First time I heard that too all I could picture was putting the little clam on my shoulder and patting it's little shell! LOL
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First time I heard that too all I could picture was putting the little clam on my shoulder and patting it's little shell! LOL
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bump, LOL
Mike Hummel
\"A happy acro, is a fed acro.\"
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I lost a $250.00 black and white zebra stripped maxima one time because I did not burp him. Learned my lesson.
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pics of bad clam
here are some pics of the clam. Does it look like it has pinched mantle? should I try the fresh water dip? How the heck do I do the fresh water dip and for how long. Wouldnt the dip freak the clam out???
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You could just try moving him up in the tank. 250 watts on a 29" tall tank may not be enough light to keep him low in the tank IMO.
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its 23" tall actually. I did move him up this afternoon but dont see a difference yet.
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It does look like separate parts of the mantle are retracting which is what happens in pinched mantle, but it's so closed that it's hard to tell. Was it always that way, or did it gradually kind of shrivel up? Mine gradually shriveled, but it never retracted that far.
When I've done my FW dips, I adjust the temp by floating a bag in aquarium water for a half hour or so and then adjusting the pH to the same as the tank. I then dip the clam for about 10-15 minutes, although I have heard of some people doing it for over an hour. The clam closes up and is ticked off during the treatment, but the next day it's always looked much better. I've now done 3 FW dips for both my maxima and crocea clams.
It's a protozoan that causes pinched mantle, and the only way to cure the infection is to set up a hospital tank and treat with metronidazole. The FW dips just kill off some of the bugs, but don't get rid of the infection. Anyway, I'm about to set up my hospital tank very soon. Just need to get rid of some live rock so I can fit some stuff in there!
Good luck with your clam, hopefully you can figure out what makes it happy.
Matt
Matt
45 gallon breeder tank
285 Watt VHO setup
Charter Member
What kind of fish do you have? Are you sure one of them isn't pestering it?
"The answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything is...Forty-two." -Deep Thought
http://www.greenmako.com/photos/110283018-M.jpg + 1 Nightmare
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Well the clam is looking worse and worse. I called Alex but he said he had never done the fresh water dip and he wasnt sure what to do. Any ideas? It doesnt smell bad, but it does look like some flesh is breaking off of it. Should I just toss it and attribute it to being a bad clam?
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