pinched mantle

[blueboy]

i'm afraid my crocea may have PM. i know i've seen a pretty in depth article about this recently, but can't find it now that i need it. anyone know a link? or some course of action? it just started showing today, and i noticed that a flower anemone had crept closer to the clam. i moved the clam a few minutes ago and am waiting to see if it extends fully.

[Pacman]

I've had PM for several weeks now and have been doing quite a bit of reading on it, but as far as I know there are no actual in -depth articles.

Barry at Clams direct has been doing some research into it, but does not have a lot of funding. Apparently it is due to a protozoan, although there is really no definitive treatment. Freshwater dips do help, but quite often the PM returns. Some people have apparently tried the antibiotic metronidazole, although very few people have actually had success.

What I have done with my clams was start off with 10 minute dips in temp&pH matched freshwater. This resulted in ~60% improvement, but it came back. I then did a 20 minute dip and ~80% improvement. Again it came back. I then did a QT treatment with metronidazole with didn't do a **** thing and cost me $20.

About 4 days ago out of sheer frustration I did a 45 minute FW dip, and actually everything looks 100% better. Time will tell if the infection is actually gone though.

[MikeyBoy]

what does pinch mantle look like?

[Pacman]

Here's a picture of the Crocea w/ PM:
http://www.drherald.com/images/PM.jpg

And a pic of the Maxima w/ PM:
http://www.drherald.com/images/PM2.jpg

And for what it's worth a picture of the Crocea AFTER a FW dip:
http://www.drherald.com/images/NOPM.jpg

Hope this helps...

[MikeyBoy]

Is just the fact that is receded not fully extended?

[Pacman]

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7262 Here is a long thread about the problem. There is some bad info in it and some good, so you gotta be careful.

If you really think you have PM, I would personally try FW dips to start off. Just be sure that the clam isn't being bothered to avoid stressing it out if it doesn't really need it.

[blueboy]

thanks for all the quick responses. i'm going to watch it till tomorow and see if it looks better after being away from the anemone for awhile, then we'll see.

[Polkster13]

And don't forget to burp the clams after replacing them back into the main tank. Don't need an air bubble to finish off the clam.

[blueboy]

i'm very happy to report that my clams look fine today! guess it was just irritated.

[SueT]

Barry has been working on trying to figure out the PM in clams for some time now. He's about the only one doing this and he cares so much it shows in the health or his clams.

Also a FWD should be the last resort cause if a clam is as sick as some we have seen it will either kill the clam or cure it.