Electric Flame Scallop

[DREUTZ]

So I've had an EFS for about 4 months. I was aware that they are difficult to keep but the LFS guy told me it wouldn't be a problem if I fed it rotifers 2-3 times a week which I do. All has been good and I switched from live rotifers from the Southampton Environmental Club to Kent- Phytoplex just because they consistently haven't had them since the first time I bought them.

I was told that they will bring your water quality way down if they die and don't get taken out quickly. Every so often I think he's dead and i'm about to take him out and he will wind up being fine. The best example of this was he was closed when I went away for the weekend and came back and he was still mostly closed but open a little. I poked him a few times and he didn't immediately close up like he normally would, but just in case he would pull through I left him and he wound up being fine. Yesterday his shell was open way more than usual and his membrane that he vibrates to give the look of "electric" mostly was shriveled up. Today he is facing a wall, but not as open although I can't see into his shell. I fed him and wound up hitting his shell by accident this time and he snapped closed right away.

What I am trying to find out is what the signs are that he is really dead? Besides having a pile up of CUC on top of him devouring whats left what else should I look for?

 

[Reef Greek]

My flame scallop is going on 18 months so far. I feed live rotifers when I can or DT's phytoplankton alternating with oyster eggs. My gorgonia and other crals seem to like this just fine too. Imo if you feed your other filter feeders the scallop should also do fine barring injury or poor water quality.

 

[JonnyIce]

mine died while i was away during a temperature spike...no ill effects in the tank as the blue-legged hermits were there to check pulse and start tearing away at flesh...to the shell in record time.