother anything. The clam was under 150watt MH about 9 in away in the LFS, so do you think with 2x250 MH it still needs moved closer to the light? And if so would this have any effect on it opening or IMHO would it just lead to the slow decline? This is my first clam and I am open to ALL suggestions.

Thanks Bunches!

 

[chris&barb]

it is definitely a crocea and if you have an angel in with it that would be the first thing i looked at. all it takes is one nip to cause the clam to stay closed like that.

cut the top of off a clear 2L bottle and drill a bunch of holes in it for water flow and place it over the clam to keep things from nipping at it

 

[TWallace]

I don't think lack of light is the problem. I kept 3 croceas for almost a year under 4 x 54w T5 (half actinic). I've since switched to 2 x 250w MH and 2 actinic T5. Haven't noticed much change in the clams.

 

[Holygral]

Chris and Barb

Good Idea, that will at least eliminate the picking fish issue

Thanks

 

[Holygral]

Clam is now under cut off bottle so fish can not get to it, will keep you posted, but still looking for other ideas if this does not help.

Thanks

 

[drgreen]

some times clams eject the internal alge (cant remember the name) with is a good sign that it is light shock and he should adjust with time. my 2nd maxima too 3 weeks.
clams are sensitive but if your parameters are cool then give it time they are strange dudes and sometimes it is nothing to do with your husbandry they gust don't adjust well to change.