I think my clam is dying, HELP!

cahuama

cahuama

Member
I've had this maxima for about 9 months, it was super healthy, the mantle had beautiful colors. Last week I added new sand to replenish my DSB and I moved the clam, then put it back on top of the sand. I noticed it didn't like that but I didn't think much of it. I noticed the mantle would not open as nice as before the following days, but today the mantle has retracted and it did not come out when the lights turned on. I think it's almost dead. Should I take it out of the tank? I don't want it to contaminate the rest of my corals or fishes, or should I give it more time? Anyone with experience, please advise.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by cahuama
http:///forum/post/3044755
I've had this maxima for about 9 months, it was super healthy, the mantle had beautiful colors. Last week I added new sand to replenish my DSB and I moved the clam, then put it back on top of the sand. I noticed it didn't like that but I didn't think much of it. I noticed the mantle would not open as nice as before the following days, but today the mantle has retracted and it did not come out when the lights turned on. I think it's almost dead. Should I take it out of the tank? I don't want it to contaminate the rest of my corals or fishes, or should I give it more time? Anyone with experience, please advise.

Sounds like another one of those ..if it aint broke don't fix it.. cases.
Leave it alone, maybe take a turkey baster and send the smell of some yummy food to get it to open up. Are you sure you didn't get sand inside the clam?
 
cahuama

cahuama

Member
What is a cuc? The clam is somewhat open but the mantle is retracted. It looks worse today. Will it conatminate the tank if it dies? Should I take it out?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by cahuama
http:///forum/post/3045291
What is a cuc? The clam is somewhat open but the mantle is retracted. It looks worse today. Will it conatminate the tank if it dies? Should I take it out?
CUC = Clean up crew....
 
cahuama

cahuama

Member
Oh..., yes I do have a clean up crew. I have a large britle star, several hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp, a peppermint shrimp, and some snails. And the clam is gapping so I think it's dying fast. It still has color but it is paler. I think I will take it out.
 
cahuama

cahuama

Member
I took it out and it was DEAD.

I checked the water params and everything was where it should be, except the nitrates, they were 20 !!!! Do you think that's why the clam died? or did the nitrates spike b/c the clam died? Anyone?
You were right Joe, it wasn't good.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
sorry to hear. clams r very very sensitive. dying clam doesnt usually cause high nitrate. i suspect adding the sandbed probably caused the water parameters to go out of whack.
 
cahuama

cahuama

Member
So you think the nitrates might be high b/c of the new sand? It was supposed to be live sand but maybe it had some dead critters. Wouldn't the ammonia be high also? I'm trying to learn so this won't happen again.

My tank is a 75 gl. and I did a 15 gl water change, I plan on doing another one tomorrow and hopefully the levels will go down.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
IMO the "live" sand if it was the bagged kind caused some type of spike in your water parameters causing the demise of the clam. IMO the "live" bagged sand is only good for the initial startup of a tank where you are looking to get the cycle started, too much dead stuff in it to add to an already existing tank. Did this same thing myself, added "live" bagged sand thinking I was gonna be ahead of the curve and lost a number of fish because of it.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3046217
IMO the "live" sand if it was the bagged kind caused some type of spike in your water parameters causing the demise of the clam. IMO the "live" bagged sand is only good for the initial startup of a tank where you are looking to get the cycle started, too much dead stuff in it to add to an already existing tank. Did this same thing myself, added "live" bagged sand thinking I was gonna be ahead of the curve and lost a number of fish because of it.
SPANKO!!!! You're human...YAYYYYY...So glad to hear that you actually made a boo boo once
 
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