what happened to my clam?

[noodleman]

hey can anyone tell me whats going on with my maxima clam? It was perfectly fine yesterday and when i woke up this morning part of the mantle looked damaged or pinched, I see a piece of damage flesh dangling around also. Could this be a pinched mantle or just somebody nipping at it? And any suggested treatments? This clam is still reactive to light and movement, still extends except for that little part. It's not a new clam either, had him for almost a year now. No signs of phyrimidal snails. Also my 5 other clams are perfectly fine.
heres some pictures...the spot is near the upper left of the clam...

thanks guys

 

[marrone]

It's hard to tell from the pictures but the clam looks fine and it's doens't looked pinched as the clam look pretty open. It's possible that some thing took a bit from it, like a hermit crab or a fish, what fish do you have.

 

[Deanos]

It looks pinched to me, but my concern is the "dangling flesh"; that is not a symptom of PM. Try to get a more focused picture.

 

[Deanos]

Look here for other examples of Pinched Mantle


Edit: Sorry about this link...I thought it has more pics of sick clams. :banghead: It's still a good read though.

 

[nycfatcow]

wow cool link deanos

 

[marrone]

wow cool link deanos

nycfatcow

That Clam Direct formum on their web site. If you looking into getting a clam it's a good place to check out as it has a lot of answers on how to care for your clam.

 

[noodleman]

ACtually taking a second look at the clam...doesn't look pinched at all...I think something try to take a bit out of him cause he's starting to extend fully again minus the piece missing. Well the dangling flesh fell off and now looks like it usually does all extended but part of the mantle is missing a "C" shape piece.
the fish i have are...but never seen any of them bit my clams
pair of false perc
fiji yellow belly damsel
6 line
2 bangiji cardinals
algae blenny

I'm thinking its one of the hermits.

thanks guys for the help, any further suggests always appreciated :grouphug:

p.s.
still not good with the picture thing

 

[marrone]

Take the picture from further back as you wouldn't get all the details but it should be sharpier.

 

[Deanos]

I doubt a hermit crab could "scissor" out a chunk of mantle from a healthy clam. Although it would be able to "pinch" a piece off now and then, the clam would close up, preventing continuous pinching. Unless, of course, you have a hermit with claws as big as the missing mantle chunk. I would keep an eye on the fish, if you're sure it's not pinched mantle.

Dean

 

[noodleman]

well heres a pic of it now after 2-3 hours since i saw it this morning

the clam is aprox 2 inches, so it doesn't have to be anyth big to take that chunk out of him. Oh yea a frogspawn shouldn't be able to sting him right?

 

[twinreef]

algae blenny (lawnmower) occasionally do nip at clam mantles. here is a link to it.
http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/lawnmower_blenny.htm