Another CLAM question...

[Dewman]

OK... clam was bought on Saturday and was attached to a rock.

It is a 3.5" blue Maxima. The guy I bought it from had ordered it for someone and the customer had never picked it up. It had been in there under NO lights for 3 days and the guy told me he would sell it to me for $30 if I would take it off his hands. I tripped over my words.. I said yes so quickly.

So It was attached to a nice piece of live rock and so I was given that as a plus!
I followed all the directions for acclimation and did it over a period of 10 hours. When I finally turned all the lights on, he perked right up and started to open fully. He responds VERY quickly to changes in lighting.

The next morning, he had unattached from the rock and there was a cluster of white tissue still clinging to the rock. The clam was on the bottom and had pointed away from the light. From what I've read here, come clams refuse to point toward the light and live happily ever after.

So here's the questions...
What was the white tissue and should I be worried?
and
Should I expect to leave him on the botom for good even with VHO lighting?

He doesn't seem to respond very well to being up any higher!

 

[tinyreef]

is there anything in the tank that could've bumped the clam? the tissue is probably its byssus gland (anchor) torn loose?

it should open up if the light sufficient and if it's not really injured. if the lights are insufficient it'll really open up and start getting darker to compensate. better to put it higher if you have a deep tank. if you don't just leave it on the sand under the vho's so it can't fall again.

the maxima may be adjusting itself to the light level in your tank versus the NO's in the lfs. give it a couple of days.

 

[dvb]

A good source of info on clams and their placement, etc. is 'The Reef Aquarium, vol 1'. I was just reading a little the other day on clams and I think you will find it helpful.

 

[Dewman]

There is NOTHING in the tank that could have torn it loose.
I know it was on there pretty good when I bought it.

I have moved him again. JHe keeps turning himself toward the power head. I will adjust the flow for him.
Just fed with DT's and he is looking good. Not open too far, but has extended to where entra and exit holes are visisble but not gaping open. Looks like the intake hole has cilia-like appendages lining it. He is very active (shutting quickly with shadow) and seems to be content to sit on his side in the same spot.

How can I tell if the byssus gland is missing?

 

[Dewman]

Seriously... I want to get Dilbeeks Book... but for now...

What does the byssus (sp?) gland looklike?

I picked him up off the sand lastnight and looked him over. There is one side of the shell that has a wide gap in the shell and the other side matches when it closes (no space). On the side with the gap, he pushes a muscle into the gap like a stopper when I turn him over.
Is this the gland? It sort of had mucous-like strands connecting it to the sand that left clumps behind where he was sitting.
I put him back exactly where he was. But there is nothing that protrudes from the rear of the shell. He seems happy though, no visible signs of stress yet. (fingers crossed) :?

 

[K77]

Seriously... I want to get Dilbeeks Book... but for now...

What does the byssus (sp?) gland looklike?

I picked him up off the sand lastnight and looked him over. There is one side of the shell that has a wide gap in the shell and the other side matches when it closes (no space). On the side with the gap, he pushes a muscle into the gap like a stopper when I turn him over.
Is this the gland? It sort of had mucous-like strands connecting it to the sand that left clumps behind where he was sitting.
I put him back exactly where he was. But there is nothing that protrudes from the rear of the shell. He seems happy though, no visible signs of stress yet. (fingers crossed) :?

I can't really tell you what he's doing there, but don't move him!! That may very well injure him and cause him to die. Whether he tore from the rock in moving or whether he detached himself I have no idea. But he will turn away from the light until he feels more comfotable with it. That may be a while for a younger clam like that. Maximas use the light kind of sparingly when they are younger. Just keep him still and let him move where he wants to and do what he wants. Hopefully he did not tear from the rock and will attach somewhere else. Use DTs as a supplement. Younger clams filter more than they use photosynthesis.

 

[toptank]

K is right, Leave him be. If he tore his byassal gland then he might not make it. Let's hope that he does.

Is he retracting to shadows? Move your hand between him and your light and see if he retracts.

I have some great links on my web site , all about giant clams. One is very good by Daniel Knop, "Have the Half Shell" His book is still the best out there on clams. " Giant Clams" by Daniel Knop.

Regards,

Barry

 

[Dewman]

I thought it was Dilbeek who had the clam book. I will look for Knop's book this friday and hopefully get it by monday in the mail.

Clam is more towards the light today...

Still don't know how to tell if his gland is gone.

Bought a beautiful Monipora today... Pics will follow of everything.

Thanks again

 

[Scott Clendenin]

Sounds to me like the clam has detached in a stress related way. My clams (2) detached when summer heats raised tank temp. a couple years ago. They also left some stringy stuff behind. I would also suspect the lighting change. BTW, the clams recovered and eventually reattached.

 

[Dewman]

Excellent, Thanks Scott.

Yeah, Today I opened the tank to add a Pink-Spot Goby and the clam retracted when I opened the hood. He reacts quickly when a fish smims by too. I think he will be all right. I gave him a shot of DT's while I had the tank open.

 

[IcantTHINKofONE]

stupid question, but i'm new,....what does DTs mean?

 

[Scott Clendenin]

just a name brand of phytoplankton.

 

[Sue Truett]

If this clam is 3.5 inches I wouldn't consider it a baby anymore. I would still feed it but it won't depend on the plankton solely for food now. I have had clams so attached to rocks you couldn't move them only to find them the next morning on the sand bed. I have now decided that the clam is going to tell me where it is happy. I will start it where the books say and if it doesn't stay then it is not happy and I will leave them where they seem happiest. If it means the crocea's and maxima's are happy in the sand bed then they shall stay there. I would try your clam where it is happiest, if that is on the sand bed great if you think it might stay higher up try it. I am always afraid that the continuous jumping off will break shell or land them somewhere I can't get them from. The strands of tissue are the byssal gland and it will rejuvenate. HTH..

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html