Clam, Murder Case.

[Fingers68]

I have a clam that I have had for a week, ths morning it is dead, the bristle worms hepling them selfs. I was on the bottom on fine sand, about 4 inches long and seemed to be happy. I current am experiencing a red slime bloom to which the last two days I have reduced the light to 6 hours.

There has been no change in;

KH 10
PH 8 ish
Nitrate 17 ish

I have been told bristle worms can attack the clam from underneath, but there is no sign of breach of the hinge (not sure what the term for that is) I guess the clam would not fall foul from attack via its normal opening, I would think the clam would just snap shut as soon as a worm started messing with its membraine?

So I guess the clam died then the worms moved in, but the jury is still out on that one.

I am gutted and would like to replace the clam but would not like to have another death. Are clams difficult to keep and has anyone experienced worms killing them. ?

 

[mutantbigman2000]

The bristles wouldn't kill the clam.

They are just scavenging after its demise.

 

[Crazy fishes]

Lighting is probably the issue here. What lighting are you running?? Even if you are running a halide 6 hours is no where near long enough photoperiod. Clams, particular Tridacna maxima have an really high saturation point a fact confirmed in a recent study conducted in Hawaii. The results showed that Tridacna maxima at 2 feet water depth was not saturated under the brightest clearest days sunlight in Hawaii. It was also compared to a 400 watt halide in 2 feet of water which showed that they require a PAR of at least 600mmol/cm3 for optimal growth. So the issue is lighting....

Sorry to hear about the lose though

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Agree, if this is a Tridacnid species we're talking about here, CF is right. Lighting is a BIGTIME limiting factor with clams. As CF mentioned, Maxxima clams are the msot demanding, followed closely behind by squamosa and crocea clams as far as light requirements go. My Crocea BARELY gets enough light 4" directly under a 175 watt halide sitting at about 250PAR. Derasa clams are a little more forgiving in the light department, but still require more than the average aquarium has.