Crecia clam..whats going on?

[swlover]

Hi guys haven't been on in a while computer got hit by lightening. Any way I purchased this clam (crecia) about two weeks ago he has been doing fine up until now. This morning I noticed his shell is splitting down the side and he has a hole on the right hand side of his mantle with something white in there. This has happened over night...water parimeters are: temp 80, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, ph 8.2, salt 1.022. He is on sand bed, I have him on liquid photoplankton, color is brillant and no shrinking of mantle (see pics) 130 watt in 15 gallon (for now, if he improves I'll put him in my 40 gallon which is almost cycled) Seller (NOT LFS..private reef keeper) said lighting is fine he had him in much less. He is about 4-5" long and fat! I have found almost no info on these, did some research before I got him but no alot out there on behavior. I'm real worried about the splitting down the side..I have heard some crabs will pick at the clams and eat them..so maybe that is the problem?? I have 1 emerald crab, 1 red mithrax crab and 2 blue hermits, 1 red banded shrimp, 1 small red brittle star, & snails. Here are the pictures, last one is before the splitiing...please let me know whats going on and what to do for him.. thanks

 

[promisetbg]

Clams should not be added to a new unstable system{don't know how old your tank is, just throwing this info out}Crocea clams are the most light demanding clams of all. They need to be right up under metal halide lighting. They are also rock boring clams and need to be on a rock. Bristleworms can burrow up from the sand and damage their byssal gland and kill them. He may just be trying to attach to a rock that is'nt there. The mantle extension looks fine. New growth on the shell would also be white, it's kind of hard to see in the pic, can you move him and get a better shot?Two things to look for trouble are mantle pinching and gaping. There is a clam site that has alot of info about them, do a search.

 

[swlover]

I did do a search..on google and couldn't find anything concerning clams accept how to cook and eat them, maybe was spelling? I spell it wrong..ooops. I don't have him in a new tank this one is about 10 months old..I have a new tank cycling that I would like to put him in later on. Thanks for the info..do you know the name of the site..maybe you can email me it? I'll have to do some moving around to get him to a secure spot..

 

[mrdc]

Definitely put a rock under it. One of my large nass snails came up through the sand and burrowed right into it and this resulted in a dead clam. I plan to get another down the road and do it right next time.

 

[promisetbg]

Originally Posted by swlover
I did do a search..on google and couldn't find anything concerning clams accept how to cook and eat them, maybe was spelling? I spell it wrong..ooops. I don't have him in a new tank this one is about 10 months old..I have a new tank cycling that I would like to put him in later on. Thanks for the info..do you know the name of the site..maybe you can email me it? I'll have to do some moving around to get him to a secure spot..
The type of clam is a giant clam..it is a Tridacna Crocea, sure I'll shoot you an e-mail, I have it so remove it so you don't get a bunch of junk mail.

 

[swlover]

Thanks..seller contacted me says it maybe a type of snail. says not to worry, get rid of snail..which I do have. Says it will heal itself..he says some people put rubber bands around bottom if they get a split to help them heal. He says he has seen them split in half and still live, some even use putty, but I'm not going to do that..I'll just put him on rock, catch the snail...which only comes out at night, and get rid of it. I'll keep you posted..thanks so much.

 

[promisetbg]

Could be a predatory whelk{if there is one there are more}..or there are tiny predatory snails that look like rice grains that would be directly on the clam.Can't remember their name.

 

[swlover]

Hi thanks to promisetbg whom lead me to the clam site, I found out what is wrong with my clam...it has pitched mantle disease...caused by stress and is a preditory animal that you can't see. FWD is the solution...thanks to all

 

[db]

It wouldn't hurt to bump you salinity as well. 1.022 is low for a reef tank. Sea water is 1.026 or 35 ppm. How's your ca and alk as well?

 

[promisetbg]

Originally Posted by DB
It wouldn't hurt to bump you salinity as well. 1.022 is low for a reef tank. Sea water is 1.026 or 35 ppm. How's your ca and alk as well?

One of mine had PM disease too...the cure is totally frightening, I sweated the whole time he was in the bucket! :scared: But it worked for me. Just make sure you match the temp as close as possible and squirt a little alkalinity additive in the freshwater used for the dip. I left mine in for a full 30 minutes with a powerhead for circulation/ and to warm the water.Good luck!

 

[swlover]

Ok, after talking to one of the moderators and showing pics...I was wrong not pinched mantle, he's fine..whew! Just a nervous keeper! The little critters on the shell are normal and harmless also..vermetid snails..not pyramid! Thank goodness, I am relieved..for now. I'm sure there will be other stressful times to come..thanks to all that have replied.

 

[greymach]

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[anonome]

I would definately move him to the upper sections of the rock, and increase your salinity....way low. Should be more around 1.025. Calcium is very important to these guys at least 420ppm. Check out Wetwebmedia.com loads of info.

 

[candycane]

His shell coloration almost looks like some sort of vitamin deficiency (i cant spell tonight). Yeah i really cant see pinched mantle anywhere. Also most croceas have that gap at one end and the other end of their mantle looks almost like a fork. However I have seen most of the cleaners that you have injure or even eat clams. Along with that if you look by it's foot or under the mantle, you would be looking for what looks like grains of sand, only they are snails. Those are pyramid snails. Most Pseau wrasses eat those snails. Did anyone evey say anything about lighting?

 

[alyssia]

I would raise my sg to 1.025-1.026

 

[volcom69]

Its best to put ur crocea clam on a rock it likes to bore itself on the rock. My crocea is on the bottom of my tank on a rock that it bored itself on.