Rose Anemone vs. Maxima Clam

[Reefmann]

Reefers,

I noticed this morning that my maxima clam died.

Question:

Could it be that my Rose Anemone kill it? My rose anemone was very close to it.

Thanks,
Reefmann.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

No. Clams are rarely bother by any corals. It may just close up a little if bother, but will not died because of the BTA (at least in short term)

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think a BTA would kill the clam. I would do an autopsy. Cut open the clam and look for worms or snails inside. They are more likely the culprit. If the anemone was stinging the clam,the clam would have lesions or would at least remain closed often.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ANEMONEBUFF:
<strong>I don't think a BTA would kill the clam. I would do an autopsy. Cut open the clam and look for worms or snails inside. They are more likely the culprit. If the anemone was stinging the clam,the clam would have lesions or would at least remain closed often.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Autopsy will just show scarvengers. What kill the clam maybe long gone.

 

[Gatortailale1]

What type of lighting did you try to keep the clam under? Maxima's need MH. How long was the clam in your tank?

Need more details to tell what may have caused death

 

[danmhippo]

Do you have another clam in the tank? Check and see if it is showing retarded response to light. If the culprit is worm/crab, after it finishes off with one, it will move to another. Another possibility is the previously mentioned inadequate lighting/possible polutant.

I doubt BTA is killing it. I have a rock anemone in close proximity with a crocea clam and both are healthy.

 

[hgsports]

What type of lighting do you have. I dont think you can blame the clam dying on lack of MH, but certainly on lack of light.

Poor lighting would cause white or colorless spots on the clam's mantle and gaping....

 

[chris_h]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gatortailale:
<strong>What type of lighting did you try to keep the clam under? Maxima's need MH. How long was the clam in your tank?

Need more details to tell what may have caused death</strong><hr></blockquote>
Where did you get that idea? I have 3 clams growing fast in my 20 gallon that has only a blue and a white 55watt power compacts. I use halide on my other systems, but I am tired of hearing that halide is the only way to go.

I think there is one major reason why flourescent bulbs appear to be less suitable. Most people do not use only the white bulbs so they waste many watts on the blues. If everyone used 20k halides mabey we would say halides are not suitable for clams. IF everyone used only white bulbs they would appear to produce much more light.

 

[Reefmann]

I had this clam for 3 years now. 440watts VHO's on a 55g. tank. So, definetely it wasn't the lighting.

I didn't see anything left just the shell.

I guess all the hermit crabs got a nice dinner.

Reefmann.

Visit my site at:

http://www.geocities.com/reefmann1

 

[Anonymous]

chris,
Most people have a tank deeper than a 20, so for them I think halide is definitely better...

 

[chris_h]

I agree that until they make 4 foot pcs you sould not use pcs on a 4 foot tank. But right now pcs are a great choice for small tanks. My corals and clams are doing good and I could probaly fit 2 more bulbs and double the lighting.

 

[Gatortailale1]

Quoting Chris H: "Where did you get that idea? I have 3 clams growing fast in my 20 gallon that has only a blue and a white 55watt power compacts. I use halide on my other systems, but I am tired of hearing that halide is the only way to go."

I notice you don't mention what type of clams you keep. You simply state you keep 3 clams under PC. (I'm not trying to start a flame war here) Just I felt the board needed more info. Squomosas and Dersa's can tolerate the lower light. Plus, in a 20 gal tank, your clams probably get lots to eat because you probably don't run a skimmer on that small a system.

I ask you the question, what kind of clams do you keep in the 20? what is depth of clams from light? and how big are the clams? Small maximas can survive for some time under lower light, but at some point when they get bigger, they need more light = MH light.

Reefman simply stated maxima died, could it be anemone? I was trying to get more details of tank. Lighting, how long he had maxima ect.

I'm sure it's possible to keep maxima's under PC and even VHO, but a lot depends on tank size, depth from lights, livestock, food.

To be honest, I am trying to keep a maxima [2 inch] under PC lighting. It's about 8 inches from water surface up on the rock. I have a 125 with 4 96w pc bulbs and 2 55w pc bulbs.

Flame me all you want, but that is what I have read in Knop's book and others, and what several vendors including Dr. Mac. have told me. I, like everyone else who reads and posts on this board, am here to learn and help others. I'm not trying to flame anyone. Like I said above, a lot depends on individual setup on what will work. But as a baseline rule, Maximas need MH lighting. Maybe vendors are over cautious by stressing this too much, but I'm sure it results from high death totals over the years and people bitching that clam died. Maybe vendor just over cautious, but when you pay $30 to $300 a clam (like some folks do)you better have sufficient lighting or you will just be tossing your money away at some point in time.

Maybe we will learn something from your experiment with clams under PC lighting.